Oh dear, that sounds like it will take more than the odd hour after a meeting before I go for the train. Michael
Hi All, I thought I'd give a quick update on this in case anyone was interested. I have applied for his service record using the probate register and a covering letter explaining my problem, unsurprisingly it was rejected with a letter saying I need to get the death certificate or a sworn document from a solicitor, they also suggested I contact the GRO for help. I have contacted the GRO who have suggested I apply for a certificate but warned they may not hold a death certificate as there is no requirement for deaths overseas to be registered. I managed to get a copy of the book Tricky Dicky recommended (Air battle of Malta) however it says in the intro that it only deals with crash sites on the island and that there about 200 in the sea around it which are not listed. There is a list of names in the back of the book and he is not in there so I can only assume he is one of those who ended up in the sea. Thanks to the current virus scare my London trip has been cancelled so the document at the archives (which is probably my best bet now) is going to have to wait. Michael
Does the probate say if a UK solicitor was involved, if any kind of certificate was issued, then it may have been in their files & although a long shot does it survive today ? Or maybe the probate itself if dealt with by a solicitor will be ok as a sworn solicitors document. A digital copy of the will & probate cost £ 1.50 from here Find a will | GOV.UK
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 Name: Philliph Alexander Woodger Death Date: 4 Feb 1965 Death Place: Scarborough Probate Date: 22 Mar 1966 Probate Registry: York, England TD even the family trees for him do not record a date of death
Silly questions - 1. have you contacted the hospital 2. have you contacted the British embassy there 3. have you contacted the FCO Someone should be holding a copy of his death certificate TD
Hi TD, No I haven't tried any of those things, to be honest I wouldn't have thought to try any of them. Best I start digging! Thanks a lot, Michael
It may well be completely different but recently I phoned a hospital in Scotland to see if there was any records for my Great Uncle who was there in 1917, I was pointed in the direction of the archives but they wouldnt allow it out until 100 years, but in 2017 they sent me the record, why I'm saying that is that the records will exist its just a matter of speaking to the right person who provides the opening for you, and the fact that often the records are archives somewhere. Best of luck TD
As it's not on the overseas death indexes or consular deaths on ancestry it is probably in the Hong Kong Registers. The info in post 12 about a Hong Kong cert having to be collected in person at one of their offices in Hong Kong seems to still stand. Application for Search of Death Records and a Certified Copy of a Death Entry | Immigration Department Unless by contacting them there is a way around it for overseas applications there must be a way to do this. However its likely that the certificate or an interim certificate was in UK in 1965 for probate to be granted.
GovHK: Applying Online for Search of Birth, Death or Marriage Records, or Certified Copies of Such Records This could be fun for you TD
Thanks again TD. This afternoon I joined an aviation forum and asked for a bit of help with this, I've just had this reply: Hi Michael May I respectfully recommend that you acquire a copy of my 'Spitfires over Malta' for details of Spitfire operations from Malta in 1942. However, it is noted that Phillip (known as 'Woody' in the RAF, was an American in the RCAF) arrived at Malta on 11 August 1942, having flown a Spitfire off the deck of the aircraft carrier HMS 'Furious'. On possibly his first operation from Malta, on 27 August, he was shot down in Spitfire EP200/GL-T of 185 Squadron while carrying out a strafing attack on Comiso airfield in Sicily. He made a belly-landing at Marina di Ragusa, and was immediately captured by Italian troops. Hope this helps. Brian I have been told on here before about the RCAF bit but he definitely wasn't American or Canadian, but the dates match and the aircraft carrier bit fits with his history. What's the chances of two Flt Lt Woodger's being captured by Italians on the same date? Michael
Minimum - but coincidences do occur - can I suggest you also contact alieneyes he is very into RCAF stuff and if nothing comes from it then you can rebuff the 'other' forum you mention but it would close off OR open up, another avenue. If it closes it ioff then that helps refine the process TD
Thanks TD, I did reply saying he was born in Newcastle but without his record it's very hard to say this is definitely him, although I think it probably is. It does seem odd that this American has been found twice quite independently though. Michael
Without sounding daft - is there a Newcastle in the US of A? - there are many other towns/cities in the US that copy the UK names TD
Hello, 983080 LAC Phillip Alexander Woodger was commissioned Pilot Officer 12 February 1941. New officer's number was 62290. Page 2117 | Issue 35134, 11 April 1941 | London Gazette | The Gazette Neither of these are RCAF service numbers. 62290 F/Lt PA Woodger relinquished his commission but kept his rank, due to medical unfitness, 3 September 1947. Page 4337 | Supplement 38071, 12 September 1947 | London Gazette | The Gazette Regards, Dave
Thanks a lot Dave, that's really interesting. I know he had frostbite from his time adrift after the Empire Wave so I add a couple of years in a POW camp and he was bound to be suffering. TD, I had no idea there were so many but he was definitely from Newcastle Upon Tyne. Michael
Well, here's a photo of Mk Vb EP200 Spitfire pilots and aircraft database - Spitfire EP200 Note no bent prop blades, so engine shot up is likely cause of loss. and you could make one yourself 1/72nd Tamiya Spitfire Mk.Vb, EP200, GL-T, 185 Sqn, Malta
Michael, No doubt you have seen the photo of the crashed Spitfire shown here. The photo of the Spitfire above it was piloted by R83374 Sgt Claude Weaver III, DFM, RCAF of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. I took a look at all the RCAF casualties in this timeframe for a Woodger. Nothing in 1942 or the entire war. Regards, Dave
