Help with WW2 records please

[JMR]

Hi there,

I'm struggling to find any information about my Dad's cousin Kathleen M (for Mary I think) Gaunt. My Dad tells me that she was in active service and died in WW2. I can't find any trace of her and Ancestry don't seem to have many records covering this period as yet.

She was born in the March quarter 1923 in Bradford Yorkshire and was the daughter of Harry Gaunt and Mary Croke. I would really appreciate any help on this one. My Dad said that she was 1 of only a handful of women who had the role she did in the war. They were all very proud of her, but sadly this is the full extent of his memory about her, as he was a bit younger than her.

Kind regards,
Jill

 

[p.risboy]

Hi there,

I'm struggling to find any information about my Dad's cousin Kathleen M (for Mary I think) Gaunt. My Dad tells me that she was in active service and died in WW2. I can't find any trace of her and Ancestry don't seem to have many records covering this period as yet.

She was born in the March quarter 1923 in Bradford Yorkshire and was the daughter of Harry Gaunt and Mary Croke. I would really appreciate any help on this one. My Dad said that she was 1 of only a handful of women who had the role she did in the war. They were all very proud of her, but sadly this is the full extent of his memory about her, as he was a bit younger than her.

Kind regards,
Jill

Hi Jill,
Where was she from, was it England. I have found an entry in CWGC for a Kathleen Gaunt aged 20, died 11/5/1943, daughter of Harry and Mary Elizabeth Gaunt of Bingly.

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2406590

I think you will find this is your Kathy, god bless her.

You now have her service number, so you can apply for her records.

Steve.

 

[JMR]

Thanks Steve, this is definitely her, I've spent the afternoon on her and have found a WW2 web site which has information about her. I was shocked to see that she was just 20 years old when she was slaughtered!

It seems that she was killed in Great Yarmouth, bombed by German's during an air raid on the 11th May 1943. The largest loss of life was in North Drive where she was one of 26 A.T.S women who perished when their quarters received a direct hit.

There is a plaque that was errected in 1994 apparently so I should be able to find a newpaper report I'm hoping that it may lead me to a living relative.

Cheers,
Jill

 

[p.risboy]

Hi Jill,
I found this also, it may be what you were looking at, but just in case.

Scroll down to post 5.

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-grave-photographs/16283-ats-casualties.html

Steve.

 

[JMR]

Thanks Steve,

I really appreciate your help with this. That is the website I was on. I have registered and some kind person is going to PM me with his research findings. I'll let you know what turns up.

I've emailed to find out how I can get hold of her records. It's really frustraing being over here and not being able to just pop into a records office

Jill