trying to trace a relative, a needle in a haystack

[dunmore44]

Hi I am trying to establish details about a relative of mine, although I believe i have more chance finding a needle in a Haystack.

The only details that I have got to work from is an old wedding invitation for his wedding

Sergt Robert Hales dated 1915, living in Romford, Essex

There were probably hundreds of Robert Hales, so I don't expect to strike lucky, but anyone with experience in this may be able to help.

Thanks

[Chris_Baker]

There will not have been too many of that name who were Sergeants in 1915.

A search of the medal index cards shows only 12 men of the name, anyway. One was an officer so we can probably discount him. None were Sergeants when they went overseas and none appear to have become one.

Is it possible he did not go overseas and thus did not qualify for a medal, do you think?

[dunmore44]

Chris

Sorry, but I failed to mention that they were lots of cards from france, including the Somme picture cards, there were also cards from Dec 1918 from Germany, unfortunatley most of the cards were either blank or just said "To my dear Wife, I thought you will like this card, Love Bob"?

[berrys66]

I don't know whether this is any help to you, but here's a list of Robert Hales from the 1901 census:

Robert Hales George B,

Mary abt 1890 Notting Hill, London, England Son Newington London

Robert Hales

Rosina abt 1889 Marylebone, London, England Son Paddington London

Robert C Hales

Richard,Emma abt 1891 Birkenhead, Cheshire, England Son Birkenhead Cheshire

Robert Hales Robert,

Sarah E abt 1887 Hempstead, Norfolk, England Son Ingham Norfolk

Robert Hales

abt 1886 Norwich, Norfolk, England Servant Stretton Derbyshire

Robert Hales

Elizabeth abt 1886 Sunbury, Middlesex, England Son Sunbury Middlesex

Robert Mark Hales

Robert,Elizabeth Mary abt 1894 North Creake, Norfolk, England Son North Creake Norfolk

Robert Hales

William,Diney abt 1885 Rainham, Kent, England Son Rainham Kent

Robert N Hales

Robert T abt 1895 Holt, Norfolk, England Son Holt Norfolk

Robert Hale

Robert,Mary A abt 1882 Stratford, Essex, England Son West Ham Essex

Robert Arthur Hales

Herbert,Annie abt 1900 Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England Son Bury St Edmund Suffolk

Robert H Hales

Samuel,Mary A C abt 1880 Hopton, Suffolk, England Son Hopton Suffolk

The name below each Robert is either spouse or parents, the date is approximate year of birth, then you have birth place, relationship to head of household and place where the census was taken.

Here are some Robert Hales from the BDM index:

Robert Hales 1878 Jul-Aug-Sep West Derby Lancashire

Robert Hales 1879 Apr-May-Jun Middlesbrough (1875-1968) Durham, Yorkshire - North Riding

Robert Hales 1879 Oct-Nov-Dec Strand London, Middlesex

Robert Hales 1879 Oct-Nov-Dec Thrapston Huntingdonshire, Northamptonshire

Robert Hales 1880 Apr-May-Jun Derby Derbyshire

Robert Hales 1881 Jan-Feb-Mar Manchester (1837-1924) Lancashire

Robert Hales 1882 Apr-May-Jun Wolverhampton Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands

Robert Hales 1884 Apr-May-Jun Derby Derbyshire

Robert Hales 1886 Apr-May-Jun Staines Middlesex

Robert Hales 1887 Jan-Feb-Mar Smallburgh Norfolk

Robert Hales 1887 Jul-Aug-Sep Whitehaven Cumbria, Cumberland

Robert Hales 1893 Apr-May-Jun Fulham Greater London, London, Middlesex

These are Robert Hales births registered between approx 1875 and 1895.

[Stebie9173]

Like Chris I can't see any Robert Hales as Serjeants, but there is one Robert Hale (no 's') in the Royal Field Artillery.

Description Medal card of Hale, Robert

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Field Artillery 675711 Serjeant

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=2

The numbers in the 675000 range were allocated to the 1st West Lanacshire Brigade in 1917.

Steve.

[Max (UK)]

Chris

Sorry, but I failed to mention that they were lots of cards from france, including the Somme picture cards, there were also cards from Dec 1918 from Germany, unfortunatley most of the cards were either blank or just said "To my dear Wife, I thought you will like this card, Love Bob"?

If he sent postcards to his wife, surely her address would be on them? If you know where he lived, it would make it much easier to pick one from Steven Berry's post above.

[Myrtle]

If you have the date of his wedding then you should order his wedding certificate which should give you more information.

Myrtle

[Guest dizzi]

HI CAME ACROSS YOUR RQ

I HAVE HALES FROM SUNBURY

AND YOURS MAY BE MINE

LARGE FAMILY

[dfaulder]

Hi I am trying to establish details about a relative of mine, although I believe i have more chance finding a needle in a Haystack.

The only details that I have got to work from is an old wedding invitation for his wedding

Sergt Robert Hales dated 1915, living in Romford, Essex

>><<

Thanks

Looking at the Index of Marriages for 1915 (on Ancestry.co.uk) there are no Robert Hales, but there is:

Robert Hale Q3-1915 Romford Vol 4a Page 1551

On that page (via FreeBMD) four individuals are listed as getting married:

Surname .... First Name . Spouse Surname

Button ..... Arthur S ... Howlett

Hale ....... Hilda E .... Hale

Hale ....... Robert ..... Hale

Howlett .... Happy E .... Button

So a Robert Hale married a Hilda E Hale (possibly, but not necessarily a cousin)

HTH (if it is your man)

David