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Winston Churchill's Funeral 50th Anniversary

On this day back in 1965

www.beautifulbritain.co.uk

the state funeral took place, in London, of Sir Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister of Britain. Widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the 20th century, Churchill had been a young soldier in India, the Sudan and the Second Boer War. He was also a historian, a writer, and an artist. As a politician he had held many positions in government having served in Asquith's Liberal  administration before he switched parties to serve as a Conservative. It was the biggest state funeral of its kind since the burial of the Duke of Wellington in 1852 and one of the iconic images was of the cranes on the River Thames dipping in salute as the barge carrying his coffin passed them by.

Sir Winston S. Churchill

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Newsletter from S&N

Just had a look at the S&N newsletter that has popped into my email box. They start with a look at what will be coming online from them throughout 2015: Parish Records, detailed County and Tithe Maps, millions of new Medals Records, more Grave Memorials from the Volunteer Headstone Project, records of Railway Workers from Pensions to Staff Movements, Jewish records, detailed Street Maps, Passenger Lists, Emigration Records and more War Memorials are all going online at TheGenealogist this year. And then we hear that this month they've released more War Memorials, Parish Records and have now added the 1911 census for all Starter and Gold Subscribers! You can make the most of this with £30 cash back on an Annual Gold Subscription, making it just £48.95 for the first year! There's no better way, they suggest, to start the new year than with some special offers - you can claim £50 cashback on a Diamond Subscription to TheGenealogist, and save £££s in their New Year Sale over at S&N Genealogy Supplies. They also take a look at 2014 in review. Finally, there is an interesting article this month about Ancestors that fell foul of the law. As they write, these are always fascinating subjects for family history research. Their article is a Victorian murder story of a notorious Madam who escaped the hangman's noose.

S&N email news

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Bracknell Family History Fair this Sunday.

This Sunday the 25th January 2015, if you are in the area, why not head along to the Bracknell Family history Fair? Many stalls and talks given by experts. Well worth a look!

Bracknell Family History Fair

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Dick Eastman to give keynote speach at WDYTYA?LIVE

Who Do You Think You Are? Live has announced the name of the Keynote speaker for the event in April. Its to be the Internationally renowned genealogist and blogger Dick Eastman. With more than 30 years of expertise, Dick Eastman is the founder of Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter, which has reported on family history news for 19 years and is read by more than 75,000 genealogists around the world. Eastman will be speaking on all three days of the event, which is set to take place between 16-18 April at the Birmingham NEC. In his talk, the US blogger will be looking to the future of family history, considering how technology is changing family trees and the genealogical community. To mark the show’s move to the West Midlands, Who Do You Think You Are? Live will also feature special Birmingham-themed displays and lectures, including sessions from popular local historian Carl Chinn on the real Peaky Blinders and a workshop on tracing Black Country ancestors with genealogist Michael Pearson. In addition there will be the usual wide range of experts in attendance, including military historians, photograph specialists and representatives from family history societies across the UK and further afield. Tickets are currently on sale from just £16 in advance and can be purchased at: www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.com.

Dick Eastman

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Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE 2015

The world's largest Family History show is being staged at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre this year from the 16th to the 18th April 2015, moving to the Midlands after many  years exhibiting in London. Tickets are on sale at: http://www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.com/

TheGenealogist family history talks at Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE

TheGenealogist  and S&N Genealogy family history talks on their stand at Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE

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If you are looking for a high quality  family history monthly digital magazine delivered to your own online account every month then take a look at the Discover Your Ancestors Periodical. It's a beautifully designed 30+ page online magazine that is packed full of stories, case studies, social history articles and research advice. It really is a great resource for anyone starting out in family history research, or for those with more experience but who have reached brick walls. This month you can read the following informative articles: Parliament and the people: Nell Darby looks back at the people’s relationship with Parliament, that is now 750 years old. The hidden treasures of gravestones: Nick Thorne explains more about what he learned photographing and transcribing headstones. Revolutionary biscuits: A slice of Dublin history revealed. Seeking out the pros: Keith Gregson explores what can be learned about professional sporting ancestors in online records. The rise and fall of the Darfield Flier: Michael Rochford reveals an interesting story of a Victorian cyclist. Archive heaven: Melvyn Jones highlights the treasures in the archives of our great landed estates. From Company to the Raj: Jill Morris explores British India History in the details. Jayne Shrimpton: On muffs. Visit their website to pick up your copy today: http://www.discoveryourancestors.co.uk/

Discover Your Ancestors Magazine January 2015

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New WW1 Records Released

New avenues of research are opened up by the latest release of unique Great War records online.

During the First World War many servicemen were reported as ‘Missing’ or ‘Killed in Action’ and for the first time you can now search a comprehensive list of these online. Usefully this includes the changing status of soldiers as the facts became clearer over time, as many assumed dead were found alive and those reported missing had their status updated.

TheGenealogist logo

This new release from TheGenealogist contains over 800,000 records. Included are 575,000 Killed in Action records, over 226,000 unique Missing-in-Action records and 14,000 Status Updates.

Over 100,000 people previously reported as missing had further status updates:

  • 59,500 were later reported as killed

  • 47,400 were later reported as PoW

  • 2,000 were later reported as rejoined

  • 4,200 were later reported as “not missing”

  • 8,400 were later reported as wounded

Mark Bayley, Head of Online Content at TheGenealogist comments:

“The telegrams and published lists of Dead and Missing must have had a huge impact on the lives of our ancestors. These records give an insight into what must have been an emotional roller coaster. They also give new avenues of research into what some researchers may have assumed were dead ends.”

These records are now available to Diamond subscribers of TheGenealogist.

Example 1 Thought to be dead

Some people initially reported to be dead may turn out to be alive; the change in status is usually reported in the War Lists. If it had been assumed that an ancestor was dead, from the initial report, it could reopen a closed off branch of a family tree for further research.

An example of this type of positive record status change is Flight Sub Lieutenant Trechmann who was first reported as “Died As A Prisoner” in the Daily Lists of 6th June 1917.

Flight Sub Lieutenant Trechmann who was first reported as “Died As A Prisoner” in the Daily Lists of 6th June 1917.

By the end of July 1917 his status changed to Previously Reported Died As A Prisoner, Now Reported Alive and Still a Prisoner.

Finally, in December 1918, his records show that he was Repatriated.

PoW camp in the image archives on TheGenealogist

Example 2 Thought to be wounded

A different illustration, on many levels, is that of the 5th Earl of Longford. Within the Daily Casualty List on TheGenealogist for the 6th September 1915, we can find Lord Longford who had previously been reported as “Wounded”.

5th Earl Of Longford

Lord Longford "Wounded" 6 Sep 1915 in records on TheGenealogistHis status was then changed to be “Now Reported Wounded and Missing” and this alteration appeared in the daily list of the 27th September 1915

Lord Longford Previously Reported Wounded in Military records on TheGenealogist

During the First World War, Brigadier-General Lord Longford was in command of a division sent from their base in Egypt to Suvla on the Gallipoli peninsula as reinforcements during the Battle of Sari Bair.

The initial attack by other Divisions on Scimitar Hill had failed. With his men waiting in reserve, the 5th Earl and his troops were then ordered to advance in the open across a dry salt lake. Under fire, most of the brigades had taken shelter, but Lord Longford led his men in a charge to capture the summit of Scimitar Hill. Unfortunately, during the advance, he was killed.

Earl Longford's body was never recovered and so, in the confusion of war, he was first recorded as “Wounded”, and then “Wounded and Missing”. Eventually, in 1916, he would be assumed to be dead.

Posterity tells us that the peer’s last words were recorded as: “Don’t bother ducking, the men don’t like it and it doesn’t do any good”.

To read more about these records and to read a featured article on TheGenalogist here.

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