Help finding information on grandad

I wonder if anyone can help..im trying to find information on my grandfather. Unfortunately I do not have a lot to go on so I'm sorry that it seems a bit vague. I have been told he was potentially a paratrooper in ww2. Possibly from Lancashire area and his name ive been told may have been John Walsh but this i am not 100% sure on. My gran (Alice Doreen Adcock) was in the ATS based in Aldershot at the time which I understand is where they met. I was also told he may have been killed on or around D-Day. Again sorry it's not much but if anyone can help in any way it would be very much appreciated. I have been trying to find out information on and off for years with no luck and someone has just told me about this site. Thanks. Ian

 

From Ancestry - UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945

John Walsh - died 1944


John J P Walsh Gunner Belfast 11 Sep 1944 Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45

John J Walsh Driver Manchester 20 Jun 1944 Italy

John J Walsh Serjeant Eire 25 Sep 1944 Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45

John J L Walsh Lieutenant Norfolk 28 Jun 1944 Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45

John J T Walsh Trooper Yorkshire 19 Nov 1944 Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45

John J F Walsh Warrant Officer Class II Eire 26 Oct 1944 Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45

John J P Walsh Private London (not otherwise specified) 5 May 1944 Burma


TD

 

This is the only one in that database with a connection to Lancashire that I can find

Name: John Walsh
Given Initials: J
Rank: Serjeant
Death Date: 25 Sep 1944
Number: 187114
Birth Place: Eire
Residence: Liverpool
Branch at Enlistment: Other Corps
Theatre of War: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45
Regiment at Death: Royal Army Service Corps
Branch at Death: Other Corps

TD

 

Thank you so much for your help. I hope this will bring me closer in my search. I really appreciate that.

 

I'm not sure it will as we have no way of knowing if this is the right man or not, especially as you seem unsure of his name.
Did your Gran marry him?? what other information (however small the detail) do you have for him?

TD

 

Checking Paradata, the only John Wals I can find that would fit is:

John W Walsh | ParaData - died 18 Jan 1943

TD

 

No she didn't marry him.
All I have been told is that he was called john Walsh, a paratrooper that lost his life around d-day. He was from Lancashire or that area and he possibly had family there.
He met my gran when she served in the ats. His was of introducing himself to my gran was by sketching a picture of her in the cafeteria or officers mess or something like that. She fell pregnant with my mum and went to speaking house for unmarried mothers. He apparantly dies as I said around d-day and she went to see someone who I believe may have been his family in the Lancashire area after he had passed. That is everything I know but I will see if I have missed anything off.

Thank you once again

 

If you (or any member of the family) could trace any of this information that could help immensely help your search

TD

 

The mother"s service record may be of assistance and the army welfare personnel may have suggested affiliation proceedings, regardless that the father was apparently married to another, but it was up to the mother. An application was made to a local magistrates court. The father would have to be served with proceedings and given a chance to answer. Unfortunately it seems that the father died on active service.

Records of affiliation proceedings may be subject to the 100 year rule.

There were changes to service procedure after a parliamentary report on the issue: " Report of the Committee on Amenities and Welfare Conditions in the Three Women's Services" 1941-42 CMD 6384.

The annual rate of unmarried pregnancy was in the region of 15.5 per 1000.

If the mother was discharged from the services, which was not certain to happen, then this answer in Parliament gives some background:

" Released W.A.A.F. Personnel (Ration Books)

HC Deb 01 December 1943 vol 395 cc389-90W 389W

§Mr. Dalton A member of the women's Services discharged, or released from the Services pending discharge, on grounds of pregnancy is issued by her unit with a form which enables her to obtain at once a civilian identity card. This in turn enables her to get at the same place the combined food and clothing ration book, and, on production of a medical certificate, the expectant mother coupons and the ration book for the unborn child."

See " Unmarried Motherhood in Twentieth-Century England" by Pat Thorne and Tanya Evans ( excerpts available from Googlebooks.)

 

Hi Ian,

Check to see if any of these Walshes on the Fallen Heroes of Normandy site ring a bell .

Fallen Heroes of Normandy | List

There was one Para listed killed June 9th, 1944 with the 12th Parachute Battalion by the name of Corporal Malcolm Kennedy Walsh MM.

"SON OF WALTER WHITMAN WALSH AND LINDSAY A. WALSH, OF LOXWOOD, SUSSEX."

Corporal Malcolm Kennedy Walsh MM - Fallen Heroes of Normandy

Regards ...

 

Ian

Thinking overnight - can you obtain a copy of your mothers birth certificate and upload it as sometimes they hold more information than at first sight

TD

 

Ian, as you are well into family history can we assume that your mother's birth certificate does not mention her father?

 

You could also look at the Commonwealth War Grave website, for each John Walsh killed around D Day.View the details which includes either parents and or wife. This might help eliminate some or all of them.

 

I can get a copy of mum's birth certificate but no it doesn't state fathers name...it just says unknown. I will upload a copy as soon as I can. I have found out that my gran did work in the officers mess in Aldershot and that my mum has been told his parents were from Southport. Again not sure if this is of any help but I want to thank you all for trying to help me. I really do appreciate it

 

I notice that your Gran, Alice Doreen Adcock, was born in 1920. That suggests that John Walsh may have been around the same age.

 

Yes I would imagine so