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Britain Homage to 28000 Americans Dead

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ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

P

P Report 18 Jun 2019 21:22

Hello,

Random post and I have probably written about it somewhere before but now I have abit more info and more confirmed facts.

Everyone who I could possibly ask about this has died so i'm trying to do the search alone.

My Aunt Joan died in 2018 (BORN 1944) and she never knew her dad, we have recently found out that he was a soldier in WW2. His name was R.G.DUNN which is Robert George Dunn, I think he was born approx 1913 and obviously was with Joan's mum around 1944 too.

Joans mum was Doris Walklate 1920-1983 - not sure if that will help because they didn't marry?

Anyway, from what i've read, i think Robert was an American soldier who had came over to Cheshire and he met Joan whilst he was here for some time. He must have been at an Army base? So when Joan was born, Robert wanted Joan and Doris to go back to America with him but turns out there was a spat with his mum and Doris etc so they did not go. Robert went back to America by himself. Apparently before this all happened, the American troops were given the option to bring family to America, they had to be checked over at an Army base in Tidworth and they were then all put down on some sort of documentation as the American soldiers "children or wife" etc incase they chose to move. Is this anything that anyone has heard of?

Robert must have wanted Joan to know about him because after the war happened and after he had died, a book was delivered to Joan in Cheshire, a book called "Britains homage to 28,000 Americans Dead" with "In memory of R.G.Dunn". Joan was about 11 years old when she received it and the book specifically said that it was for the men who died in war, 1952 and beforehand. So we know he definitely died before 1955 (the year Joan received the book)... and inside, they have put that the soldiers NEXT OF KIN will receive the book if and when the soldier has died. So Robert must have put Joan as his next of kin? The daughter he never got to see?

SO now i'm trying to search for him, to see if there's a picture or just anything to confirm who he was. Apparently he also worked his way up to being Sargent/Captain, not sure if that helps?

I've seen many different stories but they don't match the stories i've now just been told? I've seen that a Robert Dunn was shot by his ex wife and dates seemed right etc but now i'm completely writing that off because he must of died in the war at some point somewhere for a book to be sent out in memory of him under the "Britain Homage to 28,000 Americans Dead"?!

Sorry - I'm wracking my brain on this one!! I just want to find him.

***Also, without wanting to offend anybody, but hopefully it will help, in those years, Robert was classed as a "Negro". I know this will obviously/hopefully help with searches***

Please pleaseeeeeeee if anyone can help or give me any tips or information etc regarding this, please let me know. Has anyone else ever seen this book? It's so interesting!!! THANK YOU :)

malyon

malyon Report 18 Jun 2019 22:18

found this


Posts: 160
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
View Profile

Robert George Dunn WW2
« on: Sunday 19 August 18 21:26 BST (UK) »
Hi,

i'm looking into family on my mothers side and i'm finding it really difficult as the people who could answer my questions are now all deceased!

Would anybody be able to help me please? :)

My mum's auntie, who is now passed away, Joan Oakes 1944 - 2018, lived in Cheshire & Hampshire...

well, her dad was Robert George Dunn 1913 - 1950(ish), he was American, Born in Indiania?? He was in the second world war and died of a gun shot wound. He was in Indiania and then he did come to cheshire, met Joans mother, Doris Walklate (1920) and then they had Joan in 1944. He went back to Indiania, not sure what the story was but i think there were complications with his side of the family and where they wanted him to live! He wanted to take Joan with him but that never happened. He then died when she was a little girl and she got given a book called "Britains Homage to 28000 American Dead" and underneath "In Memory of R.G.Dunn" and inside, "American Troops on the march in Southern England"???

I just wanted to find out how and if i can find Robert Dunns family, like his mum and dad and go up the Ancestry tree like that, hopefully to find photos.

malyon

malyon Report 18 Jun 2019 22:26

Robert George Dunn
Find A Grave Index

Name:
Robert George Dunn
Event Type:
Burial
Event Date:
1983
Event Place:
Andersonville National Historic Site, Macon, Georgia, United States of America
Birth Date:
26 Oct 1913
Death Date:
26 Mar 1983
Affiliate Record Identifier:
51154160
Cemetery:
Andersonville National Cemetery

malyon

malyon Report 18 Jun 2019 22:26

Robert George Dunn
Find A Grave Index

Name:
Robert George Dunn
Event Type:
Burial
Event Date:
1983
Event Place:
Andersonville National Historic Site, Macon, Georgia, United States of America
Birth Date:
26 Oct 1913
Death Date:
26 Mar 1983
Affiliate Record Identifier:
51154160
Cemetery:
Andersonville National Cemetery

malyon

malyon Report 18 Jun 2019 22:28

Robert G Dunn
Delaware Vital Records, 1650-1974
Name:
Robert G Dunn
Event Type:
Birth
Event Date:
26 Oct 1913
Event Place:
Camden, Kent, Delaware, United States
Event Place:
Camden, Kent, Delaware, United States
Gender:
Male
Father's Name:
Robert G Dunn
Mother's Name:
Beatrice Nickerson

Rambling

Rambling Report 18 Jun 2019 23:22

From the https://aad.archives.gov/aad/index.jsp

Of the 5 Robert G Dunns listed this is the only one whose race is given as Negro

Value Meaning
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER 35138859 35138859
NAME DUNN#ROBERT#G########### DUNN#ROBERT#G###########
RESIDENCE: STATE 51 INDIANA
RESIDENCE: COUNTY 097 MARION
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT 5140 INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA
DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY 26 26
DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH 03 03
DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR 43 43
GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION PVT# Private
GRADE: CODE 8 Private
BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION NO# No branch assignment
BRANCH: CODE 02 No branch assignment
FIELD USE AS DESIRED # #
TERM OF ENLISTMENT 5 Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
LONGEVITY ### ###
SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL 0 Civil Life
NATIVITY 51 INDIANA
YEAR OF BIRTH 13 13
RACE AND CITIZENSHIP 2 Negro, citizen
EDUCATION 7 3 years of college
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION 103 Checkers
MARITAL STATUS 3 Separated, with dependents
COMPONENT OF THE ARMY 7 Selectees (Enlisted Men)
CARD NUMBER # #
BOX NUMBER 0900 0900
FILM REEL NUMBER 3.322 3.322

Rambling

Rambling Report 18 Jun 2019 23:25

Possible death matching POB and date


First name(s) Robert G
Last name Dunn
Birth year 1913
Birth month Jan
Birth day -
Death year 1950
Death month Nov
Death day 18
Social Security number 306-12-8497
Place of issue Indiana
State Indiana
Country United States
Record set Social Security Death Index
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Civil Deaths & Burials
Collections from Americas, United States

Rambling

Rambling Report 18 Jun 2019 23:30

Possible for 1930 census

Us Census 1930

Harriet Jones Head Widowed Female 33 1897 Indiana
Geraldine Mcreynolds Niece Single Female 8 1922 Michigan
Hudson Andrews Brother-in-law Married Male 33 1897 Indiana
Grace Andrews Sister Married Female 38 1892 Indiana ( maybe mother?)
Robert G Dunn Nephew Single Male 16 1914 Indiana
James Hardy Lodger Single Male 34 1896 Kentucky

Rambling

Rambling Report 18 Jun 2019 23:40

It does look from your thread on Rootschat, that the above is most likely

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=798902.0

https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=INR19501125-01.1.1

Rambling

Rambling Report 18 Jun 2019 23:46

Re the book, as far as I can see it says that it is to honour the 28,000 who died rather than that it is necessarily sent only to family of those killed at the time. You could perhaps try and find out if it was a book specifically given when the veteran died, if after the war

http://old.506infantry.org/hiswwii/his2ndbnwwiimemo26.html

Rambling

Rambling Report 19 Jun 2019 00:03

There are a number of articles in US papers on FMP

marriage announcement

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search/us-and-world-newspapers/page/view/338572490

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search/us-and-world-newspapers/page/view/338482416

account of his murder, it gives some important detail, Robert served 3 years in army, wounded at The Battle of the Bulge ( which gives an idea for dates) and rec The Purple Star.

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search/us-and-world-newspapers/page/view/338653944
Mother was given as living at 2257 Indianopolis Avenue

"Indianapolis Recorder,Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 November 1950 — Page 1 .... Robert George Dunn, World War II veteran and, former Attacks high school .... He was a star halfback on Crispus Attucks football teams during the early '30s."

Rambling

Rambling Report 19 Jun 2019 00:19

Slightly better photo at

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search/us-and-world-newspapers/page/view/338574045

Gives "Mother and Foster father Grace and John Perry"

Maddie

Maddie Report 19 Jun 2019 14:23

in the U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947


Name: Robert George Dunn
Gender: Male
Race: Negro (Black)
Age: 27
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Date: 25 Jul 1913
Birth Place: Indianapolis, Indiana
Residence Place: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: Indiana, USA
Employer: James McKinney
Weight: 169
Complexion: Dark Brown
Eye Colour: Brown
Hair Colour: Black
Height: 5 10
Next of Kin: Grace May Perry
Household Members:
Name Relationship
Robert George Dunn Self (Head)
Grace May Perry Mother ------------------


Name: Grace May Jones
Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 22 Sep 1910
Marriage Place: Marion, Indiana
Father: Geo. W. Jones
Mother: Fannie Price
Spouse: Robert Dunn
FHL Film Number: 499394
Reference ID: no 58, p 399

in the Indiana, Death Certificates, 1

1910 for spouse
Name: Robert Dunn
Age in 1910: 18
Birth Year: abt 1892
Birthplace: Kentucky
Home in 1910: Indianapolis Ward 5, Marion, Indiana
Street: North West Street
Race: Black
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Step Son
Marital status: Single
Father's Birthplace: Kentucky
Mother's name: Luther Dunn
Mother's Birthplace: Kentucky
Native Tongue: English
Occupation: Elevator Boy
Industry: Store
Employer, Employee or Other: Wage Earner
Attended School: No
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Out of Work: N
Number of weeks out of work: 0
Neighbors:
Household Members:
Name Age
Edward Dunn 37
Luther Dunn 34
Robert Dunn 18
Mattie Calhoun 16

1930
Name: Robert G Dunn
[Robert G Ottum] ---------------------------
Birth Year: abt 1914
Gender: Male
Race: Negro (Black)
Birthplace: Indiana
Marital status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Nephew
Home in 1930: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, USA
Map of Home: View Map
Street address: West Twenty seventh
Ward of City: 4
Block: 851
House Number: 1037
Dwelling Number: 165
Family Number: 168
Attended School: Yes
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Indiana
Mother's Birthplace: Indiana
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Harriet Jones 33
Geraldine Mcreynolds 8
Hudson Andrews 33
Grace Andrews 38
Robert G Dunn 16
James Hardy 34
Neighbors:

Name: Robert George Dunn
Gender: Male
Race: Colored (Black)
Age: 37
Marital status: Married ---------------
Birth Date: 25 Jul 1913
Birth Place: Indianapolis, Ind
Death Date: 18 Nov 1950
Death Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, USA
Father: Robert Dunn
Mother: Grace Dunn ----- nee jones

served in WW2

gunshot wounds -- homicide

Name: Robert George Dunn
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 25 Jul 1913
Birth Place: Indipls, Ind, Marion, Indiana, USA
Registration Year: 1913
Father: Robert Dunn
Mother: Grace Jones
Certificate Number: 35089
Roll Number: 011
Agency: Indiana State Dept. of Health
Volume Range: 669 - 675

both parents are noted as coloured

a maybe but far from certain

1940
Name: Robert Dunne
Age: 27
Estimated birth year: abt 1913
Gender: Male
Race: Negro (Black)
Birthplace: Tennessee
Marital status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Son-in-law
Home in 1940: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana
Map of Home in 1940: View Map
Street: West Ninth Street
House Number: 825
Inferred Residence in 1935: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana
Residence in 1935: Same Place
Sheet Number: 5B
Occupation: Laborer
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: College, 2nd year
Duration of Unemployment: 28
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 40
Income: 775
Income Other Sources: No
Neighbors:
Household Members:
Name Age
Clarence Settles 52
Jessie Settles 49
Robert Dunne 27
Cornelia Dunne 24

in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 No Image
Text-only collection

Name: Cornelia Paulyne Settles
[Cornelia Settles Dunn]
[Cornelia Browne]
[Cornelia Craven]
[Cornelia Martin]
Gender: Female
Race: Black
Birth Date: 31 Oct 1915
Birth Place: Indianapolis, Indiana
[Indianapolis??, Indiana]
Death Date: 27 Jan 1998
Father: Clarence B Settles
Mother: Jessie S Coffey
SSN: 320142158
Signature on SSN Card: Cornelia P Settles
Relationship of Signature: Signature name differs from NH’s name.
Notes: Jul 1937: Name listed as CORNELIA PAULYNE SETTLES; May 1938: Name listed as CORNELIA SETTLES DUNN; Mar 1947: Name listed as CORNELIA PAU BROWNE; Jul 1958: Name listed as CORNELIA PAULYNE CRAVEN; May 1968: Name listed as CORNELIA PAULYNE MARTIN; 03 Feb 1998: Name listed as CORNELIA P MARTIN

edit - parents
me: Robert Dunn
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 22 Sep 1910
Marriage Place: Marion, Indiana
Father: Edward Dunn
Mother: Luther Hodges
Spouse: Grace May Jones
FHL Film Number: 499394
Reference ID: no 58, p 399


P

P Report 19 Jun 2019 20:24

Hi, thank you all for the information, i really appreciate it! With Robert dieing before 1952, i know that only a few records will match.

the army number etc looks VERY interesting and very spot on!!!

the information i already have is the newspaper article about him being shot and his mother being Grace Jones etc but i was convinced this must be wrong because noone mentioned that he married etc and i thought he must of died at war.. so i was trying to find any other matches that may be more of a match than that story!

But if that fits the info, then thats a very big shock for my research :O

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 28 Jul 2019 13:38

Another thread posted!!!!!!!

https://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/ancestors/thread/1378704

Rambling

Rambling Report 28 Jul 2019 13:47

Just to recap Robert was single in 1930, "separated" on enlistment 1943. So one marriage between those dates,

Possible if out of state ?

EDIT NOT likely, as obit seems to eliminate, ReEDIT no this is not the right person as can be seen by grave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47691295

Robert G Dunn
Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950



Name:
Robert G Dunn
Event Type:
Marriage
Event Date:
14 Nov 1939
Event Place:
Davidson, Tennessee, United States
Gender:
Male
Spouse's Name:
Edna Rose Long
Spouse's Gender:
Female
Page:
61195


Mrs Edna Rose Dunn
United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014





Deceased
Name: Mrs Edna Rose Dunn
Event Type: Obituary
Event Date: 29 Nov 2006
Event Place: Missouri, United States
Residence Place: St. Louis County, Missouri
Gender: Female
Age: 95
Birth Date: 17 Jan 1911
Birthplace: Nashville, Tennessee
Death Date: 16 Nov 2006
Newspaper: Kirkwood-Webster Journal
Spouse and Children
Robert G Dunn Sr Husband Male
Robert G Dunn Jr Son Male
Mary Rose Missenda Daughter Female
Helen Daughter Female
Patricia Dunn Mcallister Child Unknown
Parents and Siblings
Ann Wilkins Sister Female
Extended Family
Edward Dunn Mcallister ChildInLaw Unknown
Andrew Missenda SonInLaw Male
Others on Record
Peter Litow Unknown Male

Rambling

Rambling Report 28 Jul 2019 13:58



I couldn't find anything in US papers that gave names of previous wives, but I no longer have sub to them so can't go over to check.

P

P Report 28 Jul 2019 21:38

New post :) Hello,

I have been on here before asking about Robert George Dunn!

Born in 1913 Indianapolis, died in 1950 Indianapolis.

Mother was Grace Jones (DOB 1890), Father was Robert Dunn (DOB 1888)

What i'm trying to find out is who his wives were?

Robert George Dunn was married to Jeanette Payne before she shot and killed him - WOW! But apparently according to newspapers, she was one of four wives that he has had! How on earth can i find out his previous wives? I don't think he had children with any of them... he had 1 child with a lady in my family but they weren't married!

Thank you x

Rambling

Rambling Report 30 Jul 2019 12:55

A couple of things to pursue maybe?

In the Indianopolis Recorder article, it mentions that Robert attended Talladega College, assuming this is the one in Alabama it would be worth checking marriages there?

Also mentions that he had recently qualified at the Indian School of mortuary science, it is just possible that they kept records of attendees and might just have net of kin noted...if you can find records?

https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=INR19501125-01.1.1

http://www.mortuaryscienceschool.org/category/mortuary-schools-by-state/indiana/

http://www.talladega.edu/alumni/

P

P Report 16 Aug 2019 18:32

Hello!

Thank you so much, i didn't know what college he went too but i did see somewhere that he was qualifying in mortuary science! crazy!!

I'll send them an email, hopefully they might have something.

Thank you!