Genealogy Chat

- My great grandfather was John Robertson born 1880 Lucknow, India. He had an older brother Francis born 1873/4 Delhi, India. The family returned to Scotland at some point between 1882 and 1891, i have them on the 1891 census. 1891 Francis Robertson, 17, Marine Engine Fitter, born East Indies - British Subject. Francis is not on the 1901 census. In 1903 their mother made an application for Poor Relief, in this she stated that her son Francis, 29, married, soldier in Royal Engineers (?) had moved to South Africa. I cant find a marriage record for him in Scotland, so i assume he married after moving to South Africa. Does anyone please have any advice on how i could locate any more information on him ?? I would love to know who he married and if he had kids, also when he died. Thanks in advance for any help or advice. Debbie

Hi, only thing I can think of is getting his service records? Possibly from the national Archives in Kew. Suzanne

Is it possible he was still serving in the first world war? There is this dath enrty on the Commonwealth War Graves site: ROBERTSON, F Lance Corporal 147585 29/05/1917 Unknown Royal Engineers United Kingdom P. II. K. 4A. ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN Of course from 1903 to 1917 he may have left the forces or changed regiments or even died. Suzanne

Hi Suzanne Thanks for this, could you tell me where you found this entry please. I thought i needed to know his regiment to obtain his military records, i had been previously told i needed to know my Great grandfathers regiment to obtain his records. Do you now if this is true? Are all british military records at Kew ? Sorry but i really dont know where to start here. Thanks again for your help Debbie

Hi Debbie, The death entry is from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site. I doubt whther this is him but you never know. As for finding his military records, Im pretty sure that most service records are held at kew but Im not sure if you need his service number or not. I do know that one of the GR members is going to visit Kew in June and was offering lookups but I cant think what his thread was called to bump it up for you. He kindly found records of one of my rellies on one of his previous visits and so he would be a handy person to ask. His GR name is AC something I think. Ill have another look and If I find his thread Ill bump it up for you. Suzanne

Hi Debbie, Ive bumped Pheonix's thread for you, sorry it appears he is not offering lookups this time but if you PM him he may be able to answer any questions...and you never know he may be kind enough to look for you while hes there. Suzanne

Thank you so much Suzanne! Debbie

Hi you can always try www.national.archives.gov.za some south african archives are online regards K x

Thanks Kath will give it a try Debbie