Looking for William McEwen

[helenm263]

Hey all, I am new to this forum and need a little help. I am trying to find my grandfather, but the information I have is limited. Trying every avenue at the moment. His Name is William McEwen, My gran called him Bill...he was a Scots Guardsman during WW2.
He was from Dennistoun, Glasgow. At the time my gran met him he was based in London In 1942, I do not have any more information than that I am afraid, although I do have one photograph.
With the help of a forum member (thanks Alan) here is a link to the two pictures that I have of William.
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz21 ... McEwan.jpg
just copy and paste into your browser and it will take you directly to the pictures.

so if you think you can help with anything please message me.

[sheilajim]

Hi Helen

Welcome to Talking Scot.
I looked up William McEwan on Scotland's People and found 2 William McEwans born in Dennistoun, Glasgow. One was born in 1913 and the other in 1920. It is possible that one of them is your grandfather. That is all that I could find out as you have to order a cert from them for this time period. They won't show them online until they are 100 years old.

Do you know when your grandfather died? Do you know his parents names? Have you looked up your grandparent's marriage cert?

I hope this helps. Sorry that I can't help with the photo. I can't even get the 'more smilies' to work.

Sheila

[Currie]

Hello Helen,

There’s information about the availability of WW2 British Army records here. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/About ... sonnel.htm

You would have to decide whether you have enough information about him already to go down that track. Perhaps it would be best to wait and see what else turns up.

You could try lodging a copy of the photograph on an image hosting site such a Photobucket http://photobucket.com/

Here’s a guide http://www.ehow.com/how_5618874_use-pho ... files.html

All the best,
Alan

[helenm263]

Many thanks to both Sheila and Alan, all I have is a name and photograph... I wish I had more. Scots Guards was a dead end because I didn't have dates.

Today I also found out that the surname was incorrectly spelled. It is in fact spelt McEwen.
My mother had given me the incorrect spelling, but no harm done. Ijust have to contact three newspapers and change it lol.
Thank you Allen in regards to the pic.
Thanks again
Helen

[helenm263]

Hi Sheila, well we have a little good news, I had the spelling of the name wrong, another person from Military forum gave me some information with B/Date, and parents, hopefully this will take me somewhere. Thanks for your help, I just now have to find a way of confirming that he is the right William. =D>

[joette]

I don't know what the exclusion date for looking at Service records-is there one? I know some records have photos with them but I have a feeling that might be Naval ones.
Just thought if they had photos you could look & compare or am I in the realm of the "wouldn't it be wonderful if they did.."

[sheilajim]

Hi Helen,

I am glad that you seem to be getting somewhere with your search. Somebody will always be here on TS to try to help you more.

[helenm263]

@ joette there is no exclusion date, but we have to be able to prove that we are blood related, these records can't be given to just anyone. I filled out the forms, dotted the i's and crossed the t's and paid my money, only to be told that I couldn't get the information because I cannot prove my mother is his child.
But I am searching through records in Scotlands people, have to buy a visa pre paid first cause they don't take pay pal!
@ Sheila we are pretty sure we have the right one, he is the only william McEwen born in Denninstoun during our time frame.
So fingers crossed! I wouldn't have been able to do it without the help of everyone. So many people are willing to help, I got the information I have because someone from this forum, who was doing their own research , looked for me also, and I will be forever grateful to them for that.

[Currie]

Hello Helen,

It seems that Ministry of Defence will hold the records of Army personnel until it is assumed they are deceased. MOD probably has no efficient way of dealing with this policy other than by using the 100 year life-span rule and then releasing large batches of records to The National Archives when appropriate. That means that in the normal course of events WW2 Army service records won’t be released to TNA for quite a few years.

MOD’s policy is that during the lifetime of the Serviceman or Woman the records will only be released to them. If the individual is deceased then the release of their records to others is subject to certain conditions. The main one is that proof of death must be provided.

This page sets out the type of information that may be released in the first 25 years after death, and what additional information may be released in subsequent years. I’ve never been down this track myself but it seems to be saying that basic information about the person may be released to just about anybody. I’m not sure how that translates into usefulness. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/About ... sonnel.htm

This matter was raised last year on another forum by another person. The poster gave the place Mr McEwen was from as Dunbarton. I don’t know enough about the geographics to know if that confuses things. http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.ph ... 90093.html

Alan

[joette]

Does this mean he was living in Dumbarton prior to WW2 -that was his home address?
I know this is a delicate matter as there may be living relatives who know nothing off this part of their family tree.
Do you know anything of his whereabouts after 1943?