Ancestry and WW2 Info

[Horsley2016]

Hi there,

Ancestry has popped up with a hint on one of my relatives that suggests he was killed in WW2. Forces Records expands this slightly telling me he was killed in action on 25.02.1945 serving for Monmouthshire Regiment 2nd Battalion. It then says 'Incident Date' as 10.03.1945. Can anyone shed any light on this?

Thing is, I've located the accurate electoral role info for 1945 that was taken on 5th May 1945 (maybe this date was the typed up date?) that has him living. What could be the reasons for this? Innaccurate dating? Family not informed? Hope? Or has Ancestry given me a duff lead? He is Joseph Beahan a Private 14766168. Is there anywhere I could find his enlistment docs or anything from the military side that could give me an address so that I could confirm?


Any help/advice/ knowledge shared always appreciated.
M

[Bertieone]

CWGC has Joseph being 18 years old when killed, voting age, 1945, over 21 years old.

[retiringtype]

So if your man was on the 1945 voters list (and therefore 21 or over) he can't be the one who was killed in Germany in 1945 aged 18.

[Blue70]

Is there anywhere I could find his enlistment docs or anything from the military side that could give me an address so that I could confirm?

Details for applying for service records covering service in WW2:-

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-rec ... -personnel


Blue

[Horsley2016]

Thank you. That's a cracking point about needing to be 21+ to vote...

It's confusing me as the other family members on that electoral role and the address are consistent with other pieces of evidence. I'm sure that's him on the role. BUT, as you say... he'd have only been 18ish...which of course, ties in with his 'death' if indeed this soldier is my man...

So now, given I only have his register index as evidence of his birth date in the 'quarter of' I'm thinking maybe the birth date I have is wrong OR could he have lied about his age but then, to make himself younger would have no gain!!

The lines of enquiry go cold too post 1945 - nothing. No snippet of anything birth/death/marriage/registers etc etc when the rest of the family can be actively tracked. Methinks I ought to try and find out more birth info - like an established date!

Thanks!
M

[Horsley2016]

... I've also just noticed on the 1939 Census the record between 2 sisters (which in DOB terms would make it Joseph J) is "officially closed" I assume this is because no death has been proven?

[retiringtype]

I've also just noticed on the 1939 Census the record between 2 sisters (which in DOB terms would make it Joseph J) is "officially closed" I assume this is because no death has been proven?

Presumably so. If he was killed in Germany in 1945 there would be no NHS recording of his death.

Is yours the one born in 1926 mmn Fletcher?

[Horsley2016]

Yes that's the one! MMM Fletcher...

[Katie]

What address do you have for 1945? I will check the newspapers to see if there is any mention for him.

[Katie]

Nothing coming up in the papers 1945 for a death for him. I'll check 1946 down at Liverpool. He is recorded as being Killed in action on a Casualty list available on FMP.

[retiringtype]

Having done a bit of research into the compilation of the May 1945 register of voters, it seems that it was recognised at the time to have many omissions and inaccuracies. It was not based on information supplied by householders. It was based on information supplied by the National Registration Office of all people over the age of 21 and the addresses at which they were living on 31 January 1945. According to one paper the information came from identity cards exchanged for new ones around March 1944. Provisional registers were put on display in local post offices for a week from 15 March so that people could go in and check them.

Perhaps Joseph's 1926 birth date was read as 1920 by the compilers?

[Katie]

Another suggestion you do to confirm he is your Joseph Beahan is apply for the death certificate from the GRO hopefully it will have more information on than the WW1 death certificates. Here are the details.

War Deaths (Army-Other Ranks) 1939-48

Beahan
Joseph
Pte
14766168
Mon R
1945
Vol 6
Page 185

[Horsley2016]

Katie & Retiringtype, thank you so much.

I keep getting cross eyed with this arm of the family yet I feel it's more straightforward than other parts of my family! I mean mostly they stayed at 1 address throughout their lives, which you'd think was easy!!!

I have our man Joseph Beahan B1926 and, according to the 1945 Civilian Recods is at 80 Cranmer Street, Liverpool. Makes absolute sense as the rest of this family are here and have been for years.

Now Joseph had a brother called James Joseph (Joe) Beahan B1921 and is listed on the 1945 SERVICE Register as "in the Forces" - address 80 Cranmer Street.... He is not on the Civilian Register for 1945 and his brother Joseph is not on the Forces Register!

So I have Joseph, quite possibly dead by 1945 serving in WW2 but listed as a Civilian and alive in 1945 (allegedly) at 80 Cranmer Street and James Joseph listed as in the Forces in 1945 BUT I have no military records on him! I know he does survive the War as he's on the electoral role in 1950...!!

Oh well, I do love a challenge! Thank you everyone for your help. Any info is most welcome.
M