Genealogy Chat

Can anyone tell me if there is another way of finding my grandfathers details from his raf number. I have contacted the raf and they wont release information to me as I am not his next of kin. If he is alive he would be in his 90s but I believe him to be dead. All I want to know is his DOB for my family tree? Has anyone any tips, Many thanks....

You would be best to look for your grandfather's birth in the birth index if you have some idea of when and where he was born.
The date of birth on his service records could be wrong anyway, as lots of men (my own father included) gave a false age when they joined up.
Do you know who your grandfather's next of kin is? Could you contact them?
Have you looked for a death for him? Do you want to give his name so we can search for his birth and death?

Kath. x

Hi, I have now idea of when and where he was born, the only information I have on him is his name William Charles Baker and his RAF number. I went to the records office and searched the birth index from 1910 to 1928 but didn't really come up with anything as I dont know where he was born. My mother was born in Southend on sea but I dont think he came from there, there was a rumour he came from the cockfosters area . Recently I hired a Private investigater who gave me all the living William Bakers to which I have written but I think infact that he may well be dead. It would be good if you could help with the death index but I really have nothing more than a name to go on. Many thanks and best wishes, Ruth

Try finding his marriage cet that will give his age and fathers name and occupation

from age on marriage cert it will narrow the search for his birth reference,
also his dads name to check you have the correct birth.

Roy

Ruth - try and track backwards - your mother's birth cert will have her father's name on if she was born in wedlock. It will also have his name, age and occupation and address at the time(That will also give you your grandmother's maiden name)
You should then look for a marriage which will give you another address and should give you his date of birth, and his occupation at the time of the marriage and his father's name and occupation, thus nailing it to one particular William Baker.
It seems odd that the RAF don't think you are next of kin - if your mother is alive then she would be next of kin I suppose, so she could make the enquiry.
Am I barking up the wrong tree here and what you are actually looking for is your 'birth grandfather' and you/or your mother were adopted. If so, that would be a whole different ball game.
As you have his RAF number, maybe you could find a site which has war medals for RAF. I know there is one for soldiers as I was able to trace my grandfather's service record from his number on that.
Good luck
Eileen

There is nothing to say that this is your grandfather, but this death is in Southend-on-Sea:-

Name: William Charles Baker
Birth Date: 24 Jan 1921
Death Registration Month/Year: Jan 2002
Age at death (estimated): 81
Registration district: Southend On Sea
Inferred County: Essex
Register number: C10C
Entry Number: 212

If the above death entry WAS to your grandfather then this birth seems to match up with the birth date given:-

William C. Baker, mother's maiden name Quayle
March qtr. 1921, Rochford, 4a, 1360

Rochford isn't far from Southend-on-Sea.

However, as already stated by Roy, getting his marriage certificate to find his age and father's name would help.

Kath. x

Eileen,

Ruth's mother's birth certificate will not have her father's age on it.

Kath. x

I think the point being and please correct me if Im wrong - your grandparents didnt actually marry?