Finding an ancestor?

[teckneeculler]

I'm a 75 year-old New Zealander who was born in Britain and came to NZ at age 6.
I recently discovered a very ancient skeleton in my family closet.
Seems I have (or had) a British grandfather who disappeared during World War 1.
This probably had something to the fact that he appears to have been in the British Army Medical Corps.
The skeleton is that his son (my father) was brought up with the understanding that his mother was his sister, because she'd given birth to him 'out of wedlock' (cute term, that), while she was engaged to another soldier, who was overseas.
So Dad was shuffled off into the Royal Navy as a boy entrant at age 12, probably so the family could avoid further embarrassment over his 'bastardry'.
I'd like to make contact with my grandfather's family (in England, I guess), if there's anyone still living.
Anyone know how I should go about this?
Thanks.

 

[z3r010]

I would think your best chance is making searches on Ancestry™ | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records

 

[nithig]

G'day techneeculler,
I wish you well in your search and perhaps there is one reliable source at least in military records. Have you approached Brit.Army Medical Corps? You weren't clear about where your dad grew up but sounds like England from the R.N reference so a trace of his name in one of the many ancestor sites. I don't know about England but in Ireland (where I searched) the National Library has a genealogy section and the folk there were extraordinarily helpful (and skilled) so perhaps try Libraries to see if they have similar sections.

 

[teckneeculler]

Hi guys, thanks for the tips.
nithig, I was in contact with one of my Dad's rellies (in England) a few years ago. He's now deceased but he had done some research before he died. Apparently he contacted the Army but was told that the relevant records were destroyed in a WW2 bombing. So I might not get any joy there. Maybe a genealogy organization might be best?

 

[nithig]

Damn blitz .... did a lot of damage din't it techneeculler? How quickly folk forget though eh! Well good luck, you're probably right about the genealogy organisations. Hope you find something and get a trip to England as part of your search.

 

[teckneeculler]

Thanks, nithig. Yeah, a trip there'd be interesting. I left England in 1946 (at 6) and haven't been back.
Cheers mate