Swansea Newspaper lookup 1948

[DebPat]

Hi all could someone possibly do a lookup for me?

My Great Grandfather WILLIAM BRUNTON was found dead floating in the Queens Dock Swansea Harbour on the 27th April 1948.

He was a merchant Seaman working on the ESSO OTTAWA out of Swansea.

There was an inquest running from the 29th April - 6 May

I would love any information that the papers may turn up and would like to know if any coroners reports exsit for this time period?

Thanks for your time! D x

[Lyndon]

I have always found Swansea Central Library extremely helpful for this sort of query. They recently sent me photocopies of newspaper reports of a funeral I was interested in for the princely sum of £1.50.  Easy to find through Google, but if you need any more help, send me an email.

Lyndon

[DebPat]

Thanks for that Lyndon! I shall look at once! Ta.

[Romilly]

Hi,

I recently contacted the Swansea Archives Dept. to try to obtain copies of a Coroner's Inquest Report into the suicide of an uncle of mine in Swansea in 1930.

Sadly, I was told that the Archives Dept only hold copies of Coroner's Inquest reports from the 1970's onwards. (Apparantly the ones from 1900 - 1970 were water damaged & had to be ditched!

Sorry not to be able to help, but thought you might wish to know this.

[DebPat]

Thanks for that! what a shame!! Seems i am never going to know the details then! Sigh. D x

[Romilly]

Hi,

Although the Coroner's Reports are gone, you might still find a death entry, or article about the death in the "South Wales Post" Newspaper. I emailed Swansea Central reference Library on:

central.library@swansea.gov.uk

and they sent me a death notice for the 1930 death that I was enquiring about. And if they can't find anything, you could always try the British Newspaper Library at:

The British Library
Newspaper Library
Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5HE

Tel: 0207 412 7353
Fax: 0207 412 7379
E-mail: newspaper@bl.uk
Website: www.bl.uk/collections/newspaper

Hope that helps.

Cheers, Romilly

[DebPat]

Yes i have done that! Grin. They sent me a short piece saying about the body being found in queens dock and his current address for Newcastle on tyne where he was from. The ship he was from and where it sailed to and from! My only hope now is that some record of the investigation is in his merchant seamans records! LOL No meation of him occurs in the newcastle papers either! Sigh. Oh well. LOL

thanks for the info. I hope you find what you need eventually! D x

[Romilly]

Hi,

It occurs to me that 1948 is (relatively:-) recent...& you might be able to trace some of your relatives's crew mates, who are still alive & could give you more details.

I think that crew lists are held at Kew, but you could check the National Archives site on-line, at:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/searchthearchives/

Good luck!!
All Best Wishes, Romilly