I am desperately trying to find out what happened to my grandfather who fought in German east africa during the 1914/1918 war retrned home and then disappered from his home at 16 chobham road stratford e15 (London). believe my father walked the streets searching for him without success. He was born Charles William Newbery in 1871. Any info or advice would be greatly appreciated
I have had a look at Ancestry but I can't find anything sorry perhaps someone might have some more luck.
Hi, who are the people on the 1841 census? Are they your grandfather's ancestors and if so are you looking for help in tracing them?
This appears to be him in the 1891 census compliments of Free Cen. It might give a different direction to look if he was still in the navy? Hugh. From Free Cen 1891 census Piece: RG12/861 Place: Portsea Island -Hampshire Enumeration District: 4 Civil Parish: Portsea Ecclesiastical Parish: St Georges Folio: 75 Page: 19 Schedule: 103 Address: 41 Hanover St Antelope -------------------------------- Surname First name(s) Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born COLLISON Henry Head M M 45 Publican(Notem) Oxfordshire - Oxford COLLISON Mary Wife M F 36 - Scotland - Edinburgh DORMAN Ellen Servt S F 31 Gen Dom Servt Scotland - Dunipuis HOBBS Edward Boardr S M 22 Soldier Royal Marines London - Shoreditch HOPGOOD Charles Boardr S M 23 Grocers Manager(Em'ee) Hampshire - Gosport NEWBERY Charles Boardr S M 21 Seaman R N Essex - Stratford
Charles' army service records say he was a Royal Navy seaman gunner for 8yrs. His Army papers also give a timeline of the ships he served on from 1886 to 1892. Also his birth place is given as Charles Devon. The above is definitely the same man as his address was 16, Chobham Rd, wife Agnes Mary Drury.
He was discharged from the Army on ill health, he had a hand injury, malarial fever and sciatica. His character description was very good - honest, sober and thoroughly trustworthy.
This seems to be him in 1871 Charles, Plymouth, RG10; Piece: 2112; Folio: 49; Page: 59 George Newbery 37, coal porter Elizabeth Newbery 34, seamstress, Plymouth Robert G Newbery 3, Plymouth Charles W Newbery 6 Months, Plymouth Elizabeth Sheppard 61, pauper
There's a few death registrations in the GRO index which could be him, but some if not most seem to fit better to other Charles Newbery's (based on where born and the places of death). What year did he disappear?
As with many returned servicemen, health suffered on their return to post War home lands. Probable depression mixed with injuries would have caused much stress. Your G'Dad may have been in such condition & decided to change his name & start anew else-where, or wandered off- possibly met with accidental death or worse, & if he had no I.D. that death would not have been registered to his name. My Cousin's Family had similar incident in which the Husband went to pick up wages at docklands & was never seen again. "Did he run off, meet with accident, or mugging"? No-one knows. I hope sometime you can find the truth for your G'Dad & findhis final resting place & maybe learn where he had been during his latter years. Post war troubles don't ever seem to end for many people.
He must have disappeared after 1921, as his Army Records on FMP show he signed for his medals on 23 December 1921.
I was thinking along those lines (great minds & all that ) and tried a search of the newspapers on fmp in case he'd been suffering from an attack of malarial fever and couldn't get home. Unfortunately I didn't find anything, but this is the whole problem, if he was ill, was he too ill to give his name before he died? Ron, do you know if the police were informed, or if a search of the local hospitals was made?
There were several Charles William Newberys listed on electoral rolls & some just Charles. I didn't post as they were guesses. These chaps were not with any obvious Family: 1923-192535 Lichfield grove, Finchley 1927-35 stepney & Stoke Newington 119 Queen's Rd-1933 some incorrect addresses & time stopped me looking there abouts. Quick look today 1950+- 5 yrs only those listed as living alone. 1946 Charles William 203 Riverside Mansions Stepney, 1946 Charles W. Newbery 56 Eltringham st. Wandsworth
