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Hi all, my friend asked me to post this as she hasnt got a membership to this site. She is trying to find information about her great grandparents Robert H Johns b 1923 and Florence Wonnacott date of birth unknown. Robert was born in Devonport, England and married Florence in 1939 in Devonport, England. She has asked for help for information on their ancestors as we are both stuck.
Thanks Martin

well, both are born after the 1911 census, and that is the most recent one available.


so I think the start HAS to be buying birth certificates for both of, to get the names of the parents.

Then, you could start looking for the names of those 2 couples on the 1901, 1911, and WW1 records.


I can't think of an easy way round NOT buying the certificates.


In fact, it might be better to buy their marriage certiifcate .... that would give you the names of the two fathers, and thus an aid in the event that there are people with similar names born about the same time


sylvia

so this is their marriage registration

Marriages Sep 1939 (>99%)

Johns Robert H Wonnacott Plymouth 5b 898
Wonnacott Florence Johns Plymouth 5b 898


from www.freebmd.org.uk



sylvia

his birth registration

Births Mar 1923 (>99%)

Johns Robert H Lyons Devonport 5b 491



so his mmn was Lyons


I wonder if this is his parent's marriage

Marriages Mar 1915 (>99%)

Johns Robert H Lyons Plymouth 5b 433
Lyons Clara E Johns Plymouth 5b 433




sylvia

Hi Sylvia,

Thanks for the advice,
Yes that is the marriage registration for Robert and florence.

Martin

His service record doesn't appear to have survived, but this looks like father's medal record from WW1


British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920

Name: Robert H Johns
Regiment or Corps: Devonshire Regiment, Machine Gun Corps
Regimental Number: 45685, 149055

He was awarded the Victory and British Medals, like all servicement who fit the criteria:-

# Allied Victory Medal (Victory Medal) was awarded for service in any operational theater between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. It was issued to individuals who received the 1914 and 1914-15 Stars and to most individuals who were issued the British War Medal. The medal was also awarded for service in Russia (1919-1920) and post-war mine clearance in the North Sea (1918-1919).


# British War Medal was awarded to both servicemen and civilians that either served in a theater of war, or rendered service overseas between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. It was also awarded for service in Russia, and post-war mine clearance in the Baltic, the Black Sea, and the Caspian Sea between 1919 and 1920.


sylvia

I'm guessing that Robert must have been born 1890 +/- 10 years, as he was old enough to serve in WW1 ..... that's if I got the war records correct



do you know if Florence was approximately the same age as him?


ould he possibly have been married before?


I think you HAVE to get the marriage certificate of Robert and Florence, if you do not alrayd have it to find:-

a) the ages of Robert and Florence

b) the names of their fathers

c) was this a second marriage for one or both of them





sylvia

Hi Sylvia,
Thanks for all your help and advice really appreciate it, I wil let her know that the next course of action would be to get the marriage certificate.
Thanks again
Martin

you're very welcome



sylvia

oooh

I wonder if I've made a mistake??

I posted:-

his birth registration

Births Mar 1923 (>99%)

Johns Robert H Lyons Devonport 5b 491



so his mmn was Lyons




BUT he married in 1939 ..................... and a birth in 1923 would mean that he was only 16.




better get that marriage certificate!



sylvia

does she know when/where they died ? as year of of birth may be on the death index

Hi,
She did say he married quite young and she said she cant remember when they died

England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2005
about Robert Henry Johns


Name:Robert Henry Johns

Birth Date:28 Dec 1922

Date of Registration:Apr 1992

Age at Death:69

Registration District : Plymouth

Registration County: Devon

Volume:21

Page:1688