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I have a relative, John Atkinson, who first appears when he marries 5th August 1915. He gives his details as being aged 33, bachelor, occupation Private 5th Durham Light Infantry, residence Drill Hall 1 Paradise Row, Stockton on Tees, father William Atkinson (deceased) a Joiner /Cabinetmaker Journeyman. Slightly less than 15 years later he dies of TB on 4th June 1930 aged 49 years. I have tried the cemetery and there is no further info available there. I can’t find him on census because I don’t know when his father died or where he was born or who is mother was. I can’t even be certain of his year of birth because that has changed between the two documents I do have. I am now left to either wait until the 1921 census is released to find out what he put down as birthplace or see if the army kept records about him. I would like to do the latter because I just have no patience and can’t wait another 17 years. I don’t want a service record. I would just like to know if he provided any useful personal info when he enlisted such as a DOB, next of kin, home address. Who should I approach for this info, the MOD or the PRO, or is there somewhere else I haven’t thought of? Please advise me; I can’t be the first person to have this quandary. Many thanks Beth

Wife was Mary Ann Harriet Beatrice Parrott Petch aged 17 residing 2 Alfred St Thornaby on Tees father Alfred Parrott Petch an engine driver. Witnesses were William Smithson and Elizabeth Steinmetz. Never heard of them so they were possibly friends/neighbours Does that help at all? Beth :)

Hi Elizabeth Did John have any brothers or sisters? Malcolm

I don't know - sob. I only know his father's name from the marriage cert. He wasn't buried with his family and I have no other info. That's why I hoped the army might have kept some records. Beth

Elizabeth, If you want all the next of kin info you need his service record. If you want his service record you need to go to Kew. If you go to Kew you have appx 40 percent chance that the service record survives. Ian

Hi Elizabeth Have you managed to find a William on the 1881 who was a carpenter? knowing that he was still alive in 1885 ish when John was conceived. It might be possible to then find the family inthe 1891. with a 6/7 year old John It could be a load of dead ends or it may make the hole in the wall Malcolm

Thanks everybody, I'll take your advice on board and let you know if there are any developments. Beth PS Are the records at Kew alphabetically indexed?

Looking up the service records at Kew is extremely easy. The microfilms are all in surname order and there are excellent alphabetical index books on top of the filing cabinets to tell you exactly what film to look at. I see you have his regiment so ..unless there were lots of men his name in the same regiment you should be ok. However, it is very likely that the record will have been destroyed. Even the surviving ones are damaged so some details are too faint to read - I have had a lot of luck with ones I've checked for people on this list. Go into the national archives site online and go into documents on line and get the First World War medal cards. Type in your guys name and regiment and see how many come up. If there is only one you are safe without his service number. oh yes they charge £3.50 to download a card that might just tell you he won the medals that everyone won and nothing else whilst at Kew you look at them for free and pay 25p to copy!!

If he was 33 in 1915 he would be born 1882 If he was 49 in 1930 he would be born 1881 There's only a year discrepancy, which is probably because one of these events occured before, and one after, his birthday that year. So you are looking for John Atkinson, born 1881-2, father William. Give me a minute. nell

This looks possibly like his father in 1881 Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability William ATKINSON Head M Male 39 Redcar, York, England Joiner Elizabeth ATKINSON Wife M Female 35 Middleton, Durham, England Mary Emily ATKINSON Daur Female 10 Stockton, Durham, England Scholar John Fredk. ATKINSON Son Male 7 Stockton, Durham, England Scholar William ATKINSON Son Male 4 Stockton, Durham, England Scholar Alice BRITTON Neice Female 6 Stockton, Durham, England Scholar Source Information: Dwelling 56 Garbutt St Census Place Stockton On Tees, Durham, England Family History Library Film 1342178 Public Records Office Reference RG11 Piece / Folio 4896 / 94 Page Number 2 nell

This looks like the same man in 1901 index: William Atkinson 59 Yorks Redcar Durham Stockton Joiner nell

Hi Nell I think the connection is a bit tenuous. This would make him to be born 1883/4. And there was a little LESS than 15 years between the two events of his marriage in August and his death in June, yet he aged 16 years. Thanks for all your efforts Beth :)

Assuming he was born 1881/2 in Stockton registration district, possible births on Ancestry civil reg: Atkinson, John George 1881 December Stockton Co. Durham North Riding of Yorkshire 10a 124 Atkinson, John William 1882 June Stockton Co. Durham North Riding of Yorkshire 10a 26 nell

Elizabeth It's possible that the John who was 7 in 1881 died and the next baby was named after him - this happened twice in my family on two different branches, so its quite possible. I just think that although William and John are common names, there is only one William in the right area with the right job who is the right age to be YOUR John's dad, that's all. But of course you are right to be sceptical. At the end of every blind alley there's a brick wall! nell

Hi Janice, I found one record for Atkinson, John Jno. Is that good? What the blazes does Jno mean? Beth :)

Well bang goes that theory! Name: ATKINSON, John Frederick Record Type: Deaths Age at death: 11 Quarter: March Year: 1892 District: Stockton County: Co. Durham North Riding of Yorkshire Volume: 10a Although the age doesn't tie-in with a 7-year old in 1881, so maybe my idea is right. I think I need to go and have a drink! nell

Hi Nell, When u consider that without anything to suggest otherwise, he could have been born anywhere in the country (or outside it) He may have been born in Hartlepool and gone back after the war (that's where he had his family) or come from somewhere entirely different and the name is too common to try all the possibilities. Now if he'd been called ..... Rumpelstiltskin that would be much easier. Beth :)

Can u pour me a verrry large one please Beth :)