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I am looking for any information on Roderick Read Atkinson, born on 3 Apr 1929 in England, married Martha Maria Vermeulen in Cape Town, South Africa in 1954, where they settled down and raised a family. Roderick died on 9 Jun 1983, believed to be in South Africa. Roderick was a member of the Merchant Navy, travelling on various ships, including the RMS Arundel Castle, voyaging from Port Said, Egypt to Southampton, England in 1947. Cannot find any details of Roderick's parentage or place of birth, so any input would be much appreciated.

His father should be named on the marriage cert

If he was born in Scotland, you'll need to look for the info on Scotland's people, which isn't a subscription site

I'm puzzled that you know the exact DOD, but not the location........

Connected:
http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/ancestors/thread/1322610?jump=1322610

No birth on SP for that name from 1920 to 1935

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/ancestors/thread/1322605

ONE post per topic, please!

Hi Reggie! Thanks for your replies. I am helping a friend (an Atkinson grandson) in South Africa research his Atkinson family. He has applied for various certificates related to the family, but it takes 8-10 weeks in South Africa to get the certificates, hence my questions here to see if anyone had any background to share. He has a couple of family-related dates, shown above, but no more for now. Thanks for your assistance.

I did what I often do .......... google the name


you've certainly been looking around for him!!


I thought I had hit pay dirt ............. but they all seemed to be either his or his grandson's recent postings on different sites!




interesting to see that from one site, you have discovered that he was born in Capetown, South Africa.

Hi Sylvain! Thanks for your comments. Interestingly, his Merchant Navy records suggest he might have been born in South Africa, but all family information says he and his brothers were born in England. We know that Roderick was economical with the truth with regard to his real age on his Merchant Navy application, so maybe he also misstated his place of birth? I'm off to the National Archives in Kew today to see what I can find from his Merchant Navy records. Thanks again for your input. Best regards, Paul

After a visit to The National Archives today, have now found that Roderick's middle name is spelt READ (not Reed) - this may or may not help.

Have now discovered that Roderick Read Atkinson was in the 1940's living at 69 Arnold Street, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa, with his mother Edith Mary Atkinson t the same address.

I just found that Roderick and Martha Maria Vermeulen were actually married on 25 Sep 1954 at Paarl, Western Cape. Martha Maria was born on 7 May 1930 in Hooikraal, Moorreesburg. No details given on the South African Marriage Register of the parents of either the bride or the groom.