Author Topic: WW2 missing relative  (Read 3823 times)

Offline jupiter1

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WW2 missing relative
« on: Saturday 22 November 14 20:26 GMT (UK) »
Hi,  I have a relative that went missing during WW2.
Maiden name Ellen Mary KEEP born 1897 Q2 at St Georges, Hanover Sq.
Married Arthur CONNAH in 1922 Q1 same place.

I assume that she died as a result of enemy action.

Is there any way that I can find any record of her demise ? 

Thank you.
Hickford Fleming Connah Coe Mathew

Offline aghadowey

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Re: WW2 missing relative
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 22 November 14 20:31 GMT (UK) »
Why do you "assume that she died as a result of enemy action"?

cwgc.org has database which includes Civilian War Dead but I don't see her listed.
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Offline jupiter1

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Re: WW2 missing relative
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 22 November 14 20:41 GMT (UK) »
"assumed" because she worked in a munitions factory and my childhood memories of some family gossip.

She was not in the military.
I have a photo of her at work in the munitions factory.
Hickford Fleming Connah Coe Mathew

Offline aghadowey

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Re: WW2 missing relative
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 22 November 14 20:53 GMT (UK) »
That's the sort of details that helps us track down records. I was going to ask if she could be the 1930s death I found but that now seems to be ruled out.

Do you know when and where Arthur died? Did his death certificate list him as widowed or married, I wonder.

Do you know which munitions factory it might have been? Unfortunately during the war much was hushed up and there may not be a newspaper report of the incident.
Away sorting out DNA matches... I may be gone for some time many years!


Offline jupiter1

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Re: WW2 missing relative
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 22 November 14 21:00 GMT (UK) »
Hi,
I don't know which factory.
Arthur died Xmas eve 1949 of throat cancer as a widower.
I was at his bedside often including this day, he was a great uncle to me.

I never knew Ellen but did know and often visited her parents with Arthur before he died, they lived "in the countryside", I don't know where though.
Hickford Fleming Connah Coe Mathew

Offline nanny jan

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Re: WW2 missing relative
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 22 November 14 21:15 GMT (UK) »
Hi,

An online tree gives her death as 1944 but no other details.


Nanny Jan
Howard , Viney , Kingsman, Pain/e, Rainer/ Rayner, Barham, George, Wakeling (Catherine), Vicary (Frederick)   all LDN area/suburbs  Ottley/ MDX,
Henman/ KNT   Gandy/LDN before 1830  Burgess/LDN
Barham/SFK   Rainer/CAN (Toronto) Gillians/CAN  Sturgeon/CAN (Vancouver)
Bailey/LDN Page/KNT   Paling/WA (var)



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Offline aghadowey

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Re: WW2 missing relative
« Reply #6 on: Saturday 22 November 14 21:18 GMT (UK) »
According to probate book, Arthur Connah, 1 Whittaker St. Sloane Sq. Westminster, died 31 Dec.1949 and probate granted to Ruth Hope (widow).

Although the 1922 marriage lists her as Ellen Mary she's down as Mary Ella here-

1937 Electoral List- City of Westminster- Peabody Bldgs, Peabody Ave. SW1:
... Connah Mary Ella
Keep Mary Ann
Keep William
King Phoebe (Mrs)
Hope Ruth
Hope Thomas... then further down Connah Arthur
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Offline aghadowey

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Re: WW2 missing relative
« Reply #7 on: Saturday 22 November 14 21:23 GMT (UK) »
I know the death date doesn't fit but just posting this in case we need to check it out later-

Mary E Connah, age 66, death Jan./Mar.1962 Chelsea dist., volume 5c page 476
Away sorting out DNA matches... I may be gone for some time many years!

Offline aghadowey

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Re: WW2 missing relative
« Reply #8 on: Saturday 22 November 14 21:44 GMT (UK) »
I know the death date doesn't fit but just posting this in case we need to check it out later-

Mary E Connah, age 66, death Jan./Mar.1962 Chelsea dist., volume 5c page 476

Well, think the time has come to think about checking out the above death!

Electoral lists for London have made very interesting reading. I think (hopefully someone will be able to confirm) that members of the same household should be listed together?

Arthur Connah & Mary Ellen Connah appear together in 1928-1933 lists (I didn't check for any earlier ones). Then 1934 lists Mrs. Mary Ellen Connah without Arthur (we know he was alive for quite a while after this). In 1937-1939 Mary E. Connah is listed with Keeps (as mentioned above). From what I can recall reading, lists were not published during the war?

In 1948 I find Mary E Connah in Kensington & Chelsea at 6 Stewart's Grove SW3 (also 1950, 1951) In 1957 she's still there but also at the address is Allan V. Keep!

So, am wondering are Arthur and wife separated around 1933. She might have worked in a munitions factory during the War and have been injured and survived, she might have worked there before it was bombed, etc.
Away sorting out DNA matches... I may be gone for some time many years!