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James Body 1922-1941

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date
Marked As Answer Marked as Answered

+++DetEcTive+++

+++DetEcTive+++ Report 24 Jan 2017 11:21

This man died when the tug Persia which he was working on hit a mine in the Thames on April 9, 1941

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is looking for close relatives as they intend to give his burial site a CWGC headstone.

“The CWGC is appealing for relatives of [James Body] to come forward as a close relation will be able to place a personal inscription on the headstone.”

It includes the paragraph
“Relatives, or anyone with information about the two men, are asked to contact the CWGC by emailing [email protected]

The newspaper article making this plea can be found on
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend/news/headstones-tribute-to-tug-crew-119274
........

James Body was born in Gravesend, the son of James Body and Daisy V Watts who married in 1919.
Its possible that his father (b1900?) died in 1922 in Gravesend reg.

James Body 1922, according to the article, married Alice Elizabeth Jane Russell on 25 Dec 1940 in Gravesend.

CWGC seem to have come to a dead end. Can Team GR do better? I've PM'd the two people who have James 1922 in their tree.

KathleenBell

KathleenBell Report 24 Jan 2017 11:42

I can't find any children for James and Elizabeth.

There is a chance that this could be Elizabeth's parent's marriage (assuming Alice's second name was after her mother):-

First name(s) JOHN
Last name RUSSELL
Marriage quarter 3
Marriage year 1918
Registration month -
MarriageFinder™ JOHN RUSSELL married
ELIZABETH R ASHBY
Spouse's last name ASHBY
District GRAVESEND
District number -
County Kent
Country England
Volume 2A
Page 1642

Kath. x

KathleenBell

KathleenBell Report 24 Jan 2017 11:44

Possible sibling for Alice:-

First name(s) JOHN
Last name RUSSELL
Birth year 1922
Birth quarter 3
Registration month -
Mother's last name ASHBY
District THANET
County Kent
Country England
Volume 2A
Page 1893

Kath. x

+++DetEcTive+++

+++DetEcTive+++ Report 24 Jan 2017 11:48

Difficult, isn't it?

I'd been looking to see if Daisy V Body, nee Watts remarried and think she did

DAISY V
Last name BODY
Marriage quarter 4
Marriage year 1923
Spouse's last name WILLIAMS
District GRAVESEND
District number -
County Kent
Country England
Volume 2A
Page 1503

MarriageFinder™ DAISY V BODY married ALBERT E WILLIAMS

There are quite a few Williams/Watts 1923-1940 in Gravesend. Of course, they may not have the correct parents.

This could be Daisy V and Albert Willilams in 1939. 2 Closed records

Williams Household (2 People) 23 Bath Street , Gravesend M.B., Kent, England

First name(s) Last name(s) DOB Sex Occupation Marital status Schedule Schedule Sub Number
Daisy V Williams 26 May 1901 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 2 2
Albert E Williams 19 Feb 1896 Male Electric Cable Arm Nay Department Machine Hard Married 2 1

+++DetEcTive+++

+++DetEcTive+++ Report 24 Jan 2017 12:01

Could this be Alice nee Russell on the 1939?

Russell Household (5 People) 2 Terrace Gardens , Gravesend M.B., Kent, England

First name(s) Last name(s) DOB Sex Occupation Marital status Schedule Schedule Sub Number
Alice E J Boyd (Russell) 21 Sep 1919 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Single 25 3
John Russell 20 Jan 1898 Male Jug Foreman For River Jug ? Married 25 1
Elizabeth R Russell 07 Mar 1900 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 25 2
George J Russell 15 Apr 1929 Male At School Single 25 4
Mary R Merrison (Russell) 23 Feb 1934 Female At School Single 25 5

The article did say "Mr Body lived at 2 Terrace Gardens with Alice Elizabeth Jane Russell "
The image has her original surname as Russell, then Body and finally Boyd.

2nd marriage
Marriages Jun 1942 (>99%)
Body Alice E J Boyd Chatham 2a 3384
Boyd Frank C Body Chatham 2a 3384

+++DetEcTive+++

+++DetEcTive+++ Report 24 Jan 2017 12:27

PM's sent to all members who list Alice Russell 1919, Ramsgate, Thanet or not given.
Also those who list her 2nd husband, Frank Charles Boyd 6 May 1914 - 1996.

Kay????

Kay???? Report 24 Jan 2017 18:23

Det,

There are also a few that list James Body ...1922-1924. Kent.

+++DetEcTive+++

+++DetEcTive+++ Report 24 Jan 2017 18:30

Thanks Kay. I'll have another look.

So far one member has opened the message headed with his wife's name, but no reply either way. Quite a few member's are probably lapsed members. Even if just one member or internet user contacts the CWGC, the effort has been worth it.

+++DetEcTive+++

+++DetEcTive+++ Report 24 Jan 2017 18:35

I think the ones giving POB as Medway have probably added

Births Mar 1925 (>99%)
Body James E P*****d Medway 2a 1150

The 2 James' could well be related, but a generation removed?

Click ADD REPLY button - not this link!

Click ADD REPLY button - not this link! Report 24 Jan 2017 19:16

Daisy's death?

Deaths Sep 1958
WILLIAMS Daisy V 57 Dartford 5b 297

Rose

Kenneth

Kenneth Report 24 Jan 2017 20:00

There are seven children from James Body mother Daisy V Watts second marriage
the youngest Peter A L Williams on ER 2016 and BT Phone Book living Gravesend
James Body his dad , mum and her second husband plus their seven children in
Genes Tree , member Rosalind Tolcher
Have spoken to Peter , and he has confirmed he is James Body`s half-brother and
he will inform his four living siblings .

+++DetEcTive+++

+++DetEcTive+++ Report 24 Jan 2017 23:46

Thank you very much Kenneth. Let's hope they are interested enough to contact the CWGC.
Rosalind is one of the members I'd PMd.

There was another man mentioned in the article, Ernest Caselton. He was single when he died. One of the GR members contacted is descended from an uncle & will pass on the details to another related person.

Well done folks :-D