Search results

Thanks for your useful comments and replies Aidan and Chris. More tunnel at the end of the light ! I'm not one to believe in coincidence..........but, as I mentioned earlier, in the 50's, my Dad did point out to me a semi-derelict building with yard at the junction of Harborne Lane and...

The mystery deepens. Having spent some hours trawling tinterwebnet, I've come across 2 other vague references to the Home Guard in Selly Oak. Firstly, on a site named RootsChat.com, I spotted a quote from a book called "The Home Guard of Britain", by Charles Graves, published in 1943 by...

Thanks for your comments and suggestion Chris. I think that I shall try the Central Library and possibly Selly Oak branch to see if any records are held, when I get the chance, though I won't hold my breath. If I have any luck, I'll post my findings here. Thanks again to all who...

Hello there Davenport. I recall your Dad, Arthur, quite well, for I was also a member of Blue Watch at Central. I was there during the early 70's when your Dad was a senior member of the watch and approaching retirement. In those days, Central was a "proper" fire station and each watch had...

Hello Ray and yet again thanks for your efforts. Sadly few records survived for the Home Guard and it looks as though I've come across that brick wall again. I'm not sure where to go with this now, so will ponder on it for a while. As ever, I'm open to suggestions from any quarter which...

Thanks for your very prompt reply Ray. Sadly, that's not my Dad. He was G J Collins and the chap you have found was G H Collins. Many thanks for taking the time to look him up for me. Chris.

Hello Blacksmith and many thanks for replying to my post. I don't think that any of the Collins's in 31st Battalion is my Dad, for he was George Joseph. I would be extremely pleased if you would find the time to research the 32nd Battalion for me. Is the Harborne Lane Drill Hall...

Dear Blacksmith, Some years ago I tried to trace my late Dad's Home Guard service details so as to claim his Defence Medal but I was unable to glean enough information to do so. I believe that he served in 31st Warwickshire Birmingham Battalion, possibly "A" company in P30 Unit ( whatever...

Thanks for the suggestion, but as Barrie points out, I only had the medal ribbons to go on. My next port of call will be Birmingham Register Office. Once again, thanks to all that offered advice or assisted in getting my quest up and running.

Barrie. I've sent you an email.

col h. Thanks for that. All advice greatfully accepted.

Thanks yet again Barrie. The Albert Peters you've found is on my shortlist and it would be grand if he was my relative. However I now think that it is not him. Last night I yet again scoured the attic for any more information, and found, tucked away in an old shoe box, a copy of my...

Thanks yet again, Barrie. I recall my Grandfather wearing his medals to Remembrance Parades and also a photograph of him as a Bobby circa 1940 ish. So presumably, they are genuine. He was born in the 1880s, so the photo of him in red dress uniform fits in with the Victorian era, just about...

Many thanks for coming to my aid so quickly Barrie. That's the chap I'm seeking, listed there along with my Grandmother and 2 of my uncles. Sadly now all long gone. I know that the family lived there well before, as my Mother, born in 1919, grew up in the house. Do you have any other...

I am trying to research my maternal family history, and am starting with my late Grandfather who died in the 1950's when I was but a lad. I know little of his military record other than there was an ancient photo (long disappeared) of him as a young man resplendant in a red dress uniform with...