Recent Comments

Archives

Archives

Help Needed!

I was very interested to see the recently photograph of officers of the 13th (Loftus) Battalion Home Guard and I seek the help of fellow Clevelanders to solve a family mystery.

Attached is my maternal uncle, Joseph White (born 3rd October 1896) in uniform at the wedding of his brother-in-law Clarence Brown on 25th March 1940 at Liverton Church. He appears to be wearing three medal ribbons. They could not be WWII ribbons as those were not issued until after 1940, but he was old enough to have served in the latter part of the 1914-18 war which would make him eligible for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Indeed, it is conceivable that he might have been in France between 5th August 1914 and 31st December 1915, at which latter date he would have been 15 but there is always the possibility he lied about his age when volunteering or we have an incorrect birth date for him. If he was in France, then the third ribbon would be the 1914-18 Star. Graham recalls him being in the Home Guard but The Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow could not find any records for him. [Note: The Home Guard Records held by the Ministry of Defence are apparently far from complete].

I recall him being in the Home Guard as I went with my father, when on leave from the RAF, when he joined with Joe on rifle range practice at the foot of the shale heaps at Liverton Mines. The Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow could not find any records for Uncle Joe, however, The Home Guard Records held by the Ministry of Defence are apparently far from complete.

I seek help, asking if anyone has photographs, or lists of names, of the squaddies of the 13th (Loftus) Battalion Home Guard. With best wishes – R H Graham Suggett

Family History

CAN TREVOR PEACE PLEASE CONTACT THE ARCHIVE WITH HIS EMAIL ADDRESS, HAVING PROBLEMS WITH INITIAL CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS. FURTHER INFORMATION HAS NOW COME FORWARD. We get lots of enquiries about family history but unfortunately we do not have the time to do the research involved. However If you do have any questions about family history to people who have been identified or posted comments on the site, leave your request in the comments box below this photograph and we can put you in contact with them. Only the people who leave comments below this photograph can be contacted.
We do not pass on emails unless both parties are willing participants. This means WE WILL PASS YOUR EMAIL to these people who are genuinely interested in family history, BUT ONLY AFTER GETTING YOUR PERMISSION! We hold no responsibility for the passing of your email to these people.

The following are some of the requests we have more recently received for Family History:

Sue Smith enquired: “My great great grandparents lived in Brotton. Their names were John and Jane Cowens. They had 15 children. One of their children was Sarah my great grandmother. One of their sons John Wilson went to live in Australia. I am gradually trying to find out about the rest of the family. Any assistance would be great.

David asked: “I am trying to find more details of my birth father Leslie Welsh who lived in Marske in 1951/2. He may have been there on business but I’m not sure. My birth mother Mildred Brown lived in Emerald Street, Saltburn and worked at a Convalescence home. Any information on either of these would be helpful.”

Trevor Peace asked: “How do I find out about a 1920 burial of Armstrong Chapman. He was my wife’s Great Grandad from Skinningrove.”

Anne also asked: “i, I am trying to find out more information about my Great Grandfather George Leng, who resided in Staithes circa 1930 onwards. I believe he died in 1972 and is buried in Hinderwell Cemetery. Any information is greatly received.”

Other requests are listed in the comments below.