Hamilton Snowden

Davedix · Post by **Davedix** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 2:10 am

I accessed ScotlandsPeople to obtain a death registration for Hamilton Snowden and found there is no image nor parents' names in GROS DATA 126 / AF 0218, Service and War returns. His parents' names or date of birth or place of birth would help confirm if that is the person I am looking for. Any suggestions? Thank you. Dave.

JustJean · Post by **JustJean** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 2:23 am

Hi Davedix

I had a similar case in my own research. A possible death from the war returns but no way to confirm parents names. In my situation I took it a step further and using the enlistment number from the DC I had research attempted in the Archives at Kew to find if anything survived (this was WW1 for my guy) but sadly his enlistement papers were not there

So basically I was left with strong suspicions but no way to definitely prove the link.

Now in your situation you have a more unusual name ( I was dealing with Morrison!) so that might help. Have you attempted to find any enlistment documents on him? Have you attempted to find a mention on the War Graves Website? (see under the sources tab at top of this page for Commonwealth War Graves Commission) It might also be possible to find a town memorial that includes his name. I found two other relatives of mine named on a memorial in their hometown in Scotland which completed a confirmation for me.

Hope this helps....I'm not much of a military expert

Best wishes
Jean

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 7:44 am

Davdix

As you saw, this record is part of the Minor Records/Service and War Returns held by GROS.

Digitised images of these records are likely to come on line at ScotlandsPeople later this year, or early next year, but that's unlikely to help you much since these WW1 service records contain no more than the name of the regiment; regimental number (not enlistment number); rank; name; war theatre, e.g. F&F = France and Flanders; and cause of death, e.g. kia, died of wounds, etc.

With the surname SNOWDEN the CWGC site only shows 4 men with the initial "H" in 1916 (only the initial can be searched on), and 3 have a given name different from Hamilton.

The 4th is a plain "H SNOWDEN" who might be your man:

Name: SNOWDEN
Initials: H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: East Lancashire Regiment
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 28/08/1916
Service No: 18494
Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Snowden, of 7, Birch St., Bacup, Lancs.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: V. A. 17.
Cemetery: VERMELLES BRITISH CEMETERY

Without, however, knowing the full forename, no guarantee that this is Hamilton, and the Lancashire address doesn't in itself explain why this death would come up in the Scottish records.

For the moment, you can order a copy of the record that you found from GROS, - via ScotlandsPeople that would cost you £10-- .

Due to damage from a WWII bombing raid, there's only a chance that his WWI service papaers have survived. All is not lost, however, because there's a chance that he had served in the Army prior to 1914, in which case there's a much better chance of service papers having survived..........

On reflection, have you considered alternative spellings?, as there's a Hamilton Dawson SNOWDON, born in Greenock in 1879, with this, from the CWGC site, being his possible WWI death;

Name: SNOWDON
Initials: H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots Fusiliers
Unit Text: 7th Bn.
Date of Death: 08/05/1916
Service No: 19271
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: V. C. 25.
Cemetery: BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY

Unfortunately, no info on next of kin, but then the 1879 birth register entry will provide that information.

All that you have to do now is prove the link between this 1879 record and the 1916 CWGC record above, - the Minor Record that you found, via the regimental info, could confirm that!

David

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:06 am

Hi David
...and a warm welcome to Talking Scot

I had a similar problem with a service return, with no further info given in my case on the CWGC site or the SNWM site ( http://www.snwm.org/ ). I finally managed to confirm he was "my guy" by checking the death notices in the local newspaper which gave his parents and his home address.

Best wishes
Lesley

Maisie · Post by **Maisie** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 1:05 pm

Hi Davedix

The Bacup H Snowden was called Harry so it definitely isn't him.

Maisie

Davedix · Post by **Davedix** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 1:22 am

My query yesterday was my first venture into the "Talking Scot" message board, but I'm sure will not be the last. A sincere thanks to all who promptly replied; Jean, David, Lesley and Maisie. I have the birth registration of my Hamilton Dawson Snowdon and am now 99% sure the war casualty on 08/05/1916 is one and the same. I am grateful to be a part of this group. Dave.

JustJean · Post by **JustJean** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 1:37 am

Hi Dave

Glad to hear your first trip around the TalkingScot block was a good one and that you'll be back. Sorry though that the death was confirmed. I always find it hard to realize how many young lives are lost and how many family lines are ended by wars.

Best wishes
Jean

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