Finding stuff out about your family

[Deleted member 15970]

Me grandad above was born In St Mary's Workhouse in Portsmouth. His ma was in service with a land owning family in Waterlooville and lost the roof over her head when she fell pregnant. Suspicions are it was one of the land owning family who knocked her up. By coincidence the house became the main office of a school that my two kids attended between 2005 and 2015.

Sounds very similar to my paternal grandmother's story. I guess there was a lot of it about back then. Ended up marrying my grandfather because he was also a pariah - serving with the RAMC (Ambulance Driver - stretcher bearer at the front line) rather than a fighting unit.

WRT batteries being broken up to reinforce other batteries; This was due to guns becoming worn out (barrel linings worn away by prolonged barrage firing) or damaged by counter-battery fire and us not being able to repair/replace the heavy guns at the same rate and also due to human counter-battery casualties (and some gunners were hit by snipers).

 

[Paddy O'Dors]

Sounds very similar to my paternal grandmother's story. I guess there was a lot of it about back then. Ended up marrying my grandfather because he was also a pariah - serving with the RAMC (Ambulance Driver - stretcher bearer at the front line) rather than a fighting unit.

WRT batteries being broken up to reinforce other batteries; This was due to guns becoming worn out (barrel linings worn away by prolonged barrage firing) or damaged by counter-battery fire and us not being able to repair/replace the heavy guns at the same rate and also due to human counter-battery casualties (and some gunners were hit by snipers)..

A lot of the RAMC were Quakers. Their religion believes that war and conflict are against God's wishes and so they are dedicated to pacifism and non-violence.

 

[Deleted member 15970]

A lot of the RAMC were Quakers. Their religion believes that war and conflict are against God's wishes and so they are dedicated to pacifism and non-violence.

My grandfather was CofE but, despite having been brought up on a farm, couldn't bear seeing animals killed. He was initially in a reserved occupation as a horse keeper (looked after the farm's shire horses, drove the carts,etc). Not sure if he eventually lost his reserved status and joined up or or if he was a Conshie and offered the RAMC over prison. His files were lost in WW2 and nobody ever knew anything about it to my Dad (born in the 20's).

My other grandfather was in the RWF - spent 7 years serving out in India, NW Frontier and Burmah only to arrive back in England on Aug 14th. Went AWOL over a weekend, came back and narrowly avoiding a court martial because they were sent straight to France where they fought in the retreat from Mons. Came down with Malaria in November then shipped back home where he was eventually declared fit enough only for UK service. Ended up driving supply lorries for the Army Service Corps.

 

[Deleted member 5265]

My grandad went to school with George Formby on a horse in Wigan.

 

[Arkle]

My grandad went to school with George Formby on a horse in Wigan.

The school was on a horse? Or, was a horse?

 

[Horatio Pugwash]

You need to join Ancestry.co.uk first then you can do the DNA test and they'll give you a list of all your matches and how much DNA you have in common with them. 4th cousins and closer are the most interesting ones, I've found 2nd and 3rd cousins from all around the world who I had no idea existed. It makes you realise how intertwined the whole world is especially when you have shared genes with Asians, Africans, Amerindians, everyone in fact. Once you go back a few centuries you could be related to just about anyone in the world, I've got direct DNA ancestry going back to a Swedish King but an actual family line connecting us is impossible to trace. Basically we're all relate to one another somehow. We're all a bunch of mongrels, I've traced my ancestors back to Vikings in Shetland in the 1500's, Irish from Mayo/Sligo in the 1830's, lots of Scots from the East coast and English from London and the south coast. It all fascinates me. I really believe memories are passed down in our DNA, all my family on my mothers side were fishermen from the east coast of Scotland and England, my fathers side of the family were mostly Shipwrights and carpenters. I'm a carpenter who loves fishing, it's in the DNA I tell you.

A carpenter who loves fishing?
You may be related to Jesus!!!!!

 

[TopCat]

that you never knew. Good stuff like.

Found out on Thursday that me maternal grandad served with the Royal Field Artillery in WWI when I was given his medals (he was dead before I was born so never knew him).

Bit of research and it turns out he was an 18yo volunteer (rather than a conscript). Joined 151 Howitzer Brigade (which was part of 30th div/4th Army) which had A, B, C & D batteries in early 1915 and trained at Grantham. They moved to Salisbury then moved to a place called Bray-on-the-Somme on in late 1915 (the brigade war diary tells you the exact journey from Southampton to the front line)

In February 1916 C battery left to join 3 Highland Brigade/51st Division. A, B & D batteries were broken up in May 1916 and they were used to re-strengthen 148, 149 & 150 brigades (this happened quite often apparently). That's where I'm at so far. 3 Highland, 148, 149 & 150 RFA brigades were all at the 1st day of the 1st Battle of the Somme so it's quite certain that he played a part in that.

Next up, purchase the diaries of the four brigades above to see what happened next.

Great stuff. I did some research into my Mum's side of the family a few years back. My Great-Grandfather had 5 kids with his wife then left to fight in WWI. He led one of the battalions that dug the trenches over in Ypres. He survived 4 years of the war then came back and had 4 more kids with his wife. He left the army and went down the mines. He died in a mine collapse in 1921 aged 45 when his youngest son (my Grandfather) was 6 weeks old. His widow never re-married and brought up 9 kids on her own

 

[Horatio Pugwash]

Great stuff. I did some research into my Mum's side of the family a few years back. My Great-Grandfather had 5 kids with his wife then left to fight in WWI. He led one of the battalions that dug the trenches over in Ypres. He survived 4 years of the war then came back and had 4 more kids with his wife. He left the army and went down the mines. He died in a mine collapse in 1921 aged 45 when his youngest son (my Grandfather) was 6 weeks old. His widow never re-married and brought up 9 kids on her own

Fucks sake!!


I may quote this post the next time someone tells me how hard kids have it today

 

[TopCat]

Fucks sake!!


I may quote this post the next time someone tells me how hard kids have it today

Haha I was about to post something similar. Added the story, My Great-Grandmother also (at the age of 70) had to bring up her 3 Grandchildren (including my Mother) after they were left on her doorstep. Kids aged 18 months, 5 and 7....

 

[mickb2112]

I have a bit of a Saving Private Ryan background in my family.

My grandmother, who even though she only died a few years ago and lived to be 103, was very young at the time, lost 3 brothers killed in WW1. A fourth brother died of dyptheria.

My uncle, her son, who was a 30 year armed forces veteran himself, took her to the France and Belgium battlefields many years ago for her 70th birthday to try and find their graves. They found 2 of them, but have never found the third.

It is my intention to pick up the baton to try and find the third brother.

I hope you do it Yorky. Have you tried the War Graves Commission. They can help you find them. Let us all know how you get on.

 

[tunstallhill]

You need to join Ancestry.co.uk first then you can do the DNA test and they'll give you a list of all your matches and how much DNA you have in common with them. 4th cousins and closer are the most interesting ones, I've found 2nd and 3rd cousins from all around the world who I had no idea existed. It makes you realise how intertwined the whole world is especially when you have shared genes with Asians, Africans, Amerindians, everyone in fact. Once you go back a few centuries you could be related to just about anyone in the world, I've got direct DNA ancestry going back to a Swedish King but an actual family line connecting us is impossible to trace. Basically we're all relate to one another somehow. We're all a bunch of mongrels, I've traced my ancestors back to Vikings in Shetland in the 1500's, Irish from Mayo/Sligo in the 1830's, lots of Scots from the East coast and English from London and the south coast. It all fascinates me. I really believe memories are passed down in our DNA, all my family on my mothers side were fishermen from the east coast of Scotland and England, my fathers side of the family were mostly Shipwrights and carpenters. I'm a carpenter who loves fishing, it's in the DNA I tell you.

How do you do the test? Do they send you a kit and you send it back ?

 

[Rusty]

that you never knew. Good stuff like.

Found out on Thursday that me maternal grandad served with the Royal Field Artillery in WWI when I was given his medals (he was dead before I was born so never knew him).

Bit of research and it turns out he was an 18yo volunteer (rather than a conscript). Joined 151 Howitzer Brigade (which was part of 30th div/4th Army) which had A, B, C & D batteries in early 1915 and trained at Grantham. They moved to Salisbury then moved to a place called Bray-on-the-Somme on in late 1915 (the brigade war diary tells you the exact journey from Southampton to the front line)

In February 1916 C battery left to join 3 Highland Brigade/51st Division. A, B & D batteries were broken up in May 1916 and they were used to re-strengthen 148, 149 & 150 brigades (this happened quite often apparently). That's where I'm at so far. 3 Highland, 148, 149 & 150 RFA brigades were all at the 1st day of the 1st Battle of the Somme so it's quite certain that he played a part in that.

Next up, purchase the diaries of the four brigades above to see what happened next.

My great great grandfather was 242nd RFA in WW1. Killed at the second battle of passchendaele judging by the date of his death and what I can find about the 242nd. He was a gunner and is buried alongside a driver and someone else who judging by there death records were killed alongside him. My guess is they were either hit by enemy artillery or gun malfunctioned.

Some cracking history on this thread. Makes me want to investigate mine further.

Me and Mrs MacT (no, btw) had a quick check of our family trees years ago. Bout the only interesting things we found was that our ancestors had lived in neighbouring villages, about 5 miles apart, down in Norfolk in the late 1700s.
Also one of my ancestors was born "at sea"

Would love to find out more about my grandad who died in WW2 somewhere in Italy

If you know his name you'll be able to look up his grave location on the common wealth war graves commission web site. Found my great great grandfather's that way.

 

[goldie]

one of my uncle's done ours and on my dad's side most my ancestors had ended up in jail like

 

[Redandwhitedust]

My grandad never spoke much about the war, and I was always advised not to push him to talk about it. My dad said that he went to work in London on the trains and that was all.

When he died, I was introduced to an old feller at the funeral. He had served with him as a firefighter in London during the blitz.

Originally working on the railways in the Northeast at the outbreak of the war, he was not allowed to sign on for the army because of his reserved occupation. His two brothers and two best friends did and all died, and he never really got over that. When he learned that he felt ashamed around his family and transferred from Darlington to London to start a new life.

But he did volunteer to join an auxialiary fire service (alongside working for London Transport), and saw much destruction and death in bombed out houses in London. One story this bloke told me that stuck in my mind was that he went into a smouldering building to try and salvage a few toys for a family whos house had been bombed.

I was so proud of him, but so angry that he never felt pride in what he did at an incredibly hard time. I wanted to hear these stories from him.

But he never got over the fact he couldnt be a soldier and serve his country. Yet he served this country so incredibly well.

We bred brave bold men and women in those days.

 

[Deleted member 40035]

I've never looked into my families past as if they were anything like me they would be drunks and idiots. I actually pity them. At least I have a toilet to piss in. I'm sure they just chucked their shit out on the street. No wonder they drunk.

 

[Tuono]

How do you do the test? Do they send you a kit and you send it back ?

They send you a test tube that you spit in and send it back.

--------------
Me Granda ended up in the RAMC after being wounded 3 times and left unfit for front line duties. He died in 1968 from the shrapnel in his head moving and affecting his brain, he was having all kinds of hallucinations just before he died, poor sod.

 

[Yankee Mackem]

I have a bit of a Saving Private Ryan background in my family.

My grandmother, who even though she only died a few years ago and lived to be 103, was very young at the time, lost 3 brothers killed in WW1. A fourth brother died of dyptheria.

My uncle, her son, who was a 30 year armed forces veteran himself, took her to the France and Belgium battlefields many years ago for her 70th birthday to try and find their graves. They found 2 of them, but have never found the third.

It is my intention to pick up the baton to try and find the third brother.

In line with the other post about this, before you contact the cwwgc, try their online search tool.

Find War Dead | CWGC

Find War Dead | CWGC

www.cwgc.org

as little information as possible to start with, then.build up. For instance first and last names can sometimes be enough (along with era such as ww1)- unless they had a common name.

 

[Dark Traveller]

My Grandad served in the DLI during WW2, as a cook. I already knew this since I was a young un, and that he had been a bit of a rogue when there, never sent any money back to my Nanna because he kept loosing it playing cards.

What I didn’t know until about five years ago was that he had fought(?) in Italy, and that he had had an affair with an Italian woman whilst he was there!

My Mam mentioned this in passing when I was casually chatting with her about our family history.

The conversation went something like this....

Mam: “Yes, your Nanna and Grandad had a bit of stormy relationship when I was growing up....”

Me: “....oh aye, think you mentioned that once or twice over the years....”

Her: “He was a bit of a character your a Grandad, I don‘t think your ever fully trusted him again when he came home after the war.....”

Me: “Oh right, was that because of his gambling and not sending money, and then losing his service medals?”

Her: “No, because when he got home, he owned up to having it away with some Italian woman when serving in Italy. Your Nanna then dragged him down to their village doctor to talk about what he may have brought home with him and to get his bits checked out....”

Me: (stunned silence.....)

Her: “....What’s up? Your face has gone a bit weird....”

Me: “Woah, hang on a moment, we have been talking about grandad on and off for over 40 years, and your telling me this now!?!? That’s quite a bit of information to just casually let slip!!!”

Her: “Oh right, really? The first time? I am sure I’ve told you that before....”

 

[njmackem]

You need to join Ancestry.co.uk first then you can do the DNA test and they'll give you a list of all your matches and how much DNA you have in common with them. 4th cousins and closer are the most interesting ones, I've found 2nd and 3rd cousins from all around the world who I had no idea existed. It makes you realise how intertwined the whole world is especially when you have shared genes with Asians, Africans, Amerindians, everyone in fact. Once you go back a few centuries you could be related to just about anyone in the world, I've got direct DNA ancestry going back to a Swedish King but an actual family line connecting us is impossible to trace. Basically we're all relate to one another somehow. We're all a bunch of mongrels, I've traced my ancestors back to Vikings in Shetland in the 1500's, Irish from Mayo/Sligo in the 1830's, lots of Scots from the East coast and English from London and the south coast. It all fascinates me. I really believe memories are passed down in our DNA, all my family on my mothers side were fishermen from the east coast of Scotland and England, my fathers side of the family were mostly Shipwrights and carpenters. I'm a carpenter who loves fishing, it's in the DNA I tell you.

Off topic I know...

My wife's cousin bought the family the 23 and Me version of these kits. The mum didn't know about it as it was just a kids thing. Turns out that the eldest kid and the three younger kids have different dads... There has been hell on since!!!

 

[weebil64]

My Grandad served in the DLI during WW2, as a cook. I already knew this since I was a young un, and that he had been a bit of a rogue when there, never sent any money back to my Nanna because he kept loosing it playing cards.

What I didn’t know until about five years ago was that he had fought(?) in Italy, and that he had had an affair with an Italian woman whilst he was there!

My Mam mentioned this in passing when I was casually chatting with her about our family history.

The conversation went something like this....

Mam: “Yes, your Nanna and Grandad had a bit of stormy relationship when I was growing up....”

Me: “....oh aye, think you mentioned that once or twice over the years....”

Her: “He was a bit of a character your a Grandad, I don‘t think your ever fully trusted him again when he came home after the war.....”

Me: “Oh right, was that because of his gambling and not sending money, and then losing his service medals?”

Her: “No, because when he got home, he owned up to having it away with some Italian woman when serving in Italy. Your Nanna then dragged him down to their village doctor to talk about what he may have brought home with him and to get his bits checked out....”

Me: (stunned silence.....)

Her: “....What’s up? Your face has gone a bit weird....”

Me: “Woah, hang on a moment, we have been talking about grandad on and off for over 40 years, and your telling me this now!?!? That’s quite a bit of information to just casually let slip!!!”

Her: “Oh right, really? The first time? I am sure I’ve told you that before....”

Wasn't Northern Italy was it?