After Pte Hugh Moran enlisted in 1940 he was sent first to Darwin then north Africa where he was captured and taken as a Prisoner of War to Italy from 1941 to 1943. You can read about his experience in Part I. As the Italians signed the Armistice of Cassibile in September 1943, the Germans … More A family ANZAC: Pte Hugh Moran Part II
It has become a tradition among Australian and New Zealand genealogy bloggers to remember our ANZAC family members and others on Anzac Day each year. This is my contribution for 2017 – a man I knew nothing about until this week. Hugh Augustine Moran was my mother’s first cousin, born in Ingham, Queensland on 6 … More A family ANZAC: Pte Hugh Moran (Part I)
In the coming weeks I’ll be thinking out loud on this blog about my research plans for an upcoming trip to Ireland. One of my key objectives is to get to understand the confusion of Callaghans from Courtown, Parish of Ballygarrett, County Wexford. When I wrote about this family previously (here and here), the digitised … More A confusion of Callaghans
How could I resist this wonderful Sepia Saturday prompt which had passed me by until I read Jollett Etc’s post today? The koala is, of course, a key icon of Australia – they look cuddly and cute, even if all they do is sleep much of the day and between-times munch on a gum leaf … More Sepia Saturday: Aussie royalty – the koala
As the Irish people commemorate the centenary of the Easter Uprising this weekend it seemed an appropriate time to share a piece of family memorabilia relating to Ireland’s fight for independence and self-government. This brochure was found among my Irish-born grandfather’s possession. Published in 1921, long after he’d been in Australia, we don’t know how … More Family Memorabilia and Ireland
Thinking of parades for this week’s Sepia Saturday reminded me of a post I’ve been meaning to write for a while. Growing up as a child there was one memorable “parade” every year when Brisbane Catholics would arrive en masse at the Exhibition Grounds for the Corpus Christi procession. This liturgical feast celebrates the belief … More Brisbane Catholics and Corpus Christi
This week’s Sepia Saturday image celebrates the 50th anniversary of Dollinger Steel of Beaumont, Texas. We all know 50th events are important ones, whether they’re wedding or business anniversaries, or just birthdays. It has to be said that 60th anniversaries are even rarer, especially of weddings as it takes a youthful marriage and two to … More Sepia Saturday: Mr & Mrs McSherry – Diamond Jubilee 1941
This is a story of a success, a surprise discovery and the hazards of not paying enough attention or making assumptions. Oh to be in Ireland where it’s possible to check the primary records! THE SUCCESS I’m a great fan of ensuring I have family certificates and I used birthdays etc to gain a good … More Oh to be in Courtown, Ireland
Shauna Hicks has initiated a new 52 week series of prompts, Genealogy Records. We’re only into Week 3 but there have already been some interesting topics: Military Medals, Internal Migration and Probate. Over the past few years I’ve done several 52 week series: Personal Genealogy and History (2011), Abundant Genealogy (2012) and my own Beyond the … More 52 weeks of Genealogy Records: Internal Migration
A while ago Alona from LoneTester HQ blog launched the It’s All in the Numbers Geneameme. For ages my mind was blank on what numbers would be relevant, but eventually the lightbulb went from dim to bright and here is my contribution, focused as so often, on my immigrant ancestors. But first I want to remember my great-great … More It’s All in the Numbers Geneameme
Family history across the seas 