I'm researching the fallen remembered at the Castle Bromwich War Memorial, Birmingham. I have an Aubrey James McHenry remembered on the World War 2 plaque. I have his birth and death details, However, I'm pretty sure he never enlisted in the Services and he didn't die until August 1946 aged 25, of Leukaemia. The 1939 Register has his occupation as working for the GPO engineering heavy supply store and his death certificate has his occupation as engineer's mechanic. Would you think he was working in a 'reserved occupation' at the age of 25 or perhaps his illness was the issue. Any thoughts out there? Kind regards Alan
Hello Alan Poss he served and was invalided out due to his illness Poss he was in reserved occupation Poss he was in Home Guard Do you know the criteria for including a person on the Castle Brom war memorial As you know many reasons why people were added all over the country. regards Clive
His occupation & any possible reserved occupation may be linked to the huge aircraft factory at Castle Bromwich, initialy run by Morris Motors & later by Vickers from 1941. It employed over 12000 people. This produced almost 12000 Spitfires, and by the wars end had been hit by over 200 bombs, causing 11 casualties. 2
In 1939 his brother Harold was working for Morris Commercial Vehicles and I was disappointed when I read his death certificate and it stated his occupation as engineer's mechanic, if only it had said who he worked for, it may well have answered the whole mystery.
I noticed that his brother Harold was already doing war work at Morris Commercial when the 1939 Register was taken, as a Motor Inspector Army Lorry Components (Morris Commercial). Not sure if the aircraft factory was up & running in Sept 1939, but this occupation could be there & this was all the brother was allowed to say ? I assume the entry for Aubrey is the closed entry on the families listing at 47 Sterchford Road, that I am unable to access on ancestry as he is only 17/18 yrs old. Others on this site will be interested in the research already undertaken on the Castle Bromwich Grave yard & war memorial, which features a page on Aubreys father Patrick Joseph McHenry. Patrick Joseph McHenry (1886-1959)
Thank you Travers, the closed entry is for Aubrey, it is now open on the 1939 Register on Findmypast, after I sent them his death certificate.
I've today found Aubrey's gravestone which has his name as Aubrey James McHenry A.C..1. RAFVR. I assume that means aircraftman first class. Now I know he was in the RAFVR are there any available records online where I can try to find more details?
I don't know of any online records of AC1's in the RAFVR. I expect you know this, but as he died over 25 years ago you could apply for a version of his service record, the web page says dob, death cert & service number, but the pdf form does not seem to need service number. Get a copy of military service records
