Thread: Please Help

sarahcole1978 · 15-03-2008, 01:36 PM

HI, Ive been researching my family history for about 4 years now but am really stuck with my great grandfather his name was William Hancock and the story (from my Nan) goes that he was scottish, served in the Black Watch and was killed in India or Burma during ww1 when my Nan was only 3yrs. since doing my research I have found out that he was actually born in Lanchester Durham in 1892 and after ordering his marrage certificate to my great grandmother have found in 1915 he was serving with the 18th Hussars and was based in Scarborough. My Nan passed away in April this year and left with her stuff a photo of william wearing a blackwatch uniform and on the back it say's 1922 which means he could not of been killed in the first world war, he also does not appear on the national roll of soldiers killed during ww1. what I would really like to know is where he died and when if anyone has any advice on how to research him I would be very grateful.
Many Thanks Sarah

Starlight · 15-03-2008, 02:13 PM

Hi Sarah,

I have a similar problem which has meant that one side of my family tree is almost non exsistant. My Grandmother remarried after the death of her husband but I have not been able to find his death at the right time. I am convinced that I have found him on a war grave which gives all the information that is on my mothers birth certificate which means her was still alive when she remarried. The second marriage certificate saying he was deseased gives a completely different middle name for him from that on my mother's birth certificate. I am convinced that he deserted the family but can not prove it. I hope you manage to find an answer to your one. Good luck - sorry I can't help

TheRealRiddler · 22-03-2008, 07:59 PM

Hi Sarah,

WW1 records are now in the public domain., see national Archives for starting point:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/m...mepage=mh-army

Ancestry.co.uk have service records, pensions records and medal rolls databases all for 1914-1920; I note that there are a few Wm Hancocks.

Another possibility is that he was captured & died of wounds received at a later date.

However, if the date (1922) is correct, coupled with fact that he isn't mentioned on the national roll of the dead, I think he would have continued service thus not appear here. You can still request a service record via a form available from UK Veterens website http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_...e_records.html, you would need proof of next of kin.

Finally, if you know the regiment of the Black Watch you can try and perhaps discover their movements, [type "Great War Forum" into your web browser -very good forum in which where you could ask for help!].

As far as I know, there was no action in India or Burma during WW1, although the 2nd btn served in Mesopotamia (Iraq) alongside Indian troops, being amognst the first to reach Baghdad, but incurring heavy losses.

Post-1920, I think Black Watch served in India on the North-West frontier, but can't be 100%.

Best,

Riddler

sarahcole1978 · 25-03-2008, 11:38 AM

Thanks Riddler will check that out :-) sarah

15-03-2008, 01:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
sarahcole1978 New Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: hampshire Posts: 5	Please Help HI, Ive been researching my family history for about 4 years now but am really stuck with my great grandfather his name was William Hancock and the story (from my Nan) goes that he was scottish, served in the Black Watch and was killed in India or Burma during ww1 when my Nan was only 3yrs. since doing my research I have found out that he was actually born in Lanchester Durham in 1892 and after ordering his marrage certificate to my great grandmother have found in 1915 he was serving with the 18th Hussars and was based in Scarborough. My Nan passed away in April this year and left with her stuff a photo of william wearing a blackwatch uniform and on the back it say's 1922 which means he could not of been killed in the first world war, he also does not appear on the national roll of soldiers killed during ww1. what I would really like to know is where he died and when if anyone has any advice on how to research him I would be very grateful. Many Thanks Sarah

15-03-2008, 02:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
Starlight Ancestry Aid Manager Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Essex Posts: 14,994 Total Awards: 6	Re: Please Help Hi Sarah, I have a similar problem which has meant that one side of my family tree is almost non exsistant. My Grandmother remarried after the death of her husband but I have not been able to find his death at the right time. I am convinced that I have found him on a war grave which gives all the information that is on my mothers birth certificate which means her was still alive when she remarried. The second marriage certificate saying he was deseased gives a completely different middle name for him from that on my mother's birth certificate. I am convinced that he deserted the family but can not prove it. I hope you manage to find an answer to your one. Good luck - sorry I can't help
	Starlight Ancestry Aid Manager Hampshire:- Barks, Bartholomew, Carpenter, Cousens, Cousins, Dumper, Gallagher, Goodchild, Glasspool, Hoskins, Light, Mason, Monday, Mundy, Pearce, Pitt, Shepherd, Spreadbury, Staniford, Terrill, Thornton, Warne, Webb, Woodford & many more. Top Tip: Use the forum search engine

22-03-2008, 07:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
TheRealRiddler New Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: The North East Posts: 4	Re: Please Help Hi Sarah, WW1 records are now in the public domain., see national Archives for starting point: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/m...mepage=mh-army Ancestry.co.uk have service records, pensions records and medal rolls databases all for 1914-1920; I note that there are a few Wm Hancocks. Another possibility is that he was captured & died of wounds received at a later date. However, if the date (1922) is correct, coupled with fact that he isn't mentioned on the national roll of the dead, I think he would have continued service thus not appear here. You can still request a service record via a form available from UK Veterens website http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_...e_records.html, you would need proof of next of kin. Finally, if you know the regiment of the Black Watch you can try and perhaps discover their movements, [type "Great War Forum" into your web browser -very good forum in which where you could ask for help!]. As far as I know, there was no action in India or Burma during WW1, although the 2nd btn served in Mesopotamia (Iraq) alongside Indian troops, being amognst the first to reach Baghdad, but incurring heavy losses. Post-1920, I think Black Watch served in India on the North-West frontier, but can't be 100%. Best, Riddler
	TheRealRiddler

25-03-2008, 11:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
sarahcole1978 New Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: hampshire Posts: 5	Re: Please Help Thanks Riddler will check that out :-) sarah