Forums Forums General Forums A - Z Lifestyle Trying to locate my Grandad...

You've done well mate, any noticeable upset in the states with the news they got.

I'd say moreso from his first step daughter but she has been good enough to send some film and photos and a letter, if she knew earlier that would have been a different story. Both families referred to him a 'dad' and 'gramps' and they said he used to tell them about his travels when in the army minus, the bit where he married my nan in 1944 to 1949 when he left. I don't know how he could have married twice and kept 5+ years of marriage and kept the children a secret. Though in 1962 he came over with his first wife and step daughter back to scotland to see a child he had out of wedlock, this would make this child my mum's half sister. It looks like when he left my nan he went with another woman and had a girl named Hilary with a woman named Ella in about 1951, that's all we know. From the 8mm film we have that he took when he visited edinbrugh he filmed his daughter as he visited them butdid not visit the children to my nan's marriage which was a bit of a blow to my mum and uncle. Then I suppose he was still married to my nan so it would be a hell of a lot more complicated visiting his still married wife and three children. When he did visit scotland in 1962 it was the same year my uncle joined the army (the same regiment as his dad)and my uncle was posted up to Scotland to do his square bashing.

What an amazing story. Please keep us updated.

Brilliant news! Made up for ya. Your posititivity+ enthusiasm has put me in a proper good mood. Keep us informed please...

Was one of the children called Freda. Lived there 1950-1952 ish ? Geoff S.

Only just seen this message now from ANON, can't really contact this person back as they were anon.

That's good going MerseyMan, nice to see your doggedness rewarded. Can understand the little upset bit, I think we can all fall into the category where we may get an unexpected knock from unknown relatives. Shock when it happens but then you learn to live with it and accept it for what it is. We all think we have a half brother around somehwere, maybe we'll find out eventually.

Glad you had a positive result. This information may help others looking for family members:
Established in 1885, no other people finding agency in the UK reunites as many families - separated by so many years and countries - as The Salvation Army-
The Salvation Army Family Tracing Service
101 Newington Causeway
London SE1 6BN
Telephone: 0845 634 4747 or download request for tracing at salvationarmy.org.uk