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Private Harry Walter David Laing

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Moira_and_Bob_Johnson

Moira_and_Bob_Johnson Report 11 Nov 2014 19:39

I am trying to find a living relative (perhaps great nephew or great niece) of Harry Laing, who was killed in action on the Western Front at Neuve Chapelle on 13th March 1915. Harry was my late grandmother's (Elizabeth Maud Ethel Godson) first husband; they married in the Fulham Register Office on 21st November 1914. By 22nd December Harry was in Scotland (the Clyde area) with the Royal Scots Fusiliers, presumably in training for his role in the War in France. Harry gave his age as 21 when he married and this is also the age recorded on his gravestone in Estaires Communal Cemetery. However, I believe he was only 19, based on census records of 1901 and 1911 and a probable birth record in Chelsea in 1895. Harry's father and mother were Scottish: David Laing born 28th May 1866 in Cupar, Fife; and Louisa Ritchie born 11th June 1867 in Meigle, Perthshire. They married in Greenwich in second quarter of 1891. In addition to Harry they had (at least) three other sons and one daughter: William born c1892 in Pimlico, Reginald born c1897, Robert born c1906, May born c1904 - the last three in Fulham. I would be pleased to pass on further information to anyone who is a close relative of Harry Laing.
Marked As Answer Marked as Answered

patchem

patchem Report 11 Nov 2014 20:24

Welcome to the boards, Moira.

Have you looked to see if anyone else on genes has any of your family in their trees on here?

Have you attempted to find any subsequent marriages, births or deaths for any of Harry's brothers or sisters?

Thank-you

Added:
Is this Reginald?
Births Mar 1898
LAING Reginald John Fulham 1a 362

and possible death:
England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007
Reginald John Laing
Birth Date: 18 Feb 1898 Date of Registration: Sep 1981 Age at Death: 83
Registration district: Ashford Inferred County: Kent
Volume: 16 Page: 0033

patchem

patchem Report 11 Nov 2014 20:48

There is this possible marriage for him:
Marriages Dec 1924
Harrison Emily Laing Brighton 2b 543
Laing Reginald J Harrison Brighton 2b 543

And then very speculative, a birth
Births Mar 1899
Harrison Emily Brighton 2b 236

and death:
England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007
Emily Laing
Birth Date: 3 Jan 1899 Date of Registration: Jun 1979 Age at Death: 80
Registration district: Dover Inferred County: Kent
Volume: 16 Page: 1118

patchem

patchem Report 13 Nov 2014 07:14

This looks like Robert's birth:

Births Dec 1906
Laing Robert Fulham 1a 245

and probable death:

England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007
Robert Laing
Birth Date: 1 Sep 1906 Date of Registration: Apr 1989 Age at Death: 82
Registration district: Eastbourne Inferred County: Sussex
Volume: 18 Page: 460

This might be his marriage, but a bit speculative:
Marriages Sep 1936
Baker Ivy L Laing Fulham 1a 1070
Laing Robert Baker Fulham 1a 1070

and similarly for her death:
England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007
Ivy Lillian Laing Birth Date: 29 Dec 1913 Date of Registration: Aug 1998
Age at Death: 84
Registration district: Surrey Northern Inferred County: Surrey
Register Number: NSD5 District and Subdistrict: 7571D Entry Number: 17

Moira_and_Bob_Johnson

Moira_and_Bob_Johnson Report 17 Nov 2014 16:43

Many thanks for your helpful advice and possible leads. I will try to follow these up. Moira.