Genealogy Chat

Hopefully sent article to you via PM - both the article itself and the full page from the newspaper.

Thanks Jink20

I was aware of the war cemetery details from Findmypast. I was told he was in WW1 as well but didn't know the details. I don't think my friend knows which medals they are and from which war but when I next see her I'll get her to ask her daughter.

Thanks for all the help. I will get my friend to visit the library in Hartlepool (her and her family still live there) and I was born there so I know that the library has the old Daily Mails on microfich. She'll be interested in the photo.

From looking into this (Frederick is her great-uncle) I have found that her father had two sisters who died very young that he didn't mention and didn't seem to know about. One died before he was born but he was 4 years old when the other one died.

Kath. x

The War Diaries for the 73rd are only available to view at the National Archives

Reference: WO 167/1308
Description: 73 Company Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps (AMPC)
Date: 1940 Feb.-June

The redacted address section on George's WWII, British Army Medal Cards, 1939-1945 is not available to view on Fold3 either.

Interestingly on FindaGrave the following entry is recorded...

Husband of Chrissie Harrison, of West Hartlepool, Co. Durham.
Served in the Pioneer Corps 73 Company Auxillary. He was also a veteran of WW1 serving with the 3rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry S/No: 9956
Frederick was one of the many victims of the sinking RMS Lancastria during the evacuation of France June 1940.

Burial
Escoublac-la-Baule War Cemetery
La Baule-Escoublac, Département de la Loire-Atlantique, Pays de la Loire, France
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56140472/frederick-georges-harrison#source

Expect a two year wait for a Service Record application.

RE "My friend's daughter was contacted by someone who had this man's medals"
My next question would be which medals? WW1 or WW2 ?
I'm aware that you posted his WW2 Service number I'm just seeking clarification that it's those medals being referenced and not the WW1's.

OP is looking for clues as to why a seemingly-unrelated family had possession of the man’s medals.

BTW, the man was recorded as having drowned in June 1940

HARRISON - A memorial service will be held at St Oswald's Church Saturday 2:15 pm for the late Frederick George Harrison, who was lost at sea. All relatives and friends are invited.

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail Fri 4 Apr 1941.

7 Aug 1940, he was in the papers as being missing.

NOW REPORTED KILLED

Mrs Christina Harrison of 8 St Oswald's Terrace, West Hartlepool, has now received official notification that her husband Lance-Corp. Frederick George Harrison (43) of the Pioneer Corps, previously reported missing, has now been listed as killed. L-Cpl. Harrison, who served throughout the last war, volunteered for service in Oct 1939. There are six children, the eldest of whom is serving in the army.

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail 25 Mar 1941. There is also a photo.

What kind of information are you trying to find?

Someone certainly did………..

If he died in 1940 it would be odd, surely, to be awarded his medals in 1948. I wonder if his family applied for them.

They would also probably be a big disappointment................. ;-) ;-)

I'd try the research route first, but.........each to his/her own.

Thanks Erika.

Good to know when the medals were awarded. I've already told my friend that she could order his service records and that they are likely to take quite a while to arrive.

Thabks again.

Kath. x

I've looked at Ancestry. As I thought, nothing there that isn't on FMP, apart from the image pertaining to his medals, on which some sections appear to have been redacted. ONLY available by paying extra for Fold3

The date the medals were awarded was 28 Sept 1948................15 years before the widow re-married

The other option for finding info would be to apply for his service record...................

This probably is a case of researching thoroughly both families to determine whether there could possibly be any connection.

His widow re-married…………..she would normally be the one to whom his medals were sent.

Thanks for your replies. It was only a long shot but I thought there might be just an additional name or place mentioned.

My friend's daughter was contacted by someone who had this man's medals and she has sent them to friend's daughter as she wanted them to go to living relatives. The lady had no idea how they came to be in her family's possession but she didn't think there was any connection between the families.

Thanks again.

Kath. x

It would probably need someone with the extra Fold3 sub to check.

Unlikely to be any different…the man would have only one set of service records.

Could anyone with a subscription to Ancestry please look up any army records for Frederick George Harrison born Dec. 1897 died 1940.

His army number is 13005010 and he was in the Pioneer Corps.

I have the information from Findmypast but was just wondering if there is any extra information on Ancestry.

Thanks in advance - this is for a friend.

Kath. x