Help required in tracing a British ex-POW named Reed

Gentlemen, and ladies, I have another puzzle for you

I was recently contacted by someone who was trying to trace a British ex-POW who had served in the Kensingtons Rgt. This person had GOOGLED the Kensingtons and my name had come up by association, probably because the Kensingtons were at one time in the 78 Div, and he then wrote to me hoping that I might be of assistance.

The letter is fascinating and I think you will agree that the writer deserves our help.

I have asked John Jay, the letter writer, if I could use our site to find his missing Private Reed and I now re-print the letter below.

My name is John Jay and I am the elder son of the late Alec Jay, a Queen Victoria’s Rifleman who was captured at Calais in 1940 and spent five years in various POW camps before escaping for the fifth time and fighting in the liberation of Prague. His father had been born John Jacobs but the fact that he changed his name to Jay in 1916 may account for my father’s survival as a British POW during WW2 and thus my very existence.
Anyway, the reason I am contacting you is because you may be able to help me track down a member of the 1<SUP>st battalion of the Kensington Regiment or if he has now passed away his family. Sidney Norman Reed of 22 Evelyn Road, Cockfosters, Barnet, Herts (at the end of the war) was a private in the Kensingtons and was captured at St Valery in June 1940.
In October 1944, he was the senior British rank in charge of a punishment working party at a stone quarry at Gurschdorf, where my father was also held. It was a punishment camp for escapers and other prisoners who had upset the Germans. Anyway, Private Reed, service number 6846547, and my father witnessed a merchant marine boatswain called Philo being bayoneted by a bullying guard for claiming that his rank meant he did not have to work in the quarry. My father managed to find the guard’s identity and after VE day flew back to Germany to pull him out of an identity parade made up of German POWs. I now have Private Reed’s affidavit for the United Nations War Crimes Commission as a result of searches in National Archives.
That sums up my story and my situation. I have "googled" in vain to see if I could find a veterans association for the Kensingtons, perhaps because the regiment was merged in with others. Perhaps you might be able to help with my needle in a haystack search.

ps
Don't bother with the Cockfosters address, I have already checked that out

</SUP>

 

Ron, the new Listings on ancestry have your man Reed down as a Lance Corporal. ALso, there is an entry for Sidney N Reed getting hitched in Edmonton Middlessex in 1946 to a Miss Powell (ancestry keeps crashing, so cant dig any further at the moment.

P

 

Ron

Here are his details from Ancestry:-

 

Ron

Here are his details from Ancestry:-

Robert, I cant get back into ancestry at the moment, can you find the marriage listing for Sidney N Reed in 1946 to a Miss Powell ?

 

Cor !................................................

There's action for you !!!!!!

Many thanks lads, even I'm impressed

Ron

 

It Looks as if Sidney N Reed was born in 1918 in Islington, married a Miss Powell (First name and details to be confirmed when I can access the file). There is no record of a death for a S.N. Reed, but the records only go upto 2006 I think.

When I get a chance later, or if someone beats me to it, I will see if there is a record of any children.

P

 

Phil

Stepped out of the room.

Here is the image you were trying to get. Reed is near bottom left of page.

Cheers - Robert

 

Perhaps the Regiments Museum at TAC Marlpit Lane,Coulsden, Surrey could help.
Curator Stephen Bland

 

I believe I've found 2 children.

Juliet E - Born 1947 (registered Jul - Sep 1947)
Norman J - Born 1950 (registered Oct - Nov 1950)

Both born in Edmonton

 

It Looks as if Sidney N Reed was born in 1918 in Islington, married a Miss Powell (First name and details to be confirmed when I can access the file). There is no record of a death for a S.N. Reed, but the records only go upto 2006 I think.

When I get a chance later, or if someone beats me to it, I will see if there is a record of any children.

P

When I did a marriage search in reverse for Powell's first name, no record found.

 

When I did a marriage search in reverse for Powell's first name, no record found.

I had the same problem yesterday Robert, even when tryingg to trace Spose via the marriage entry for S. N. Reed, and couldnt even find it going through the individual records for Powell marriages in late sept 46.

Also, came up with the same two children. Searched for marriage enteries for Juliet and Norman, and found no strong match, so not sure where to go next on this one, although the local legion mught be worth a try

The Royal British Legion
287 Fore Street,
Edmonton,
London,
N9 0PD
0208807 6855

 

Phil

Looks like we've come to a dead end.

Robert

 

Many thanks to all for your splended efforts to date, including some info sent as a PM.

I'm sure that John will be most grateful for your expertise.

Ron

 

Dear All,
This amazing - so thanks very very much - with particular thanks to Ron.
Yours,
John

 

Dear All,
Thanks to your efforts. I have now located Mr Reed through the London telephone directory and we have spoken. What a small world...
Once again, many, many thanks,
Yours,
John

 

John,

Hello and welcome to the forum.

A great piece of detective work by all involved and a credit to participating forum members.

Very well done.

Regards
Tom

 

Dear All,
Thanks to your efforts. I have now located Mr Reed through the London telephone directory and we have spoken. What a small world...
Once again, many, many thanks,
Yours,
John

Excellent news,

 

That's fantastic news. Nice to get a good ending.

 

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