Flight Sergeant Joseph Thompson, 69 Squadron R.A.F.V.R 08/02/1945

Joe,
"War in the Air" was compiled by Edward Smithers in 1990; not to be confused with H.G.Wells. Smithers' book $0.73 on Amazon.com currently from UK bookseller - worth 100 times more.
David

 

Hello Michael - I have been researching my family and am pretty sure that my mother Annice was married to Joseph Thompson. My mom was Annice Gill from Bakewell, Derbyshire. If memory serves me correctly she was a driver in the RAF and was based in Barrow in Furness. As I understand things, they were married in December 1944 and Joseph passed away a few month later - February 1945.
Records indicate that he was buried in Belgium, but I suspect that his remains have been recovered and are now in Cockermouth. From what I was able to find out (unconfirmed) Joseph was either from Barrow in Furness or was based there during the war and they were married there. My mom remarried in 1946 and moved to South Africa and has passed away. I really would appreciate any further information that may be available. Regards Sheron Pretorius.

 

Hello Sheron,

And welcome to the forum.

Sorry I Haven't replied sooner but been away for awhile.
Unfortunately apart from what is in this thread I haven't done much research myself on Joseph (which is lazy !) I am sorry apart from that I know his father is buried in Cockermouth cemetery. Cockermouth Cemetery, Cumbria: War Graves
The only way forward for finding about Joseph is by applying for his service records something I should do but I have a lot to send off for eventually.
Get a copy of military service records
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa..._service_details_raf_application_part2_1_.pdf

Regards Mike.

 

Hi Sheron,
It very very unlikely that any British serviceman buried overseas would have been repatriated after the war. Very strict rules on this. The first pist in this thread perhaps gives the impression he is buried in Cockermouth cemetery, but he is permanantly buried in Belgium as can be seen from CWGC.

Casualty

Exceptions are foreign service men from America and Belgium, they were repatriated as I understand it.

Have you obtained the marriage certificate for Annice and Joseph's wedding. That will name his father and give a home address.

 

Joe is my uncle and originated Barrow in furnace, in reading the info it sounds correct from memory... his mother and father later moved to Cockermouth in Cumbria...
Father and mother: Tom and Jean Thompson
Joe had 2 siblings Annie and Tom
Annie my mother, married Norwegian Submariner Halvor during the war in Barrow and had 6children.
Tom married Grace and had 2 children Roy and Joan.
Sheron - therefore we are technically cousins
Have you got family?
If your mother was Annice Gill from Bakewell, Derbyshire.....

Adrian

 

Adrian welcome to the forum
Sheron has not been on the forum for few years I have sent a private message informing her that you have posted on the thread


regards
Clive

 

Welcome Adrian Clive beat me to it in sending a message to Sheron.
If you have any more info you would like to share it would be great if possible but don't worry if you haven't.

Regards Mike

 

Sheron

Fyi

 

Hello Adrian
Yes, my mother was Annice Gill from Bakewell, Derbyshire. Sadly Joe passed away shortly after they were married. Mom remarried and immigrated to South African which is where I was born and still live. I did not have any siblings. I do however have 3 children of my own and 1 grandchild. I have a son living in Germany and another in the UK. My daughter lives in South Africa with her husband and son.
It was lovely to get the photograph of the headstone of the grave - I appreciate that. I am attaching some other information that may be of interest to you as well.
Thank you so much for reaching out to me! Regards Sheron

 

Thanks, Clive. I've responded to Adrian.