General Chat

By the time I became interested in doing my family tree all the people who could have helped me were no longer around (sound familiar?) . This meant branches where I would hit a brick wall and could get no further.

Last week I was back in my home town and had been told that a brass fire helmet that had belonged to my great uncle was in a nearby museum so went to see it.

There was a WW2 exhibition in the museum and I picked up a copy of someone's memories of life in the war. To my amazement the first paragraph mentioned her father by name - my great uncle!! I had no idea he had a child. I asked about her and was told that sadly she had died in June :-(

The museum printed a copy of her article for me, and also copies of three photos. There were contact details for her husband and I spoke with him today - next time I go back to my home town we are arranging to meet and he will show me some photos and the family tree she did for her branch of the family.
Genealogy gold dust!! And only people who share my interest would understand why I am buzzing!!

Lyndi, how amazing is that. So pleased for you. Such a shame the lady passed away in June. Having those and family tree to see will be lovely. :-)

Meant to say having photos.

What an amazing incident Lyndi! :-) :-) :-)

I hope you have a lovely time talking to the husband and learn lots of news things to add to your Family History. It is a pity that you didn't get to meet the lady.

Gold dust indeed, Lyndi, what a pity you didn't meet your cousin.

My DH's nephew's partner has lots of information about her ancestors (research done by her father & grandfather)....... we've found out that we're waaaaaaay distant cousins (something like 20th cousins 5 times removed).

It's a small world.

Lyndi that's amazing news, such a shame she has passed
away.

I have one big brick wall which has driven me round
the bend and back again for decades.

So glad to hear that you happened upon this find, good
luck to you. :-)

Thank you everyone. Following up the information from the museum I researched further and was able to find the regiments my great grandfather served in during WW1 so have been able to find further records for my tree :-) The information was on a website for the town where the museum is - I didn't know he had ever lived there :-0

I am looking forward to some more trips of discovery now. Research is so much easier now with the wealth of information online, and the groups on social media who will help and share information but there is nothing like standing with something owned by an ancestor in your hands, walking the streets they walked or standing at their grave and having a few quiet words with them :-)

Lyndi I know what you mean I used to live near were my grandfather was born I always knew that but I found out that my g grandfather who was in the army and was stationed in Halifax Nova Scotia in 1870 anyway he met and married my g grandmother over there and brought her home to live with his parents. I found out that later on the whole family lived in the same road brothers sisters cousins aunts uncles and grandparents. I have some lovely photos of the houses where gg granddad lived in 1900 and where my granddad was born just across the road fro his grandparents :-D