Hi all,
Frederick Hennessy was my mother’s Uncle and died on 10th February, 1952, in Kilrush Hospital, County Clare, Ireland, after having been found near death on Kilkee Beach. He had, according to family lore, been invalided out of the RAF due to a lung disease (malaria?). He was a native of Querrin, County Clare. He was born in 1917 (one source gives him as born in 1915). My mother says that the story was that he was serving in Korea, got ill and was essentially sent home to die, as he was found to be too far gone. We don’t know his Service Number or any actual details of his Unit, length of service, awards or even if he served in WW 2, as he would have been of age to have served in WW 2. All of the Hennessy side of the family are now deceased. My mother was a child in 1952 so scarcely recalls him. Anyone got any search ideas or suggestions?
regards
Mick Bevan
By: Mick Bevan - 13th September 2017 at 00:12
I got a copy of his death cert back and Im now going to see what RAF records can do for me. Incidentally, his DoD is down as 11/2/52 on the cert, but 10/2/52 on his funeral notice.
By: Wokka Bob - 6th September 2017 at 20:18
Simples!
Start with ‘familysearch.org’ it’s free and has many of the same record cards as its sister site ‘Ancestry.co.uk’ or.com.
This latter site is expensive unless you need plenty of lookups to original documents. You can also find discounts online and this year I achieved 50% off for my ‘worldwide subscription’.
I have also found 2 records of marriage on familysearch; one in Nenagh 1928 & one in Baltinglass in 1945. Unfortunately spouses are not listed.
Hope this is of help.
By: Mick Bevan - 6th September 2017 at 00:39
how did you find that gen? I have applied today for a paper copy.
By: Wokka Bob - 5th September 2017 at 21:33
Hi Mick
You can apply for birth & death certificates to confirm the correct person. Just a quick look gives:
a birth in Kilrush 1915. Volume 4 Page 274 quarter Apr/May/Jun (Just maybe – 1914) I’m slightly confused.
a death: Kilrush 1952. Vol 4 Page 190, qtr Jan/Feb/Mar.
When researching a family, I try to find Family Bibles, Christening Cards, weddings etc that may give a clue. As said above, you can apply for his service record as I have in the past and have confirmed what we thought were family myths.
Good Luck
By: Mick Bevan - 5th September 2017 at 15:34
Yes, Paul. Unusually for an Irishman, our Frederick appears to appears to have no known middle name or it has been forgotten, as we have a small death notice from the local newspaper of the time of his death (10/2/52), in which his name is stated simply as Frederick Hennessy. I checked with my Mother and she doubted if he was called Maurice, as there was no trend for that name in that branch of the family. I think I’ll carry out that application that you mention, the RAF one and see what comes out of it.
regards
Mick Bevan
By: paulmcmillan - 5th September 2017 at 12:23
PS Have you eliminated Frederick Maurice Hennessy 654nn5 as being your mother’s Uncle ? “nn” unclear on Air-78
I think so because he would appear to be
Frederick Maurice Hennessy, 1921 – 2006
By: paulmcmillan - 5th September 2017 at 10:17
A service number of 531128 is one is issued from October 1925 onwards to Civilians
Using analysis of similar service numbers based on CWGC web site shows men which ages 24/25who died in 1940 which implies DOB of 1915/1916 so that matches
TRUMAY, LAWRENCE HERBERT Aircraftman 2nd Class 531133 20/02/1940 24
MOULD, EDWARD MELVILLE Sergeant 531169 03/06/1940 25
STEPHENS, CYRIL Sergeant 531100 08/08/1940 24
So it looks like that could match, best next bet is to apply for his full service file (as Next On Kin) or record of service (as anyone else for £30)
By: Mick Bevan - 5th September 2017 at 08:51
Yes, definitely born in Ireland.
By: l.garey - 5th September 2017 at 08:18
Have you tried one of the genealogy sites, such as Ancestry? I took a quick look and saw two Frederick Hennessys born in 1915, one in Mile End, the other in Bideford. Was yours BORN in Ireland?
By: Mick Bevan - 5th September 2017 at 00:40
Hi all,
Thanks for your help. His service number appears to be 531128, so I can dig further with that.
regards
Mick
By: TonyT - 4th September 2017 at 23:26
This one though appears still active
By: paulmcmillan - 4th September 2017 at 17:13
My first port of call would be to try and find his Service Number via
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4005738
I don’t know how many Frederick Hennessy are on there
If he served be before WW2 he would have a 6 figure Service number
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September 4, 2017 at 4:59 pm