Janet Cockerill has solved a family mystery dating back more than a century. Her research has uncovered the story of a wartime romance that came to a tragic end.
Many a passionate love a air blossomed during the world wars. Children born out of wedlock often encountered prejudice, so mothers had to hide the truth regarding their background. DNA testing has enabled many researchers to break down brick walls that arose in such circumstances. Here Janet Cockerill reveals how she found her maternal grandfather.
My Brick Wall
Just before my mother died, she confided in me that she believed that the man named on her birth certificate was not her father. Mum was called Halcyon Hancock and was born in Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, in 1916. She grew up with her mother Henrietta and two brothers in a flat above the family’s corner shop.
Mum told me of a bitter childhood argument with one of her brothers who had shouted at her “You’re not my sister”. She never forgot that remark and was puzzled all her life by the lack of contact with Henry Hancock, the father named on her birth certificate.
Mum died in 2008, aged 92, still not understanding what had gone wrong. I decided to trace Henry Hancock and see if I could find some answers.
My grandmother Henrietta Green married Henry in Northampton in 1907. They moved to Melbourne, Australia, where he worked as an expert on shoe-making machinery. Their son Bernard was born there in 1911.
Two years later the family was planning to move to New Zealand, when Henrietta suddenly left Australia for England, taking Bernard with her. Soon after they arrived, she gave birth to another son, Roland.
Henry moved from Australia to New Zealand, and Henrietta stayed on in Northampton. In 1916, my mother was born.
Henry visited the family in 1919, but Henrietta refused to let him see the boys. He returned to New Zealand and began divorce proceedings.
The divorce settlement was puzzling. Henry paid maintenance for Bernard and Roland, but there was no mention of Halcyon.
Henrietta forbade any discussion regarding her marriage and died in 1976, taking the secret with her to the grave.
My Eureka Moment
In 2019, I took a DNA test with Ancestry (ancestry.co.uk/dna) which revealed four first or second cousins whom I’d never heard of. We contacted each other but no one could fathom our connection. We all had a high common ethnicity estimate focused on North Wales. One of the cousins, Kenneth Thomas, had a tree on Ancestry with a strong line back to Anglesey.
I decided to create short trees on Ancestry, replacing Henry Hancock with male Thomas ancestors. I then applied my DNA results to these trees to see if any matches would occur.
An astonishing result popped up. It was possible that William Hugh Thomas, born in 1896, was my grandfather. William came from the village of Llanberis, Gwynedd, not far from Anglesey, and was Kenneth’s uncle. The challenge was to prove my connection to him.
My Breakthrough
William worked as a slate quarryman before joining the Army in 1914. I traced his records through Fold3 (fold3.com), which is owned by Ancestry and includes information about past UK and US military personnel.
William enlisted aged 17 in the Territorial Force, and was later assigned to the Sussex Yeomanry. I discovered via William’s war record that in 1915 he was sent to Northampton for further training. It all began to fall into place.
William must have met and fallen in love with Henrietta while he was stationed in Northampton. In March 1916, their daughter Halcyon was born.
William was now serving in the Carmarthen Pals, 15th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. They were sent to the Western Front, where they fought at the Battle of the Somme and Ypres.
In July 1917, the British Army was preparing for a major o ensive at Passchendaele. Two platoons from the Pals were sent to check German positions before the Battle of Pilckem Ridge. William was among them.
The Germans fired shells containing a new type of mustard gas, and those who survived bombardment. I felt great sadness when I discovered that William was killed in action on 28 July 1917. It was also very tragic that my mother died not knowing who her real father was.
I searched Ancestry’s collection ‘UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901–1929’, and found that William had asked for his personal e ects to be sent to Henrietta Hancock in Northampton. I also found his dependant’s pension record and will at Fold3, which named Henrietta as “his wife”.
The documents suggested that this was a true love a air. Also, my mother’s name of Halcyon, meaning ‘idealised or idyllic time’, is a clue to Henrietta’s feelings. William was awarded the Victory Medal and is buried in Bard Cottage Cemetery, Boezinge, Belgium. We are hoping to visit his grave in the future.
I’d like to dedicate this article to William, who was only 21 when he died. We will remember you.
JANET COCKERILL is a retired college lecturer who lives in Cambridge. She has been researching her tree for 20 years.
Reader Tips
What advice does Janet have for other family historians?
• Take a DNA test. This is a shortcut to finding relatives who may not be known to you.
• Extend your research to military records and wills.
• Be prepared to be shocked. You may end up breaking down cherished family myths, in addition to brick walls.
Researching Soldiers In Your Tree
These websites can help you trace soldiers who fought in the world wars
Fold3
Build a picture of a military ancestor’s life by searching Fold3. It has records from the UK and US National Archives, as well as photos and personal documents.
Soldiers’ Wills
A soldier’s will can leave clues to the identity of loved ones left behind. Search for British Armed Forces personnel who served between 1850 and 1986.
The Long, Long Trail
Chris Baker’s great site is dedicated to those who served during the First World War. It can help you to understand more about life in the military at that time.
HAVE YOU BROKEN THROUGH A BRICK WALL?
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