Researching Family History.

..or rubbish handwriting. 

We have a family story, of a relative (my partner's great grandfather) being in the Army in India at the time of Kipling's stay there, meeting Kipling, and his name being used as one of the characters in 'Sergeant's Three'.  My partner has now found more information and he was actually serving in India at the same time, so we're now going down to the National Archives in Kew, next week, to find out exactly where his service took him and whether it is likely that he would have met Kipling during that time.

We have photographs of him, taken with his wife and family, outside a house which looks very similar in style to one featured on one Kipling website so we're quietly optimistic that there may be some truth behind the story.

We have used a variety of websites - and discovered that you can get completely free access to several genealogy websites at our local library (part of the Leeds libraries group).

Good luck to anyone who is doing similar research.  My Aunt did my father's family, starting in the 1950's when she was a librarian, and has managed to get a history going back to the 1400's.   Our family name underwent several changes between the 1400's and the present day.

Don't forget you can also look up Forces records too, this is an example of a WW1 military record.

Thanks brue. My paternal Grandfather was in the Navy at some point, but I think he would have been too young for WW1, and too old for WW2. He was an engine driver as well so may have been needed at home. I do know Dad’s Mum was killed in 1942, when he was just a young teenager. She was hit by an army lorry in the blackout. 

TDA newspapers will give you details of the incident, if you know where it was. You could try for the coroner's report - probably closed but may available if you can show direct line and you are nearest next of kin.

My husband's aunt, she was in her late teens, was killed whilst cycling near Bishops Stortford. She was cycling with a friend as a train went past - a soldier had a round in his gun and fired it out of the window 😲😢.

We also have husband's grandfather's navy record, came through the family gives dates and vessels he sailed on. A friend got her father's service records and followed his war. We have details of both father's service but haven't done anything with it - FIL  was torpedoed twice, not going to do that one! 

There was a census taken just before ww2,  a population count I believe it's online via Ancestry or Find My Past but you'll definitely have to pay for that.

That's the 1939 census, quite interesting details but some who might be alive still are missing from the lists.

Naval documents seem to be passed on to the recipients at the end of service. I have my grandfather's which includes the big discharge document with lists of ships etc. If the document corner is intact all is well, if it's missing the discharge was not a happy one.

Happy hunting one and all, it's an intriguing hobby. 

Yes brue, not a 'normal census in the true sense and many missing from the lists!

Yes our naval discharge papers have the corner in tact 😁. Gave us a giggle when we read that if the corner was missing it was dishonourable. We'd have been none the wiser in this day and age. All about being in the know!