What am I doing wrong! Men

[stevem49]

With lots of help from very kind forum members and my own research, I have found all but four men who are listed on the Killamarsh, Derbyshire (nr Sheffield) memorial. For some reason I cannot even find the men on the census or births. I must be searching incorrectly and wondered if anyone could give me some pointers in how to search please

all I have is -

J E Lewis, G H Taylor, W Thompson and C Wilson.

I have found a Willie Thompson but he survived the war. I have tried possible names and used circa 1895 as birth date but cannot even find a birth. Killmarsh, Duckmantion and Eckington seem to be the places. Most also put Killamarsh , Sheffield, despite it being in Derbyshire.

Any help would be gratefully received before I throw the bloomin' computer out of the window .

Thanks

Steve

[GraemeClarke]

Steve

If it makes you feel any better, I have about 30+ men I just cannot trace who are on various RoH around the Walsall area.

There are 2 men on the Walsall RoH who definitely survived, and I have traced others who are commemorated on church rolls who also survived as I have seen their service records.

There is also 1 man on the Darlaston War Memorial who survived. I worked with his grandson and evidently the man thought it very amusing that he was on the memorial.

Good luck, no help I'm afraid, but maybe you feel slightly better !!

Regards,

Graeme

[stevem49]

When I did Swanwick, there were four men missing. I found out that they died in 1935 and all four were then put on the memorial!

I have a feeling that Willie Thompson is one of them but he died in the 1950's.

There must be a way of searching but I have not found it yet

[RoninReepham]

owhen i searched i put birthdate 1890 then 10 years either way and then put Norfolk, England as place of birth i found a few older men that way

[stevem49]

Will give it a go

Thanks

Steve

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Steve

This previous thread on Eckington Memorial names a Charles Wilson and has details of a George H Taylor. Same men?

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=164461

Dave

[stevem49]

Dave

Of course! I looked at that thread last week but my brain must have been elsewhere. Will do more research on both men.

There also seems to be a Wilfred Thompson and John Edward Lewis

may have cracked it.

Thank you

Steve

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Steve

Kelly's 1912 Directory for Derbyshire lists;

Septimus Taylor, father of George, as a farmer at Bridge Farm, Killamarsh.

Dave

[KevinBattle]

Don't rely on first names unless gospel proof found!

Many were recorded by friends who only knew them by a middle name or local nick name but when being recorded the real names were lost.

Others may not be from the area but as raised by public subscription it was noy unknown for a relative with no other link to be included, as an acknowledgement of the donation.

Judging by the numbers of "untraceables" on many War Memorials, the actual processes of accepting Names are now lost to us.

It's such a shame, as the purpose of a Memorial is to enshrine the memory, not simply of the War but local men who never returned, or so shattered their lives were greatly shortened.

[Dawley Jockey]

It took me 3 years to trace the last three men on the memorial I researched and that was due in no small part due to assistance I received from fellow forum members

[pylon1357]

Also there could be an issue with the spelling of the surname. I found this on the Bancroft Memorial. Surname reads Weimer, instead it should have been recorded as Weirmeir. Another, not that difficult to sort was Elvin Neil, should have been Alvin Neil, who was originally commemorated as Alven Neil by the CWGC.

I would start trying name variations in spelling.

[Guest]

Steve - having researched over1,500 men of the Derbyshire Yeomanry, I can sympathise. At times it can be very frustrating. I would concur with Pylon 1357 that variations in name spelling is one of the main hurdles.

In the remote chance that you don't already know this - If you are using Ancestry, you might try adding an asterisk at the end of the name root for example Thom* will generate Thomson, Thompson. From menory I think you need at least 3 letters before the asterisk. I found this very useful when searching for Derbyshire Yeomanry as Derby* Yeo* generated the largest 'set' with Derby Yeomanry, Derby Yeo, Derbyshire Yeomanry, Derbyshire Yeo..... I suspect you don't have regiments for these people but I use this as an example of how to trick the search function into looking at a wider set. It also differs if you click on the 'exact' box.

If you are using The National Archives 'Discovery' catalogue, be aware that it uses a completely different algorithm to Ancestry (poorer in my view).

I would recommend looking at the names and try to think of as many spelling variations as possible

I would also recommend searching the newspapers online. The Derby Telegraph for the period is exceptionally useful. Subscription isnt that expensive on the British Newspaper Archive or you can buy credits - a sort of pay-as-you-go. There might be an article on the unveiling of the War Memorial. I know that the Cromford War Memorial's unveiling in the 1920s was covered by the press with plenty of detail (the man in the avatar unveiled it) so you might want to broaden the date search into the 1920s.

Good luck.

Ubique.

MG

[draperju]

Try putting names into:

http://www.freebmd.org.uk/

Many men were lost to the CWGC if they were discharged and died during the war

Died within months of being discharged

Local memorials honoured as part of their community

Also try burial books for local churches Not everyone could afford a headstone

This may help

Draperju

My work on the North Tyne Memorials yield at least five men who were not on memorials. Some now have ben recognised by CWGC

[stevem49]

Many thanks to everyone. I am of the opinion that the four men are also listed on the Eckington memorial. I found a George Henry Taylor in 1911 on a farm 3 miles from Killamarsh. The other three also seem to be there - of course it could be coincidence that all four with the same initials are on both. Forum pal Lisa has G H Taylor (her grandfather) born Killamarsh but living nearby.
Martin - I will subscribe - saves me going to Derby or Matlock archives! I spent many an hour at Derby searching for 9th bn men. I should have taken copies of the lot, which would have saved me much time and effort now! If you ever need anything on Matlock Bath, I have Charles Beresford's excellent work - The Bath at War.
I am only on my third memorial but have learned that each had their own way of doing things. In fact not only did Swanwick put on men in 1936 but I found more men and they are thinking of adding those. There is a reason people did not want their loved ones names listed and I think we should adhere to that and not keep bloomin changing things.

Now that my op has been put back, I have plenty (?) of time to research.

Thanks all - onward and upward.

Steve