Find Ancestors

The booklet is a re-release. The original was a supplement of the News newspaper many years ago. It contains photo's of bomb damage around the city.
It became a collectors item..selling for sizeable money on eBay. But the New has just re-issued it... I purchased mine for £4.95 i think...It arrived a couple of weeks ago. I expect you can still buy a copy from the News.

I had heard it contained the photo I mentioned....and had seen a copy of it online..But i wanted to own a copy of the booklet...Lucky for me The news re-issued it!... lol...saved me a lot of money instead of buying on eBay.

Lilian Lottie Johnson, the wife of my grt grt uncle Walter was killed by a bomb blast at 1 a.m. on the 15 July 1944. Her body was found in Newcomen Road, Stamshaw, Portsmouth and she was taken to the mortuary in Edgeware Road, Portsmouth at 3.23 a.m. She was 68 years of age and at the time lived at 94 Winstanley Road, Portsmouth. The only personal thing salvaged was her wedding ring.
Walter suffering server headwounds. He spend the rest of his life in St.Marys as a mental patient.

They owned a ran a butchers shop in Twyford Ave. :)

The book sounds interesting.
I know Portsmouth and area was heavily bombed and remember there were still bomb sites when I was growing up just outside the city, post war.

Gwyn

Thank you Gwyn!

I didn't know that. :)

I used to live in Portsmouth...but now live in Scotland.
Shame as i didnt start reseraching my family till I had moved.

So much of the info I would like is now in the Portsmouth area...hahaha.
I rescently purchased a copy of "Smitten City, Portsmouth In the Blitz".

In it is a photo of bomb damage from a V-1 which killed a grt aunt of mine.
It was the last bomb to fall on Portsmouth in ww2.

Cheers!
Paul

You could send an e mail or write to the Portsmouth area newspaper... The News.
They have a free column, when space permits, called ' Where Are They Now? '.... where people's short messages re. family members have often brought forth useful information.

Gwyn

Yes....If I dont get a reply...looks like having to buy the marriage cert to tell for sure.....but its money I just dont have right now.


Anyway...Thanks BatMansDaughter &Ginny for taking a look...all helps as
sometimes yoy can miss things...fresh eyes alwasy good.!

many thanks
Paul xxx

Looks like Zena had a child with Mr Edward William Kemp, info about child locked.

Think I would definately try and contact the tree owner.

Wonder why her name is Grant at time of marriage to Charles?

Married before?

I have :

Births Jun 1911
Grant Zena P Portsmouth 2b 429

I have been thinking he may have returned to Canada..but can't find and reference to anyone of that name going back to Canada..or coming back...
Those i have seen are those you have looked at..but none match his date of birth. Ho Hum! :(

Paul,

there are a few trees on Ancestry with Zena. This is her death;

England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2005
about Zena Phyllis Kemp Name: Zena Phyllis Kemp
Birth Date: 29 Mar 1911
Date of Registration: Dec 1996
Age at Death: 85
Registration district: Worthing
Inferred County: West Sussex
Register number: 4B10C
District and Subdistrict: 7864B
Entry number: 153

I cant see a death for Charlie or Zena in Eng/Wales so maybe they did go back over seas?

It looks like the certificate is the only way in this case

Yes.....there is one person who has the name in their tree....but as yet...no reply :(

It looks like the lady in question has the name twice ..once in her married and maiden names.

But without reply..I dont know yet if she is related to Zena & Charles..or if it is my Charles.


Paul

Hi,

There is a possible child born in the right area in 1938, have you tried to trace her??

Dee x

He was in Canada loking for work and i believe seeing his brother George who had fought as a Canadian in ww1 and was wounded in 1917 and classed as a mental patient when returned to Canada in 1919.

He committed suicide in 1927.

Charles returned to England..and vanishes!...

I cant find any refernce to him anywhere...except the possible marrige to Zena...but i cant find anyone who knows it it is my Charles. :(

Thanks for helping..and you Ginny :)

Hi BatMansDaughter,

Yes DOB 04/02/1895.

I know he went to Canada in 1920...but returned in 1921 aboard the same ship.

He was giving the family address as 64 hertford Street, Portsmouth..the family had lived there for some time.

But after 1921..he dissapears...

JOHNSTON, James William Head Married M 52 1859 Plasterer Portsmouth Hampshire VIEW
JOHNSTON, Elizabeth Wife Married
33 years F 52 1859 Portsmouth Hampshire VIEW
JOHNSTON, William James Son Single M 32 1879 Seaman Portsmouth Hampshire VIEW
JOHNSTON, Henry Robert Son Single M 18 1893 Errand Lad Portsmouth Hampshire VIEW
JOHNSTON, Charles Winter Son Single M 16 1895 Errand Lad Portsmouth Hampshire VIEW

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RG number:
RG14 Piece:
5564 Reference:
RG14PN5564 RG78PN253 RD90 SD3 ED4 SN265

Registration District:
Portsmouth Sub District:
Portsea and Landport Enumeration District:
4 Parish:
Portsmouth

Address:
64 Hertford St Landport Portsmouth County:
Hampshire

Paul,

do you know his DOB??? I can see he was registered in March 1895 and wondered about this???

UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960
about Charles Johnston Name: Charles Johnston
Birth Date: 22 Feb 1895
Age: 60
Port of Departure: Quebec, Canada
Arrival Date: 13 Aug 1955
Port of Arrival: Southampton, England
Ports of Voyage: Quebec
[Le Havre]
Ship Name: Franconia
Search Ship Database: View the 'Franconia' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping Line: The Cunard Steamship Company Ltd
Official Number: 3646/01

Hi Paul,

Canada, Ocean Arrivals (Form 30A), 1919-1924
about Cha Winter Johnston Name: Cha Winter Johnston
Gender: Male
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1895
Birth Place: Portsmouth, England
Age: 25
Date of Arrival: 1920
Port of Arrival: Quebec
Ship Name: Metagama


Going to his brother.


Dee x

Hi Folks,

Does anyone have a "Zena P Grant" in their tree who married a "Charlie W Johnston" in Portsmouth in 1933?.

Marriages Mar 1933
Grant Zena P Johnston Portsmouth 2b 812
Johnston Charlie W Grant Portsmouth 2b 812

If so...do you know what Charlie's middle name was?.
When did they passaway.?
Did they have any children?.

I so want to track down the last sibling of my grandmother, "Charles Winter Johnston". Born in Portsmouth in 1895....but dissappeared after 1921...

The above marriage is the only reference that might be him.
The only way to know for sure is to purchase the marriage cert...but can't afford to buy willy nilly..unless it might be a good chance it is him.

Any ideas most welcome..as I am at a loss as to where to look for him.

Cheers!
Paul