Trying to research a family member - George Frederick Whitham

It might be worth getting the marriage certificate from the General Register Office, it's only £9.25 and you would maybe get a little further with your research.

 

As you have an Ancestry a/c you will have been aware of all the information that members have posted above, however you will also appreciate that you can't do family history without obtaining documentary evidence so that should be your next move. As Lesley says his marriage certificate may or may not help with his military history but surely is worth getting anyway. Likewise for Gwendoline's birth; as her mother's name was also Wiggett it is possible that no father is named - but do you know that for sure?

As far as his service records are concered the majority of service personel were in the army.

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-t...2611/facts?_phsrc=xDr1&_phstart=successSource

 

Fair point and I do appreciate that, just very hard to apply for a military service record unless you know what branch of the service he served in - hence initial research

 

Deleted post as wrong details - sorry folks

TD

 

Why do you not invest in a phone call to Glasgow [I have always found them extrememly helpful] and explain your situation asking their advise on the best way to resolve this matter of which service. It could answer your question immediately rather that all this going around the houses

TD

 

That's a good idea TD - I hadn't though of that - thank you

 

If you sent off to the Army for his records, but they don't have them, as if he was Navy or RAF for example, they return your cheque - you aren't "losing" money. If you're that concerned, try asking in a phone call or email to see if they have anything, if so, then apply, asking for ALL records they may have for him.
Also ensure you're getting certs from Gov.uk not a scam service that simply adds a profit for themselves onto the cost!

You have to face up to the fact that family and military history does entail some expenditure to get the "right" details.
As Gwendoline was born in 1916, there was a terrible battle over the fortress city of Verdun. The Germans hoped to bleed the French dry by attacking the city, of national importance as being the last city to fall in the Franco-Prussian War in 1870. Whilst it cost a staggering number of French lives, the Germans continued the attacks which then cost them almost as many.
Gwendoline was born in 4th Qtr 1916, therefore it's possible she was born in December, as the French finally broke through the German positions on 15 December and British newspapers around Christmas would have been filled with reports..... just a guess, but December would be my thinking.

As for the Wiggett family, the closest I found was 4 miles from Aylesford (where Gwendoline was registered) 4 miles away at Erpingham, which might have been far enough to avoid the "scandal" getting back to the village. Somehow, I don't think she was illegitimate, despite "maiden" name being Wiggett, sometimes that was the married name shown instead. To come up with the name Verdun suggests a man with military interests and knowledge being involved - but I could be wrong.

 

Interesting theory - thank you. Gwendoline I believe was born 28 AUG 1916 • Aylsham, Norfolk

Will continue my investigation

And yes agreed re records - I know I will have to spend to get info, but no harm in trying to get some initial information for free first !

 

Although I have nothing directly to add, our family has something similar, as my aunt was born just before the end of the war, the story is that she was registered after VJ Day as Valerie Janet.

Much to the chagrin of my nan, my grandad was sent to register her as Valerie Jeanette haha.

 

Well that proved an interesting search

Gwendoline - born 1916 - Aylsham, Norfolk

I did not expect these results

Gwendoline E Simpson 1916 Aylsham Norfolk

Gwendoline M Sutton 1916 Aylsham Norfolk

Gwendoline V Wiggett 1916 Aylsham Norfolk


TD

 

@Tricky

Can't believe so many Gwendoline's in one area in 1916!

The bottom one is definitely the right middle initial and surname

 

Perhaps there was a workhouse (which was the only way poor young (single?) women could get maternity treatment) in Aylesford, run by a kindly lady named Gwendoline? My dad was born in 1918 in the Liverpool workhouse for that very reason. And grandma was married. Not until the NHS arrived would there be much provided for poor women apart from the workhouse if their family weren't able (or wanting) to help.

 

For Gwendoline's parents I would be interested in Selina Wiggett (? Selina Maud or sometimes Celine) as per my post #13 above, especially as it looks like she had another child, Sybil Maud, in 1911 with no father mentioned.