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Durham Light Infantry

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Alan

Alan Report 24 Feb 2008 22:36

I have a marriage certificate detailing the groom as a soldier in the Durham Light Infantry in 1917.Are there records which will have his date of birth or any other information on him.

was plain ann now annielaurie

was plain ann now annielaurie Report 24 Feb 2008 22:50

His service records may survive. Won't give date of birth, but will give year and place of birth. Should also give details of family/next of kin. They may be on Ancestry, or at National Archives. What was his name?

:{{{0())~} Ian مْر

:{{{0())~} Ian مْر Report 24 Feb 2008 22:52

TRy looking on the Durham County Archives.(google!)

Do a search of their online catalogue and you may well come up with a photo of him online. There may be allsorts of other things there as well - they have all the DLI records, many of them viewable. I have found loads of info, including pics, of relatives.

Ian

Alan

Alan Report 24 Feb 2008 23:18

Thanks for your replies.The problem I have is identifying my wife's ancestor from all the people I have found with the same name and background.. He was Robert Watson and the only real thing I have on him is his marriage cert.He was the son of a Durham Miner (Coal Hewer) named William Watson and Robert was 23 years old when he married in 1917. His description on the cert is "Soldier with DLI and coal miner".Robert came south during the "Jarrow" period and stayed in the south afterwards.He later sent for his family. Before his family came down he had an affair with a London lady and my wife was the result. She saw him occasionally whilst growing up but then lost touch.He died in Portsmouth in 1964.My wife would love to discover her fathers roots and I have been trying to help.He had an address in Gateshead at the time of his marriage in 1917.There are loads of Robert Watsons born in the Durham area in the mid 1890's and I need his date of birth to identify the correct Robert Watson, thats why I was hoping the army records for the DLI would provide the vital date of birth.I have discoverd five Watson families on the 1901 census who could all be the one but as yet I have no means of confirming things.Sorry about the novel

Alan

Alan Report 25 Feb 2008 07:39

Thanks Stan I have alreadt seen the entry you have kindly posted. I have another four equally likely but it is difficult to point to the right one.Thats why I need his date of birth if possible. Thanks for your support Alan

Alan

Alan Report 28 Feb 2008 08:15

Unfortunately there is no service number on the certificate