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Hi Bronwyn,

Lawrence Walter Shields must have travel to and returned from NZ between 1943 (Milparinka, NSW) & 1949 (Young, NSW) as he appears on the Electoral Roll for New South Wales in both those years. He also appears in the 1980 Electoral Roll in Lakemba, NSW. It will be very difficult for you to find any other records past this date due to the Privacy Laws of Australia.

Have you checked the National Archives of Australia (NAA) website for his war history records. They may be available for viewing.

Regards
Vanessa

I didn`t know there was a Coffs Harbour in NZ too.

I`m familiar with the one in NSW, abt 600km N of Sydney - it`s noted as the home of the Big Banana:
http://au.totaltravel.yahoo.com/listing/537655/australia/nsw/northcoastnsw/coffsharbour/coffs-harbour/the-big-banana/

Bronwyn,

Lawrence's service number is 131098, his date and place of birth is 26 Jul 1914 in Coffs Harbour. It states his place of enlistment was Sydney and his NOK was his wife Dulcie. His records are not available for viewing so you will have to request a copy of them.

Vanessa

Forgot to give you the link for the website

www.naa.gov.au/namesearch

good luck.

mgnv,

I think Bronwyn was stating that the person she is looking for went from Coffs Harbour o NZ, not that there is a Coffs in NZ .. easy mistake, when I was first looking at it I thought the same thing.

Vanessa

Vanessa - I did think Bronwyn had stuffed up, but I can see (now you`ve pointed it out) that there`s another way to read the title, so I guess it`s me that stuffed up.

Hello Bronwyn,
Have you been in touch with the Coogee RSL. Also ask a librian service in NSW State Archives may be able to help with electoral roll if you tell them where you last found him on the roll. Good luck with your search.
Patricia.

Hello
Thanks for your replies.

mgnv/Vanessa/Patricia- there was only enough room to put NZ - just thought when you read my email it would make sense and thinking that if anyone was in NZ they may look.

Also, I am in the process of gettings his RAAF records unlocked.

Plus, I have a email that I wrote yesterday that I'm waiting on a reply.

Wasn't sure what NZ websites that would help me with any records that were free to view. My first point of call was to you guys with regards to NZ.

Bron

MGNV - I've checked with Coffs info/archives/records etc....nothing as he left Coffs and moved to Sydney then to NZ.

Thanks for your help.
Bron

Bronwyn,
The NZ electoral Rolls go up to1981, but there is no sign of him.
I'm guessing that this ER was prepared in advance and even if he did go to NZ after his wife's death, the time line is too tight for him to be entered on the roll.

However, there is no death in NZ for him.

All deaths where a person was born more 80 yrs before can be searched here, and this is bang up to date.

(The dates on this site can be manipulated to give an exact date of death. I tried this and found one person who died last week)

https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz

If by chance he did end up in NZ, then he is possibly still living??

Anne

Thanks Anne,

I think my last resort is Mitchell Library. He still could be living...but where!

Cheers

Bronwyn

This was from the Library:

I have searched the Sydney Morning Herald digitised newspapers via Sydney Morning Herald (and Sun-Herald) Archive 1955-1995 and have found a funeral notice dated February 18, 1992 page 27 referring to Lawrence Walter Shields, inviting relatives and friends of the late Lawrence Walter Shields of Punchbowl to attend his funeral to be held at the graveside of the Field of Mars Anglican Cemetery this day (Tuesday) service commencing at 10.30am.

Cheers
Bron

Good for you Bron.
Oddly, when you first added your post, the first thing I did was to search the Ryerson Index.
Although you found the death announcement, it is not included in the index.

Anne