Genealogy Chat

Has anyone ever search local newspapers for (military)accidents in War time. I have only recently found an Uncle who was killed in WW2 - Great Yarmouth and not sure if news like this was censored. Any help welcome. Keith

Can't help with the newspaper question, but have you found your ancestor on the Commonwealth War Graves site at www.cwgc.org Kath. x

Thanks Kath Yes thats how I found out he was buried in Great Yarmouth (Caister) Cemetery, don't want to drive to Norfolk to check local papers in Library and find everything censored, just thought somebody else could have come across this before. Keith

Perhaps you could put a request on the record office board for anyone living in Great Yarmouth who would be willing to go to the library and have a look for you. If you have a date of death, it shouldn't take long to look through the local paper (which are usually on film) for a few days or weeks after the death. I have found people very helpful on here. Good luck. Kath. x

Keith, I believe the local paper is the Eastern Daily Press (EDP). How do you know he was killed in an accident, as opposed to enemy action? If he was a serviceman I doubt it would have been reported in the press, either as a military accident or if it was the result of enemy action. If he was a serviceman but involved in an otherwise civilian accident then it might have been reported. Ian

Hi Ian I know he was a Regular but now serving with what had been a TA Battn. He was killed when someone with him set off one of the mine's that was being laid at Great Yarmouth Race Course as a anti-invasion measure, I feared that story's like this would not have made the press but was hoping to be wrong. Keith

I think that it probably would have made the papers. Kath. x

Keith, I am sure it would not have made the papers. Let me tell you a story - my father was stationed in Norfolk for a time during WW2. He did street fighting training in the bombed out warehouses in Gt Yarmouth. One of his comrades in arms was killed by a landmine on the beach - it seems the authorities had lost the maps for the locations of the anti-invasion mines that had been laid earlier in the war. Out of interest what regiment was your relation with - seems a similar story? Ian

Hi Ian I was told about this by an ageing relative not long ago, until then I didn't know about my Uncle. The relative said that he was in India and the Battalion came home at the outbreak of War, which ties in the 1st Battn. Royal Norfolk Regiment, he was killed 13th July 1940, CWGC site has him as Lance Serjeant with the 4th Battn. On the net I have found an account of 4th Battn. when they where stationed Yarmouth area, and they say that they took a Draft from a Regular Battn. which would account for him being with them they go on to say that there first lose of life happen with the race course accident. Sounding familiar? Keith

Hi the local paper is the eastern daily news which covers the whole of norfolk or you could try the gt yarmouth mercury which covers gt yarmouth and gorleston, if you need any more info on yarmouth let me know kimxxx

Keith im sure the gt yarmouth mercury would of covered this, i lived near the race course in yarmouth for 22 years lol kimx

Keith, No, different regiment and time, even if location was similar. My Dad was there later in the war, with the East Surrey Regt. Unfortunately in wartime there were inevitibly many casualties even in training, where I think something like 4 or 5 percent was expected/accounted for. I guess a trawl through the papers would be worth a try, just in case. How about his army service record? That can be released to the next of kin. Ian

If he died wile on active service then All the local paper would have is a list of thouse killed in action.(local) Un likely there would be any other info as to meny died for War office to releses detailes pluss they would of not whanted to much in the way of detailes to be released

Thanks to all for your reply's, The Norfolk's have a Museum in Norwich and they have the WW2 war diary's there, because it was so early on in the War they could have more that a passing note of what happened, so looks like a weekend away when weather gets better. Keith

Hi I have an original newspaper article (found in an old Bible) of a relative who died in WW1 in Cambridgeshire. It's about 3 inches long. So you might be lucky. Penny