Walter Allen Grace 31 Battn 5th AIF

[Tjapaltjarri]

In collaboration with a number of other researchers I am continuing to work on establishing the identity of some 20 men including the remains of Walter Allen Grace 31st Battalion, 5th AIF from amongst those who fell at the battle of Fromelles and are now buried in the Pheasant Wood CWGC Cemetery.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=485564

The most reliable way would be to trace an Mt DNA match would be through his maternal lines. His mother appears to have been Mary Allen, daughter of Isaac and Jane Allen of Milford Derbyshire and an only child so I am concentrating on finding his maternal grandmother in the hope that she may have had sisters from whom a reliable line of female descent can be established.

Isaac Allen married Jane Haywood (reg. Belper 1860) but I am finding it hard to establish the identity of this Jane Haywood and now suspect that she may have been a widow. This may possibly have taken place in the parish where Isaac and Jane were living on the 1861 census.

Mrs. Jane Allen gives her place of birth variously as Kilburn and North Wingfield, Derbyshire.

I have found nothing on FreeReg but a Derbyshire specialist may have a means of finding out who her parents were; LDS films?

If anyone can help establishing Jane Allen's birth identity I should be very grateful.

Best,

Howard

[emarbe]

Hello Howard

According to the 1871 census Isaac & Jane Allen had 3 children, although it looks as though 1 died at birth.
Mary born abt 1864 & Joseph born abt 1867 and 1 in 1871.

Jane Haywood had 8 siblings according to the 1851 census.

1851 census.
1 Swainsley Court, Duffield.
Stephen Haywood (head). age 45. Framework Knitter.
Mary (wife). age 44. Framework knitter.
Ann (daughter) age 23 (unmarried). Cotton Factory.
Joseph (son). age 21. Framework Knitter.
Mary (daughter) age 18 (unmarried). Cotton factory.
Jane (daughter. age 17 (unmarried). Cotton factory.
Stephen (son). age 12.
George (son). age 9.
William (son). age 6.
Martha (daughter). age 4.
Harriet (daughter). age 2.
All born Milford except Ann who was born Heanor.

Mike

[Tjapaltjarri]

Thanks so much for that Mike. I've searched and searched for that Jane Haywood without success.

Tracing the fates of her sisters may offer a way forward for Walter Grace's identification.

Best,

Howard

[MrB]

Howard,

I do not know if this will help but for information anyway.

Derby Mercury 23rd  November 1917

"Spondon War Losses

Charles Grace aged 29years, of the Royal Engineers, was killed by shrapnel on November 7th in France. He leaves a wife and two little girls, and his young widow has been bereaved of three brothers, two killed in action and the third died in Hong Kong. Mrs C Grace is living with her late husband’s  mother, who is a widow also. Before enlisting deceased worked at the Derby Sewerage Works, Spondon.  The officer of his section has written “ He was one of the best men in the company / both in his work and as a soldier and a man. He was very popular with the whole company". His brother Walter Grace of the Australian Imperial Force was killed in action on July 20th in France."

Stuart

[Tjapaltjarri]

Thanks for that information.

I did manage to trace a maternanal DNA relative through one of his mother's sisters and have passed the infomation to the Australian Dept of Defence for them to follow up.

Best,

Howard