Issue :	#12
Date :	April 15 2005
Publisher :	Delyse Brown
e-Mail :	editor@genealogyworld.net
Back Issues:	Archive
	http://www.genealogyworld.net/

Hello !*FIRST_NAME*!,

'GENEALOGY WORLD' NEW ITEMS :
[All accessible from Main Menu, Home Page]
Cape - The 1820 Settlers:
FARMERS CHRONICLE 1889 (Held at British Newspaper Library, Colindale, London) Circulated in the Districts of Cathcart, Queenstown, Whittlesea, St.Marks, Maclear, Stutterheim, Komgha, Transkei, King William's Town and East London
Natal - WHO'S WHO IN NATAL
with which is incorporated WOMEN OF NATAL 1933
Natal Passenger Lists - 1862 DUDBROOK - STEERAGE PASSENGERS,
1867 RMS NATAL, ROBERT BROWN, SUNNY SOUTH and NATAL STAR, WILLIAM SHAW, SAXON
Of Maritime Interest - 1867 LITTLE BESS

You might recall my request that if any information on GILSTAIN was found to pass it on to Sue Mackay who has supplied 'Genealogy World' with various 1820 Settler information. Sue has found the Obituary she was seeking for Gilstain in the 1889 Farmer's Chronicle. If you want to see other names mentioned in this, it is now available.

Mr PN Knox of the Knox Printing and Publishing Company, Durban, has kindly given his permission for information contained in the

to appear on 'Genealogy World'. Typing this information was like a pleasant stroll down memory lane for me! This book includes East Griqualand, Pondoland and Zululand with the Natal entries. It is well worth having a look at this 'Who's Who'. Although published in 1933 most of the people mentioned were born in the 1800s so it is a valuable source of information. The places of birth of the men and women listed is International. Rosemary Dixon-Smith has generously offered to do f*r*e*e look-ups for anyone interested.

As promised, the Steerage Passengers for the 1862 arrival of the 'Dudbrook' are now available. Rosemary has now added four more 1867 Passenger Lists.

Please note that we have now replaced the photographs accompanying the arrivals for the 1863 'Norman' and 1867 'Umgeni'. The Passenger Lists are now clearer.

You might remember in a previous Newsletter I mentioned that well-known media presenter, Patricia Glyn, had called at the Durban Family History Centre as she was trying to locate information regarding James Gifford, the uncle of my grandmother. Patricia was about to embark on a walk from Durban to the Victoria Falls - following in the footsteps of her Glyn ancestor. In 1863 Richard George Glyn, Robert Carr Glyn and Osborne began their expedition. James Gifford was chosen as head man and overseer of this endeavour because of his knowledge of Zulu, and some Dutch, experience with wagons and hunting and trading in Zulu country. Patricia is at present undertaking this long journey.

If you look at the Passenger List of the arrival of the 1863 'Norman' from the Cape you will find the names of Messrs Glyn and Osborne. I had already previously mentioned Byrne Settler, Henry Shuttleworth, also being one of the passengers on the 'Norman'. Strange to think Glynn/Osborne travelled with my mother's Shuttleworth family to Natal and then travelled with my father's Gifford relative during the above overland expedition! Small world!

We all know the feeling of looking for something (you know you have among your papers) and not being able to find the item sought .. and yet finding some other item - not able to be found - on a previous frantic search! I have just had this happen to me. While ransacking everything for a photograph connected to 1820 Settler research, and not being able to locate it, I re-found letters written in 1863 by my great-great-grandfather, Alexander Gifford, to his brother in Scotland informing him in detail about his son, James's involvement in the Glynn expedition. What a find!

Alexander Gifford had travelled to Natal aboard the 'John Line' in 1851. The family were from Wigtownshire in Scotland. They settled in Umhlali. As none of Alexander Gifford's children were born in South Africa, I would have loved to be a fly on the wall to hear people with Scottish accents speaking Zulu and Dutch!! The mind boggles!

The above re-finding of Gifford letters is a good example of the value of not throwing ANYTHING away when dealing with genealogy! Perhaps you would like to add your protest vote against the proposed destruction of

DAILY MAIL 16th March 2005
"Defence chiefs plan to destroy the only complete record of British soldiers in World War 1. The unique archive consists of 6 million military index cards listing everyone who served in the army during the 1914 -1918 conflict and the medals they were awarded. Currently the records are housed in a private storage facility in West London in 140 filing cabinets. The owners want them relocated at the expense of the Ministry of Defence, a cost it will not meet. Under the MOD'S proposal the cards would be destroyed in the next three months, a move that has outraged veterans, historians and retired military officers.

Maj General Patrick Cordingly, commander of the Desert rats in 1991, said " This does seem a remarkable shame. Having had a Grandfather, and two Great Uncles killed in the war, I would like to know their records are still available for people to study. Bruce Simpson, chairman of the Western Front Association charity said, " I find it totally unbelievable. We're going to move heaven and earth to try and save them.". The MOD plans were uncovered by military expert Paul Reed while carrying out research for the genealogy magazine " Your family tree ". He believes the cards are the ONLY comprehensive record of British servicemen in the Great War following large-scale destruction of service records during the German bombing of WW2. " It's the most complete record of soldiers as well as nurses and other women," said Mr Reed. The MOD and the National Archives say they have one-sided digital copies of each card and do not need to store the originals. But experts claim the copies are of poor quality and often overlook vital information on the back of the cards."

DAILY EXPRESS March 24th
"War veterans and military historians launched a broadside at the Government last night over plans to destroy the records of our FIRST WORLD WAR heroes. Many veterans have written to Defence Sec, Geoff Hoon demanding the historic documents are preserved. The MOD insists the records, listing every medal awarded in the Great War, have no further value. Among the records to be destroyed include those of EDWARD V111, Winston Churchill, Lawrence of Arabia and the 39 steps author, John BUCHAN. The records of war poets Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon who chronicled the horrors of the conflict, will also be lost. One veteran said, "This is yet another example of the lack of respect this government has for the brave men and women who laid down their lives for their country."

It comes after the DAILY EXPRESS revealed how the Government had snubbed thousands of servicemen who fought in Malaysia and Borneo by banning them from receiving medals. Days earlier, Tony Blair refused to award medals to sailors who served on the ARTIC convoys during the Second World War. Veterans associations say the Government is trying to destroy one of the few reminders we have left of the sacrifice and courage of a generation. In the First World War, Britain had mobilised almost 9 million men. More than 900,000 soldiers from the British Empire died and 2 million were wounded between 1914 and 1918 .

The records known as medal index cards were complied by disabled servicemen in the 1920's. There are around 5.5 million cards, created when the Government of the time was issuing campaign medals for the First World War. The servicemen's basic military details are shown with the medals awarded. The records have been copied onto microfiche at the National Archives in KEW, South West London, and made available on the internet. The cards, stored in 143 large filing cabinets, were returned to the MOD - which has no further use for them and plans to destroy them next month. Last night, Bruce Simpson, Chairman of the Western Front Assoc., said " This is a national treasure that must be preserved at all cost. These records are there so we can remember the enormous sacrifice that took place. To lose them would be a tragedy."

Archivists are concerned that vital information will be lost forever. Only the cards front have been copied by the National Archives and experts insist a "significant proportion " have further information on the back. Military historian Paul Reed said "Part of the information may be stored on computer but that's not the point. The DOMESDAY book has been copied but nobody would seriously suggest throwing the ORIGINAL on the bonfire."

Genealogist Garrick Webster who edits YOUR FAMILY TREE magazine, said : " We cannot let these records be destroyed. This is the only complete and untouched record of First World War soldiers that we have. These cards are part of our national heritage." Last night the MOD said it was too costly to store the records, insisting: " The information has been placed on microfiche and is also available on line." A spokesman for the National Archives said: " The MOD has offered the original cards to other institutions and museums." None of those approached so far has wished to take the cards, largely on account of the huge transfer and storage costs."

Contact details for the campaign to save these records are as follows :
Daily Express : expressletters@express.co.uk
Daily Mail : Paul Dacre, Daily Mail, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry St, London W8 5TT.
editorial@dailymailonline.co.uk
DAILY MAIL UK phone 09018902300 to record your protest vote.

IF UNCERTAIN OF WHAT TO SAY, HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF PROTESTS ALREADY SENT:
editorial@dailymailonline.co.uk
WWl records
Dear Sir,
Following your exposure of plans to destroy the records of British soldiers in World War I (16 March) I would like to add my voice to those who are totally opposed to such a move, especially in view of the quite extraordinary - even for this government - opinion that they are of no further use. Even if the information is stored on computer, mistakes are always made in the transcription and, as Paul Reed points out, valuable information on the reverse of the cards may be overlooked and subsequently destroyed. Copies in whatever form are never a substitute for original documents and, quite apart from the historical and genealogical value, is a downright insult to those men and women who gave extraordinary service to their country often against their own private opinions. These were not, on the whole, men and women of the regular army but were ordinary people, going about their daily business, called to war duty. As we approach another anniversary of the ending of the Second World War it is disgraceful beyond measure that any government minister could contemplate the destruction of such an important, yet relatively small, archive. Did they count the cost when they sent our forces to Iraq? Will the preservation of this archive be as expensive?
Ironic it was that Thatcher promoted and legislated for the instigation of family history offices for all counties, yet a Labour government could allow this destruction; and that Blair wanted the country's support in the Iraq war yet was prepared to eradicate service records.

expressletters@express.co.uk
WWI records to be destroyed
I wish to add my name to those who are horrified to hear about the MOD's intention to destroy the record cards of those who served in World War I, in which my grandparents participated. As an history researcher, I cannot believe that they would destroy records which have not been recorded in their entirety by another means.

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