Back again after a spell away. Can you help

Discussion in 'User Introductions' started by barerootbonsai, Apr 19, 2017.

  1. barerootbonsai

    barerootbonsai Junior Member

    Hi all, Website looks great.

    I am looking for information on a James keenan Milne.
    I know he was born on the 13 June 1914, in Falkirk, mother was Violet May Milne.
    He died in bristol in April 1988, aged 73.
    He suffered a trauma to the head it is belived during the war resulting in a plate being fitted.

    He never spoke about the war.

    My girlfriends family know nothing about this period.

    I sent a request form to the MOD.

    They have said they cannot find him as there is not enough information.

    Can you help with some pointers where to go?

    Thanks so much.

    Nick
     
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
    Name: James Keenan Milne
    Birth Date: 13 Jun 1914
    Date of Registration: Apr 1988
    Age at Death: 73
    Registration district: Bristol
    Inferred County: Gloucestershire
    Volume: 22
    Page: 798

    You may need a copy of this if & when you apply for his service records

    His daughters christening details
    England & Wales, Christening Index, 1530-1980
    Name: Margaret Rosaline Milne
    Gender: Female
    Christening Age: 0
    Birth Date: 24 May 1940
    Christening Date: 6 Jun 1940
    Christening Place: Bristol, Gloucestershire, England
    Phillimore Ecclesiastical Parish Map:
    View this parish
    Father: James Keenan Milne
    Mother: Violet May Milne

    Thats all I can find on him at the moment
    TD
     
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  3. barerootbonsai

    barerootbonsai Junior Member

    Just found out he was in Bristol in 1939.

    Name: James K Milne

    Spouse: Violet M Thomas

    Marriage: Sep 1939 - Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset

    Other: QMar-Jul-Aug-Sep 1939

    A bit more but no war record yet.
     
  4. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    With his death certificate details you can obtain a copy of that cert, from the Bristol Registrars Office and apply for his service records.
    Request records of deceased service personnel - GOV.UK

    Quote"subject to the payment of an administration fee and the provision of a death certificate (except where death was in service)."Unquote

    TD
     
  5. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

    My girlfriends family know nothing about this period.
    I sent a request form to the MOD.
    They have said they cannot find him as there is not enough information.

    It does seem strange to me that the family has no inkling as to what he did during the war.
    It appears that the army have no knowledge of him.
    His name does not appear in Air78/111/2 (List of those who joined the RAF).
    Pretty sure that the family would have known if he was a Navy man.

    So this leaves reserved occupation. What was his occupation?

    He suffered a trauma to the head it is believed during the war resulting in a plate being fitted.
    As we know he was in Bristol in 1939. Bristol received many air raids.

    Find my past 1939 census has a May V Milne, b1913, living in Bristol with a Alfred Thomas and 3 more people on record.

    So possibly more research is required around this area, including ARP, home Guard etc.
     
    Tony56 likes this.
  6. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    When chasing families in the past there is no real option other than to get hold of the actual certificates. When my father was married in 1940 he put his unit, rank and service number as his occupation on the certificate, I appreciate that your James was married a little earlier, but you never know perhaps he did to. Similarly it could be on his daughter’s birth certificate. May be worth pursing but even if the information is not there you will get addresses and other useful info.

    As Tricky advised, get hold of his death certificate and then his service records.

    I like the suggestion by RCG about May V Milne, born 1 May 1913, in the 1939 Register. If James was away on service had his wife gone back to live with her parents?

    The 1939 Register suggests that the head of the household were Alfred and Millie Thomas. Further research shows that Alfred Thomas married Millie Webb, Q2 1909 in Bristol. They are in the 1911 Census with a daughter Dorothy who was age 1, Dorothy was baptised 11 Feb 1910.

    Other children would appear to be:
    Violet M Thomas Q2 1913 Bristol
    Joyce I Thomas Q1 1926 Bristol
    Betty E Thomas Q3 1927 Bristol

    Both Joyce and Betty are found in 1939 and in all three cases the mother’s maiden name was Webb.

    Again, if you are trying to put the family together, you need them certificates!
     
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2017
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  7. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    What sort of request did you send to the MOD? and what information did it contain?
    TD
     
  8. barerootbonsai

    barerootbonsai Junior Member

    Hi TD,
    standard request for information held on the personnel records of deceased service personnel.

    Milne James keenan date of birth 13/06/1913 wrong Date of birth I know now. Stated he had had a skull fracture with a plate.
     
  9. barerootbonsai

    barerootbonsai Junior Member

    I was told last night the skull injury was some thing to do with Tanks.

    Just found this. Milne, James Rank: Trooper Service No: 7937448 Regiment: 4 Hussars, Royal Armoured Corps.
    Escape and Evasion

    Award: Military Medal
    How can i find out about where he came from and date of Birth?
     
  10. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Thats why the MOD couldn't find him

    I guess as he was probably born in Scotland you will need access to ScotlandsPeople, Ancestry does not cover Scotland after the 1901 census

    TD
     
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  11. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

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  12. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Maybe Ron Goldstein knows of him

    From Rons profile:
    Finally, I served as Loader/Op with the 4th Queen's Own Hussars (6th Armd.,78th & 56 Div) from Mar 1945 to Dec 1946 (Italy, Austria, Germany) finishing up as Tech Cpl. for "A" Sqdrn. I was "De-mobbed" in Apr 1947

    TD
     
  13. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Nick
    If you know that he wasn’t born 13 June 1914 then logically he could not have been the James Keenan Milne who died Q2 1988 in Bristol.

    It would help us a great deal if you could summarise everything you know about James stating clearly what are proved facts (i.e. you have the documents), and what is conjecture.
     
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  14. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

    Four more J Milne's who were POWs from POW lists NA WO392/1.
    But no J K's. So pointless looking for them.
    milne.png
     
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  15. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    You mean this MM award:
    Reference: WO 373/63/191
    Description:
    Name Milne, James
    Rank: Trooper
    Service No: 7937448
    Regiment: 4 Hussars, Royal Armoured Corps
    Theatre of Combat or Operation: Escape and Evasion
    Award: Military Medal
    Date: 1945
    Held by: The National Archives, Kew
    Former reference in its original department: 68/Gen/6896
    Legal status: Public Record(s)
    Closure status: Open Document, Open Description
    Access conditions: Normal Closure before FOI Act:

    Recommendation for Award for Milne, James Rank: Trooper Service No: ... | The National Archives

    TD
     
  16. barerootbonsai

    barerootbonsai Junior Member

    Hi All the info I have placed on the thread is correct, he was born in 1914. It's just his daughter has put 1913 on the paperwork I will re send it but not hope full.
    Find attached just got them. Death certificate James Milne web.jpg image1(1).JPG
     
  17. barerootbonsai

    barerootbonsai Junior Member

  18. barerootbonsai

    barerootbonsai Junior Member

  19. barerootbonsai

    barerootbonsai Junior Member

    I have attached his Birth Certificate if you can read it LOL. 13 Jun 1914.

    Thanks for all your help and advice.
     
  20. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Thanks for the documents. To start the information for the 1939 Register (#6) is the correct family as the address is the same as their marriage certificate:
    55 College Street, Bristol
    Thomas Alfred / married / dob 1 May 1886 / Fruit salesman
    Thomas Millie / married / 22 Apr 1888 / unpaid domestic duties
    Closed record
    Closed record
    Thomas Joyce / single / 17 Dec 1925 / at school (? possible later marriage to Willecombe)
    Thomas Evelyn B / single / 3 Jun 1927 / at school (? Betty Evelyn possible later marriage to Briggs)
    Milne May V / married / 1 May 1913 / unpaid domestic duties

    Also
    Thomas Alfred J / married / 14 Sept 1914 / window cleaner
    Thomas Enid V / married / 17 Jan 1917 / unpaid domestic duties
     
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