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For many years I've been using family history websites, such as Roots Chat to search for details of a father who I never knew; who had been cloaked in a veil of mystery for close to 60-years. I've posted countless messages using an assortment of 'usernames' in search of any information about my late father, his family & my very mysterious roots. He was only an ink blot on my birth certificate & I thought I didn't stand a cat in hells chance of finding him & my dear mum took her secret love to her grave.

One letter; found amongst my mum's personal effects after her death in 1989 gave me a clue & that clue instigated my search.  It's been a fascinating journey that has left me wondering if there is some memory locked away hidden deep within our DNA, because instead of finding the family scandal that I had expected, I found a heart-warming story that has turned my mum into my hero.

As for my roots, well, they seemed to have been buried deep within my subconscious all along & when eventually discovered, they made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.   

Over 20-years of searching followed by 4-years of writing & rewriting has resulted in this. . .
 
The Daddy of ALL Mysteries   by   Jess Welsby.

I have compiled 110,000 word & over 70 photographs to tell the true story about a very ordinary Liverpool family.  It is not a sad story by any means. Packed full of comical anecdotes that can only happen in Liverpool, it follows my unmarried mum & her small, Catholic family through the Great War, the Great Depression & the Second World War. It's about all the struggles, fears, laughter & tears of a generation now dead & gone.

My book is also a great example of what can be achieved with todays technology & help from members of forums such as Roots Chat & people who have never clapped eyes on each other. 

This book will be of interest to anyone who didn't know their parents or to people with roots, not only in Liverpool but also in Ireland & any refugees or immigrants to the UK.


I hope it will inspire others to search for their mystery mother or father.
 
For more details please click the following link.

Thank you
Jess Welsby

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Daddy-All-Mysteries-Parents/dp/0993177808

Sorry can't help with any photos but my grt grandfather (John Gilleeney) also served in the Kings Liverpool Regiment (4th Extra Reserve) and has a similar number to your grandfather (11882). He was also injured and transferred to the Labour Corps and again has a similar number (413665). He served in the Labour Corps until given an Honourable Discharge on the 6th March 1919.

I would imagine that your grandfather would have served in the Boer War prior to WW1 and that was why he was in the Extra Reserve regiment.

Regards, Phil

I have also found Militia Attestation records for my grandfather. His number then was, 3648. 4th Battalion. LKR. He enlisted on 8th July 1896. He was then 18years 4 months old. It gives his description as being 5 ft 5inches, 114 lbs. sandy hair, complexion fair, brown eyes.

EDIT: There is a note in red on these Attestation papers, which reads... "Lpool Reg 25/9/1896."


I got some advice from a member of the Great War Forum about this attestation record, which is...  quote:

"William H never served in the Militia - I think he "Attested" (8/7/1896), but changed his mind and then enlisted as a "Regular" into the Kings Regt on the 25th September 1896, which I conclude from the red handwriting - these Militia Documents would then have become unused.

If he has joined as a regular into the Kings he would have automatically been renumbered, again a four figure number. His terms of service in 1896 would have been "7 & 5" - seven years with the Colours and five years with the Reserve. If this is correct then he would have been Discharged to Reserve and civilian life in 1903, at the end of the Boer War. If this is the case then his complete Discharge would have been 1908, with no further obligations.

At the outbreak of the War he was probably impelled to re-enlist, this would account for him being re-numbered with a five figure regular number, his old regular number now dufuct.

What you need to look at is the "Muster Rolls" for the Regular Kings battalions as my instincts and these documents are telling me he was a pre-war regular." Unquote. 

Could he have served in the Boer War ?
Would there be any records of LKR soldiers of the Boer War ?


HG2

 

HG2

The weekly return of men adding or being struck off the strength of the battalion showed Pte 10912 William Welsby as being taken to hospital on 17th April 1916 whilst serving with 4 KLR. He is also shown as being admitted to the Field Ambulance on the same date.

I can't immediately locate details of him coming back on strength.

The Battalion were in trenches at Auchy on that date.

YES, that's him!!!! Where did you find this information ? 
His number was first 10912, then changed to 410798. Would there be any further record or medical report of him anywhere ?

Thank you so much for finding this Stephen

HG2

Charles BERG or BERGE born 1895 Russia & wife Evelyn nee FREEMAN born 1895 Dublin had four children that I know of.

^(*)

I have a lot of research to share with anyone researching these names.
Please contact me via private message.

Thank you

HG2

^(*) Moderator Comment:
Edited in accordance with RootsChat policy of not publishing details of living people here, or details of people who may still be living. This is to protect all concerned from spam, identity abuse, internet abuse, etc, etc.