Lookup request UK incoming & outgoing

[*Sandra*]

Hi Valeriec & CaroSG,

Val, many thanks, appreciate your time and input on this - the ask a librarian link gives Caroline something positive to try.

Grateful thanks
Sandra 

[CaroSG]

Hi Valerie and Sandra

Many thanks for your work on my Harry Willsmer.   I will try your advice.   I don't expect to get very far ... Canada to S. Africa is a long way....... but at least I can guess that Harry did not remarry and have Willsmer children.   I did find his burial in Regina Cemetery .. it gives the date as  "194?"    ........and as there is no tombstone (I guess it is just a paper record) I can assume he never had direct family in Canada.

I have found out more about him with your help than I could have done on my own in a year.

Regards
Caroline

[bishenbertie]

Keep us up to date with any more information you find.

[CaroSG]

I promised I would update Sandra and Benenbertie with any further info I found on Harry Willsmer.  I have a photo!

I have found out that my great great grandfather's brother Harry Willsmer was the first president of  an Association of Civil Servants established in the Regina parliamentary buildings on 21 Feb 1913.  This association later became (as far as I can see) the forerunner of the Liberal Party in Saskatchewan.
 
I also have a photograph kindly sent to me by Megan Ashcroft (see below) of the sgslibarary in Saskatchewan where it shows the following people
Senator T.O. Davis - Devlin. Returning Officer - McKay     J Stauffer      Sandy McPherson Fishery Insp...    Dr Cash      Mr Harry Willsmer        O.D. Hill
They are standing in the front of the Liberal  Party Headquarters at Erwood in Dec 1905 - a log cabin
 
There is a website where it mentions Harry Willsmer 
http://www.sgeu.org/sites/sgeu.org/files/History%20Book%20_0.pdf
 
Megan Ashcroft, Librarian, of the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society was most helpful and efficient and also gave me this information in reply to a synopis of Harry that I sent her:
“A preliminary search of our records showed a Harry Willsmer is indeed buried in the Regina Cemetery.  The cemetery record shows that he died in 1950.  There is also record of him in both the 1913 and 1949 Regina Henderson’s directories.  I have not checked the ones in between.  He does not show up in the 1950 Regina Henderson’s directory, which is consistent with the cemetery records.”

The photograph of Harry (second from Right) (do you think this could be copyright?) is from the Saskatchewan Archives Board website of  ….Alexander McPherson, Harry Willsmer and others named “Group in front of Liberal committee room, Erwood, Sask. (log cabin). Hill, Olin Drake in front of Liberal committee room at Erwood, Sask., with Senator T.O. Davis, E.L. Cash, A.McPherson, etc”

I intend to contact her Society again when I “get back” to Harry and find out a little from her from her records.   She says he is definitely mentioned in 1913 and 1949 Regina Henderson’s directories but she has not checked the others inbetween.

Regards,
 Caroline

[*Sandra*]

Hi Caroline,


Thank you for the update on Harry, delighted you were able to get further information.  Thought there must be more after the link in reply 18.  A photograph - what a bonus - you must be absolutely thrilled. 

Good Luck
Thanks again for the update.

Sandra