Pleased to be here. Help needed.

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by LinDevon, Jan 19, 2021.

  1. LinDevon

    LinDevon Member

    Is it possible to discover surviving relatives of a soldier who died in WW2
    A Lieutenant wrote a kind letter to my Mother explaining how my Father died in 1944. He offered any help he could give her. This young man died in 1945 and has no known grave. He was 21. I would like to pass on any information I have to any surviving relative.
     
  2. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Welcome aboard. Help will follow usually. First, we do need the details of the deceased Lieutenant or any information you have. It is often amazing how much can be discovered. Needless to say the time gap is very long to trace relatives, the Forum will give it a try!
    PM about to be sent with research tips.
     
  3. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Hello and welcome

    You state re How your Father died
    if you are willing to share the details of your father then members here can try to unlock the detail including the Lieutenant



    also service records would assist you Get a copy of military service records if you havent already ordered them for your father
     
  4. LinDevon

    LinDevon Member

    Lieutenant Bertram Frederick Horwood. Born in Haslemere, son of Arthur and Emily Annie Horwood.
    In 1944 he was in the 12th Devonshire Regiment Airborne Division 'A' Company.
    A Company, including my Father, landed in France on D-Day. On 15th June Lt Horwood was ordered to take a group of men to block a road junction just behind the front line. (They were supposed to be resting.) At 4 o'clock the next morning they were heavily shelled and mortared. Lt Horwood told my Mother that Albert was hit by fragments from a mortar bomb. He died instantaneously and felt no pain whatsoever.
    Lt Horwood was eventually involved in the battle of Arnhem. On 6th Feb 1945 he was sent on a patrol. He had to cross the Maas river to Venlo. He died on 6th Feb. No grave has been found but his name is commemorated on the Memorial at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands. He was 21 years old and had been awarded a Military Cross.
    I have been heart warmed by the research I have done about my Father and was pretty much on a high, but the letter to my Mother
    and the further information on Lt Horwood has saddened me. I'll understand if no relatives can be found but I feel it has been good to talk about him. Many thanks.
     
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  5. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    [​IMG]
    Name: Lieutenant Bertram Frederick Horwood
    Death Date: 6 Feb 1945
    Cemetery: Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery and Memorial
    Burial or Cremation Place: Groesbeek, Berg en Dal Municipality, Gelderland, Netherlands


    Looks as though you might have a problem. Bertram was single when he died so no offspring. His brother Arthur did marry in 1941 (Daphne Chandler), they had a daughter born in 1947 but the tree shows she died in 1949. The tree doesnt show anymore children and Arthur died in 1995, Daphne died in 2017

    I will look further and check out those facts


    TD
     
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  6. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  7. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
    Name: Bertram Frederick Horwood
    Death Date: 6 Feb 1945
    Death Place: Surrey, England
    Probate Date: 26 Mar 1946
    Probate Registry: Llandudno
    32858_625988_0717-00289.jpg

    Paid to his brother

    TD
     
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  8. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Assume this is your Father

    PRIVATE ALBERT CLARKE
    Service Number: 5626557
    Regiment & Unit/Ship
    Devonshire Regiment

    12th (Airborne) Bn.

    Date of Death
    Died 16 June 1944

    Age 27 years old

    Buried or commemorated at
    RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY

    IA. L. 9.

    France


    • Country of Service United Kingdom
    • Additional Info Son of Alfred Herbert and Sarah Hannah Clarke; husband of Marjorie Constance Clarke. of Watcombe, Devon.
    [​IMG]
    Pvt Albert W. Clarke (1916-1944) - Find A Grave...
     
  9. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    https://www.theoga.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/OGA-10-2020.pdf


    citation for his award reads
    “Throughout the ten weeks Lieutenant Horwood has been in Normandy, he has continually shown a
    coolness and complete disregard of personal safety when under enemy fire or on patrol which has
    proven an inspiration to all those whom he commanded.
    On two occasions, while on patrol, he was wounded but continued to lead his men until the task
    allotted to him had been successfully completed.
    On the afternoon of the 25th August 1944, his company attacked across the valley of the River La
    Morette, a hill which was being held by the enemy using machine guns and mortars.
    When the supporting artillery fire lifted, the Company, which had not cleared the valley, came under
    concentrated and accurate machine-gun fire.
    A Private soldier in one of the leading sections became wounded and was unable to move from the
    corner of the field where he lay. Lieutenant Horwood, his Platoon Commander, was wounded at the
    same time. He nevertheless ordered the leading section to withdraw under cover, but himself crawled
    forward under enemy fire to a position where he could cover the wounded man until assistance was
    forthcoming.
    Lieutenant Horwood was subsequently evacuated to hospital.”


    Kyle
     
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  10. travers1940

    travers1940 Well-Known Member

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  11. LinDevon

    LinDevon Member

    Thank you so much TD. You have done so well and so quickly! I guess that is the end of the line, literally, for me.
    I must admit I do laugh each time I see Muttley!
     
  12. LinDevon

    LinDevon Member

    This site is amazing! Thank you for your response. The photo is great. Will I be able to print it?
    I was looking for so long for a photo, then I found The War Graves Photographic Project and success! Steve Rogers has been extremely helpful and I will soon receive all I need.
     
  13. LinDevon

    LinDevon Member

    You can understand why I have been quite affected by this young man. But now I know there is no one to contact, I must let it go.
    I will add more about him now, in my project concerning my Father which I intend to pass on to my family.(So, I guess his name will live on a
    bit longer.)
     
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  14. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Diving into the details a little more have found a possible nephew and niece

    England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007
    Name: Robin D Horwood
    Registration Date: Apr 1946
    [May 1946]
    [Jun 1946]
    Registration Quarter: Apr-May-Jun
    Registration District: Surrey South Western
    Inferred County: Surrey
    Mother's Maiden Name: Chandler
    Volume Number: 2a
    Page Number: 1033

    Name: Margaret J Horwood
    Registration Date: Jan 1950
    [Feb 1950]
    [Mar 1950]
    Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar
    Registration District: Surrey South Western
    Inferred County: Surrey
    Mother's Maiden Name: Chandler
    Volume Number: 5g
    Page Number: 1144

    There are 2 marriages for Margaret so she could be Mrs Margaret Parry (1979) OR Mrs Margaret Williams (1970)

    Cant see a death cert record for them


    Effectively both could still be alive and a useful and quick method of finding them is to use social media

    TD

    [​IMG]
     
  15. travers1940

    travers1940 Well-Known Member

    Agree with TD, one of the 12 online trees he's on shows his brother had 3 children, the registration district & mothers maiden name of the ones he has found agree with the child that iI can see details of online.

    His brothers wife (Daphne Lillian) left a will in 2017 & its available online here on the UK government website for for £ 1.50, so hopefully will mention relations. Takes about two weeks and arrives online.
    Find a will | GOV.UK

    But I'm hopeful the person who has posted several photos of Bertram on ancestry will message me back.

    Travers
     
  16. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

    1939 Register
    15 Kiln Fields, Haslemere, Haslemere U.D., Surrey


    First name(s) -
    Last name(s) - DOB - Occupation - Marital status
    Arthur S - Horwood - 20 Oct 1886 - Gardener - Married
    Emily A - Horwood - 22 Mar 1890 - Unpaid Domestic - Married
    The record for this person is officially closed.
    Edward C - Pride - 05 Sep 1900 - Builders Labourer - Married
    Elizabeth B - Pride - 08 Jul 1898 - Teacher Infant - Married
    John H - Pride - 23 May 1929 - At School


    Marriages Sep 1918:
    Horwood, Arthur - Bygrave - Hertford - 3a 1797
    Bygrave, Emily A - Horwood - Hertford - 3a 1797

    Births:
    Sep 1920

    Horwood, Arthur G - Bygrave - Petworth
    Sep 1923
    Horwood, Bertram F - Bygrave - Farnham


    There may be a relationship between the Bygrave and Pride families:

    Marriages Mar 1929:
    Bygrave, Elizabeth B - Pride - Hertford
    Pride, Edward C - Bygrave - Hertford
     
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  17. LinDevon

    LinDevon Member

    Thank you for your help. I got through the registration, found Daphne Lilian Horwood , filled in payment information, Error ...
    Busy!! All for £1.50. You have to have a sense of humour for this research activity!
    I'm totally amazed at this site. I have had so many messages almost immediately! Can't say I understand it all but I'm learning.
    I send heaps of praise for all those involved in admin. I will try the Gov site again but need a break.
    Linda
    Sorry, this reply seems to be in the wrong place. It is for Travers.
     
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  18. LinDevon

    LinDevon Member

    I'm upset! I clicked on Muttley and he has disappeared. Please can you reinstate him?
    I'm getting a bit cross-eyed with all the detailed information I've received. Everyone is just great.
    I'm so impressed.
    Linda
     
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  19. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Mutley 1.jpg

    Mutley 3.jpg

    Just for you

    TD
     
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  20. LinDevon

    LinDevon Member

    How do I put him back where he belongs?
    I can hear his laugh! Or wheeze.
     
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