I wonder whether anyone is able to offer me some assistance. A woman, born in Alexandria but claiming to be of 'English' descent, joined the WAAF in 1942 as an Aircraft Woman 1st class. She enlisted in Alexandria and served until end of WWII. Is there any way I can obtain details about her? I am not her direct next of kin, she was my late father's first wife so am unable to gain access to her service records.
Hello Tony, Her name was Ginette Shama (born 1917, Alexandria), she married my late father, Frederick Charles Rounsley, in 1944 at Alexandria. Thanks Susie
AIR 78/142 on free download from The National Archives gives her service number as 299011 Note that the index card gives her name as Ginnette (you will need to point this out if you apply for a service record) This is part of a batch that started May 1943 for conscripts to the WAAF in the Middle East. Only 19 WAAFs entered service in this batch. You do not say if she is living or has passed away. The rules for service record application vary allowing anyone to apply for the record of someone who has been deceased. Info given alters after 25 years from death. But with waiver of the immediate family this can be commuted. Best to read the latest requirements and see if you can meet them. http://www.raf.mod.uk/community/support/requestforinformationfromservicerecords.cfm Regards Ross
Hello Ross, Many thanks for your comments. Mine is a rather complicated scenario ...... but here goes ......... My late father was a British serviceman (army) between 1936 and 1948, the majority of his service was Middle East, Western Desert etc. I possess copies of his army records. In 1944 he married Ginette Shama at St Mark's Church, Alexandria ( I have a copy of the marriage certificate). In 1946 Ginette gave birth to a son at International Maternity Hospital, Alexandria. The birth was registered by my father and I have a copy of the certificate. My father was then posted to Palestine and returned alone to England in 1948. My late grandmother received letters and photos until circa 1952, when my grandmother died. After that date nothing was heard from Ginette or her son. My father died in 1969 and it has only been in the last eight years that I have known of the existence of Ginette and Reginald Isaac. During that time I have tried all possible avenues of tracing them, but without success. I am obviously aware of the last known address of Ginette, I have even written to that address several times but have received no answer. I accept that over the years Egypt has suffered many turmoils and political disputes and records have been lost or destroyed. I assume Ginette who was born in 1917 has now died (she would be 95) but somewhere, perhaps, her son is alive. I have tried to obtain copies of Ginette's service records (hoping they may give me another option) but as her son would be next of kin and I can produce no death certificate(s) I am unable to receive the records. Thank you for reading this epistle, and any suggestions would be much appreciated. Kind regards Susie
Since you are at a dead end unless you can trace a death certificate I would suggest that you have another punt with the forms for NoK and £30. Give copies of the her birth and marriage certs to show your father was spouse. Then give death certs and show your relationship to your father and see what comes back. With her service number/name and your fathers service number/regiment but no elaboration of back story you may strike lucky. The tick box format of the application form may assist you in this. Regards Ross
Susie I had no record of her which, from your later posts explains why, as I only record female service casualties who died in service. Good luck with your research. Tony
Ross, Thank you so much for your valuable advice. It is certainly worth a try and who knows perhaps someone may take pity on my plight by granting me access to Ginette's records. Kind regards Susie
