Any help please with this man's Service career? His son is a friend, and would like to know more about his father in WW2. Dad died in 1968 so too young to know what he did or where he was. Born 8 November 1911 and enlisted 23 Jan 1941. Civilian occupation was a glazier, living in Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells. His paybook shows he attended No 7 HAA Practice Camp and Remarks seem to read: All numbers on guns. Should make a good NCO with more experience dated 8 May '41. His Medical examination looks to have been signed by MO i/c 207th AA Tr Reg't. Vaccinated 19 Dec '44 with what appears to be (anti?) typhus and he had dentures from No 28 MC in July '44. On the page opposite the Will page is written 29 IGH (C) and two dates, one above the other 19.9.41 and 26.9.45 (From and To dates?) IAT (L) Reg signed by what looks like Capt A E Gilston. Does any of that make sense? The CWGC nearest Service Number is for this man... Name: McANDREW, JOSEPH STEWART. Rank: Serjeant Service No: 1756866. Date of Death: 10/05/1942. Age: 30 Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery. 410 Bty., 124 H.A.A. Regt. Panel Reference: Column 31. Memorial: ALAMEIN MEMORIAL and Name: WARD, JOHN WILLIAM. Rank: Gunner Service No: 1756808. Date of Death: 04/03/1942. Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery. 411 Bty., 127 H.A.A. Regt. Grave Reference: Grave 829. Cemetery:Tilehurst (St. Michael) Church Cemetery, Berkshire but they may be complete red herrings! Any more info appreciated TIA
Welcome to the forum Nicola. Presumably the date of birth and death will confirm if this is your grandfather. As far as his military service is concerned he enlisted with the Royal Artillery but transferred to the Corps of Military Police on 5 July 1941:
This might be him England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: Leslie C Woodcraft Death Age: 56 Birth Date: abt 1912 Registration Date: Apr 1968 [May 1968] [Jun 1968] Registration Quarter: Apr-May-Jun Registration District: Tonbridge Inferred County: Kent Volume: 5f Page: 812 England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 Name: Leslie C Woodcraft Registration Date: Apr 1935 [May 1935] [Jun 1935] Registration Quarter: Apr-May-Jun Registration District: Tonbridge Inferred County: Kent Spouse: Kathleen M Goodwin Volume Number: 2a Page Number: 2691 1939 England and Wales Register Name: Leslie C Woodcroft Gender: Male Marital Status: Married Birth Date: 8 Nov 1911 Residence Year: 1939 Address: 43 Lincoln Rd Residence Place: Worthing, Sussex, England Occupation: House Decorator Foreman Line Number: 43 Schedule Number: 57 Sub Schedule Number: 1 Enumeration District: EMKL Borough: Worthing Registration district: 84/1 Inferred Spouse: Kathleen M Woodcroft Inferred Children: Isbel Woodcroft TD
On behalf of TD - unlike previous census returns the 1939 Register does not show the relationships of people in the same household, therefore if two married people, with the same surname, are at the same house it is perhaps reasonable to assume they are married, similarly a child with the same surname is assumed, or inferred, to be their child.
Looking again at the 1939 Register it looks as though the child born in 1935 is not Isbel. The Register column for M/F to me clearly shows 'M' so its a male child Born in Oct 1935 would mean it could only be England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007 Name: John L Woodcraft Registration Date: Oct 1935 [Nov 1935] [Dec 1935] Registration Quarter: Oct-Nov-Dec Registration District: Tonbridge Inferred County: Kent Mother's Maiden Name: Goodwin Volume Number: 2a Page Number: 1386 England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: John L Woodcraft Death Age: 23 Birth Date: abt 1935 Registration Date: Oct 1958 [Nov 1958] [Dec 1958] Registration Quarter: Oct-Nov-Dec Registration District: Worthing Inferred County: Sussex Volume: 5h Page: 676
Wow guys. Thanks for all of this. That makes sense I was wondering who Isabel was but I knew of John who was killed at a young age. He would have been my uncle. They had 3 more children. David Peter and Alan. David is my father. Thanks all again x
