RAF Records

[foggyjano]

My grandfather was a PTI in the RAF in southampton area up until 1945. Just before he was discharged and I mean days, he died by a gun.  The family have been lead to believe he committed sucide. My grandmother remarried and never talked about her first husband to my dad, all the papers disappeared connecting my blood grandfather, all we have is one picture of him in his raf uniform.

If I apply to the RAF, are they going to be able to tell me how my grandfather died, I do not want to pay 30.00 and be no further in the picture.  We have asked the only living brother of my grandfather and he says he was too young to remember what happened and will not discuss it.

It would make my father happy if he knew the truth on how his father died,

His name was Lesley Schofield or Leslie Schofield, we are not sure at this time of the spelling, He came from Bury, then Swinton, Lancashire and he was born around 1910

Any help much appreciated and Merry Christmas!

[jorose]

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2403772 - is it this Leslie Schofield?

Ancestry BMD images shows he did die in Southampton:
Leslie Schofield, aged 31, d. Southampton registration district, volume 2c? page 276, Jan/Feb/Mar quarter 1946.

First try getting his death certificate if this is him, that should give you the cause of death and info on whether or not there was an inquest.

[foggyjano]

Thank you so much for doing that for me!


I need to confirm if my grandad is the one on the war memorial, but I know he was that rank and the age looks right, not sure about him being a resevere, but he as a physical training instructor, so he might have been

I went all funny when i saw your reply, it would be lovely to confirm the war memorial is my grandad.

Happy New Year!

[foggyjano]

I have just spoke to my dad, it is funny how things come back to them from distance memory.. when i mentioned the southern cememtery he suddenly remembered going and they spread his ashes over the memorial garden, he had forgotten that til i mentioned it, though he was only 5 when his father died.

You have made my christmas, and his.. thank you.

[bervonian]

Just for something to do, I searched for Leslie Schofield's birth (which you may have already) and found it:-

Jan/Mar quarter 1915, SCHOFIELD, Leslie.  Barton I. 8c 1163. Mother's name: Stanton.

Bervonian.

[foggyjano]

I am so glad you did that, I have been looking for days for his birth but cos my dad was not sure exactly how old he was so i was looking around 1910. so in one day, I know when he was born, when he died and where he was "buried".... I wish you could see my face

Life is hard when you are trying to research for free, I did pay for 10 credits on a site and cos i didnt know what i was doing, didnt get much for my £5.00!!!

Thank you sooooo much!
 

[foggyjano]

Really cheeky but If you have nothing to do on another day, would you have a look when Leslie married Ethel Evans, I think they married either bury or swinton area... will be before my dad was born.. I hope...lol.. he was born August 1941 

 

[Wendi]

Hi foggyjano

What a wonderful result in a day  jorose and bervonian have done you proud! anything marriages after about 1910 has not really been transcribed so it's this way:-

You can search free, online, yourself for Leslie & Ethel's wedding via this link

http://www.rootschat.com/links/06m/

Look for a marriage in his name first, make a note of the reference of any lightly ones, and then check to see if an Ethel Evans married in the same year, same quarter with the same index numbers 

Good luck
Wendi

[foggyjano]

Found them using this link.. thank you.  They married April/may/June 1940.
Now i have the volume number and page number... Do I just order the certifcate or can i see it on line anywhere?

Oh what a lovely few days, I am so glad i joined this site.. I also signed up for the 14 day trial with Ancestry, so hopefully if i know what i am doing, I will get a few more results!

Cheers