Author Topic: "john harbourne"?  (Read 458 times)

Offline Sue Peach

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"john harbourne"?
« on: Thursday 04 March 21 13:39 GMT (UK) »
This is very much a shot in the dark. I'm trying to find out who my mother's wartime boyfriend was (both my parents are now deceased). My mum was Edna Slater, a shorthand typist from Derby. I don't know where she met "John Harbourne" (she was very definite that this was his name). She was born in 1923, so I think he was about that age or a bit older. She would be about 16 at the time. She said he was a midshipman in the Royal Navy, but was "missing, believed killed", probably serving on a ship attacking U boats. If they didn't meet in Derby, it might have been while she was on holiday on the Yorkshire coast? He may have been from near Honiton in Devon. I can't find any sailor of this name in WW2, nor as a casualty in that war. Yet her grief even many years later was genuine. We even have a tiny Victorian ring, said to be her unofficial engagement ring.Who was he? Does anyone have a family story concerning a young sailor and a girl from Derby?

Offline Paco

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Re: "john harbourne"?
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 06 March 21 16:02 GMT (UK) »
Welcome to Rootschat. I will send you a PM
Essex/Dorset/Berks