Genealogy Forum UK

Hi all,

My wife had an older brother, Max, who was born and died in the 1st Q 1947 in Worthing in Sussex.

Her and his father was Lee who was a captured German prisoner of war in England at the time. The birth and death registration was in the name of her mothers first husband.

I would like to find out where he was baptised and buried but being new to this have no idea where to look.

I have found the GRO index for both events and have ordered copies from the NA.

Can anyone give me a few tips?

Many thanks

Peter

Hi Peter welcome to the forum. Sorry I am not much help on Sussex, never researched that area. The certificates you have ordered will give you addresses and the birth certificate will give you Lee's parents. If this information is all Sussex based that is where you need to start, at Worthing Archives, find out what Parish Records they have etc. Get back to us when you have some more information to go on, best wishes from Linell.

Just to let you know that i am still continuing my search.

I tried Worthing Records office who checked their records for me who found nothing but gave me some other sources to try including cremotoriums. I also had no luck there until i spoke to the Parks Department who still manage a number of cemetaries in the area.

They told me that stillborn and young children who died shortly after birth at the Southlands Hospital were normally buried in the Mill Lane Cemetery. What I wasn't prepared for was what she went on to tell me which was that sometimes they were buried without record by being popped in with a a recipient of a new grave when it was dug.

Boy!

My good lady is still getting over that piece of news!

Peter

not the best news, my great gran had a child die within hrs of birth they were told it was buried by one of the trees in the cemetary they never found out which one

Hi Peter
Actually it could be comforting to think of little babies lain to rest with an older person's protection. Doesn't help much though.

You might try an email to the chaplaincy of the hospital as it is now (even though it has been reorganised) http://www.worthinghospital.nhs.uk/Pati ... _services/

They might know if hospital baptisms took place then, you never can tell what is lurking in old records somewhere.

Thanks for the lead gardener.

I have contacted them and they are checking. Alas the records that they have on hand only go back to 1958 so it might take a while to find and check any earlier ones.

Regards

Peter

I finally got a reply from the Chaplaicy department at the hospital.

I have to say at this point that they went to a lot of trouble for us including going to Lewes record office as well as possible local churches, the chaplains name was Rachel Bennett, a wonderful lady

They were unable to find any baptism or burial records at all so it looks as though little Max was popped away somewhere without any record. At least now we know.

They have offered to put a memorial page in a remembrance book that they have for small children who died at the hospital which i think was a lovely gesture.