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Delightful and Difficult Grandfather (in law)

Post your queries about your military ancestors, or help fellow researchers find out about theirs.
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aag19
Posts: 2
Joined: 05 Feb 2021, 14:47

Delightful and Difficult Grandfather (in law)

Post by aag19 »

My husband’s grandfather, Sydney/Syd Giles (b. 1903), AKA Presco/Syd Presco (from half-siblings surname Prescott) was an acrobat performing in music halls at home and abroad. We have a host of wonderful information for him; photos, newspaper reviews, notices from The Stage, a piece of film footage etc - so far so good. During World War 2 it is said that he performed with ENSA but we also have a photo c1940, with him wearing (I believe) a Home Guard’s uniform. After the war, he performed in South Africa, then moved there saying that when he was settled he would send for his wife and son. This never happened. Will it be possible for my husband to order any war records? We know he was in Durban in the 60s and that he possibly had a new family, but don’t know when or where he died. Have had no luck finding anything out from SA either. Hope this all makes sense. Any suggestions anyone?
meekhcs
Posts: 468
Joined: 02 Jun 2020, 18:19
Location: Lincolnshire, but Hampshire born and bred!

Re: Delightful and Difficult Grandfather (in law)

Post by meekhcs »

Hello and welcome to the Forum

The short answer is yes you can apply for WW2 records here https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-se ... es-records The site will tell you what you need and how to apply. There is a fee (£30 last time I applied) and the process is archaic and can take weeks!

From personal experience, you will need his full name and date of birth, and it helps to have a regimental number.

However before that, you need to try and establish whether he was Home Guard or Army. There are some Home Guards records online but a search at The National Archives may help you. Failing that The Local Records office where he lived may have details.

If you cannot find details a phone call or email to the Office concerning Army records may help.

I don't have first hand knowledge of Home Guard records but I am sure some one on here will be able to offer further advice.
Sally
VALLMO9
Posts: 757
Joined: 13 Jun 2020, 21:28

Re: Delightful and Difficult Grandfather (in law)

Post by VALLMO9 »

Family Search has this webpage, which gives a helpful overview of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa genealogy:
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Kw ... _Genealogy

If his death occurred in Durban after 1966, you may struggle to locate an online record confirming his death.
Try searching for his death in this FS record set, but it only goes up to 1976. https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/3511741 Could his death have been recorded under another name (different from his birth and professional names)?

Here's a link for the South Africa records which Ancestry have: https://www.ancestry.com/search/places/ ... th_africa/
Last edited by VALLMO9 on 07 Feb 2021, 17:03, edited 1 time in total.
aag19
Posts: 2
Joined: 05 Feb 2021, 14:47

Re: Delightful and Difficult Grandfather (in law)

Post by aag19 »

Thank you both very much. I will do some further digging in the first instance.
VALLMO9
Posts: 757
Joined: 13 Jun 2020, 21:28

Re: Delightful and Difficult Grandfather (in law)

Post by VALLMO9 »

If needed, here is guidance on how to order Home Guard records: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-hom ... ce-records

Also, here is a FS link regarding how to research South Africa Natal Death Notices: https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/So ... th_Notices
Note: Prior to 1994, death notices for KwaZulu-Natal were all created by the Master of the Supreme Court of the old Natal jurisdiction.
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