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Post by loes on Dec 22, 2011 0:31:10 GMT
July 1941 Elsie F from Salford, married to James C in april 1940, gave birth to a son.
On the birth certificate she is Elsie C formerly F, and the father William Williams, balloonrigger. They were both informants and both with the same address in Fallowfield. In November she had another son, but her mother was the informant and James C was registered as the father. If that's true I'll never know. Husband James was in the army, in England untill July 1942. His wife and the Fallowfield address is in his service record.
I know William Williams is an impossible name to trace. When I am in Manchester again I could see if there was a Williams living at that address in 1939 and 1946. Not Elsie, that I know.
In the meantime: can anyone tell me something about balloon riggers in the Manchester area? All I have found so far is that it was mainly a woman's job. And that they were produced where the Museum of Science and Industry is now. I suppose it's no use writing to the RAF, they will want Squadron and service number.
Also, there was talk later in the family about "Elsie and her American". An American in 1840/41? Wasn't that a bit early? Maybe she had more fun later. Maybe a Canadian, would they have been involved with barrage balloons?
Loes
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Post by shred on Dec 22, 2011 21:15:35 GMT
Hi Loes, With regards to balloon riggers you may find this site of interest. If the site does not contain the information that you seek try contacting the secretary whose details can be found at the bottom of this page. Yes, I would have thought that 1940/41 was too early for an American GI. So I would presume an American citizen or, as you suggest, a Canadian soldier.
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Post by shred on Dec 22, 2011 21:30:23 GMT
A small article showing age limits and what positions were required to make up a group/squadron. Attachments:
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Post by loes on Dec 23, 2011 0:17:25 GMT
He could have been local too of course. Elsie had turned 21 in July '41. There were only six births in Salford with that name between 1910 and 1920. All Salford, none in Manchester :-) Or from Wales.
Do you know what the date was of that article? The "urgently" suggests 1939? On the other hand, 25 yrs? I would imagine they would have wellcomed them younger than that at that time.
The website I remember from when I did some searching a few years ago. This time I will contact them.
Loes
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Post by shred on Dec 23, 2011 16:13:13 GMT
The article is dated October the 12th 1938.
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