PDA

View Full Version : Residence during WW2?

Rachel A
10-03-11, 12:39
Apparently my great uncle, Reginald M White lived with his girlfriend, Kay Spokes, 'high in the Sydenham Hills' in London during WW2.

How can I confirm this please, being that there's no census, street directories or electoral rolls for this period?

Many thanks :)
kiterunner
10-03-11, 13:08
If you have enough money to spare (£42), you could try ordering a copy of the 1939 National Register entry:
http://www.ic.nhs.uk/services/1939-register-service
Rachel A
10-03-11, 13:30
Thanks Kate :), yes I did think of that, but unfortunately I can't afford it right now :o

He did live in Eastbourne with my grandmother in the mid to late 1930s, so he might have still been there at the time anyway.
kiterunner
10-03-11, 13:34
Ancestry seem to have phone books covering the period, although of course they may well not have been on the phone.
Rachel A
10-03-11, 13:41
Ooooh, didn't think of that! She was a wealthy widow (and him, her toyboy from the sounds of it :d ), so may have had a phone :)

Off for a look :)
kiterunner
10-03-11, 13:43
The Genealogist says they have the 1940 London Post Office Directory included in their subscription.
kiterunner
10-03-11, 13:46
And the IHGS (Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies) have the 1941 Post Office Directory of London. So I would think the LMA will have copies of the 1940 and 1941 directory? And any others that were published?
Rachel A
10-03-11, 13:50
Not there unfortunately :(

The K Spokes, pre-war, is a wheelwright in Wales! She's a Mrs K M Spokes and there are entries for her in Brighton/Hove in the 1950s onwards. After the war they ran a hotel in Eastbourne for a few years, then moved to Brighton & Hove.

It's the period during the war that I'm after. My cousin lives in Crystal Palace and I plan to visit her shortly. I was hoping to find the location of this property, so I coud go and see it whilst there.

Anymore inspiration is welcome :)
kiterunner
10-03-11, 14:21
Did you see my posts about the post office directories, Rachel?
Rachel A
10-03-11, 14:46
Sorry Kate, school run :o

That's interesting, thank you. Surprised that directories were published during wartime. I'll have to contact them, thank you :)
Rachel A
10-03-11, 14:48
The Genealogist says they have the 1940 London Post Office Directory included in their subscription.

Thanks Kate :)

Anyone got a subscription???... ;)
kiterunner
10-03-11, 15:14
They don't look very kindly on people doing lookups for others if I remember rightly, Rachel.
Rachel A
10-03-11, 15:16
I wasn't encouraging such behaviour in the slightest, Kate... :d :cool: