Friday, April 28, 2017

GAGs - GeniAus' Gems - 29 April 2017

The focus in Australia and New Zealand this week has been on remembering the commitment and sacrifice of the men and women in our armed forces. As there has been no Trans-Tasman ANZAC Day Challenge this year I have decided to make this issue a compilation of blog posts with an ANZAC Day theme.


I am including all of the posts I have read but apologise if I have missed any. Please let me know of any I may have overlooked and I will add them.



Anne's Family History: Anzac biscuits

Anne's Family History: U is for Unibic biscuit tin


Canada Bay Connections: Remembering the Fallen

Behind the Lines:  Captain Frederick Reidy Jolley

Diary of a Young Genealogist: ANZAC Day 2017 (Part One)

Diary of a Young Genealogist: Anzac Day 2017 (Part 2)

The Empire Called and I Answered: The Reluctant Soldier


Exploring Military History: ANZAC Day 2017

Exploring Military History: ANZAC Day 2017 Part 2

Fairfield City Library Local Studies: Lest we forget

Family History Across the Seas: A family ANZAC: Pte Hugh Moran (Part I)

Family History Across the Seas: A family ANZAC: Pte Hugh Moran Part II





Killion and Nott Family History: A broken promise

Little Wandering Wren: ANZAC Day: Lest we forget.

Lois Willis – Genealogy and Family HistoryWilliam Claude Whimpey


Lost Medals Australia: An ANZAC Day find.


L W Reid:  ANZAC Day 2017







Pastlinks: Bougainville 1945

SA Community History: ANZAC Bites


Strong Foundations: Remembering Roy

Stumbling through the Past: Review: The Anzacs by Patsy Adam-Smith

Sydney - City and Suburbs: Anzac Bridge, Anzac Memorial, Anzac Day



Wagga Wagga and District Historical Society: ANZAC DAY Wagga 1952


Blogiversary

Congratulations to James who has been blogging for 15 years

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

I did it

I thought I was so organised for this month's #AtoZChallenge but, with moving house, a flurry of visitors and it being school holidays here it was a huge challenge to get through it.



Well I have just scheduled the final post so now I can breathe a massive sigh of relief and get on with my packing and decluttering and maybe even a little bit of research.

I haven't been a very collaborative participant as I haven't visited and commented on many other blogs. I'll try to catch up this week.

I have enjoyed the exercise as it has given me a chance to relive some of my travels. Mr GeniAus my travel partner, has also got into the spirit of the challenge by reading the posts each day and helping with suggestions of topics for some of the more difficult letters of the alphabet.

So far I have published  21 posts in the series and have 5 more scheduled. Should you feel like seeing what I have posted here are the links to date.
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Trove Tuesday - 2/7 Australian Field Regiment

In the Second World War my Dad, Allan John Curry, served in the 2/7 Field Regiment. I checked to see if Trove could shed any light on his regiment.

As my blog is archived on Pandora I found a couple of my blog posts in the results. This post should join them when it is next archived.

Dad was in the Regiment in Borneo in 1945. This photo", SADAU ISLAND, BORNEO. 1945-04-30., from the Australian War Memorial Collection. shows  EQUIPMENT COMING OFF LANDING CRAFT MEDIUM FOR 2/7 FIELD REGIMENT. I wonder if Dad and his mates were there for the unloading.

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/090917/
Dad was definitely a gunner in Tarakan at the time of this photo, TARAKAN, BORNEO. 1945-05-06. DEFENCE POSITIONS OF 2/7 FIELD REGIMENT, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARMY, ON THE WESTERN END OF RIPPON FEATURE OVERLOOKING STRIPS TOWARDS THE WEST.

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/091910/
I wasn't able to find  a photo labelled with my father's name but several of the photos like this one, 
TARAKAN ISLAND, BORNEO, 1945-05-02. GUNS 1 AND 2 OF CORPS TROOP, 2/7 FIELD REGIMENT, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARTILLERY SHELLING TARGETS BEYOND THE AIRSTRIP DURING THE FIGHTING FOR TARAKAN HILL AND OILFIELDS. IDENTIFIED PERSONNEL ARE:- GUNNER W.V. BRYANT, (1); GUNNER D. ARNOLD, (2); GUNNER J.H.J. HAUSEN, (3); SERGEANT L. BICKLEY, (4), give me an idea of the environment in which he worked during the conflict.
Most of the newspaper articles mentioning the regiment  related to social activities, the welfare committee, individuals' stories and postwar activities. The following tributes remind us of the cost of war.

1946 'Family Notices', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 27 May, p. 14. , viewed 25 Apr 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35696591
I also discovered that there was a regimental history history written in 1952 and that it is held in our State Library of NSW. Here is the bibliographic record from Trove.

Title
  • The history of the 2/​7 Australian Field Regiment /​ edited and written by David Goodhart.
Author
  • Goodhart, David, 1899-1972?
Published
  • Adelaide : Rigby, 1952.
Content Types
  • text
Carrier Types
  • volume
Physical Description
  • xix, 380 p., [24] p. of plates : ill., maps, ports. ; 24 cm.
Subjects
Notes
  • Maps on lining papers.
  • Includes index.
  • Approved by the Official War Historian, Canberra, A.C.T.
Cited In
  • Trigellis-Smith, S. Shaping history : a bibliography of Australian army unit histories, 549
  • Dornbusch, C.E. Australian military bibliography, 445
Other Form
  • Online version Goodhart, David. History of the 2/​7 Australian Field Regiment. Adelaide, Distribution: Rigby [1952]
Language
  • English
Dewey Number
  • 940.541294
Libraries Australia ID
Contributed by
Libraries Australia
Trove also carries several articles about the author and publication of the above work.
1951 'War Unit History', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 12 October, p. 3. , viewed 25 Apr 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article45791031


Sunday, April 23, 2017

GAGs - GeniAus' Gems - 23 April 2017

Friday when I usually post my GeniAus' Gems flew by as did Saturday. Now on Sunday morning I have found some time to share some  blog posts that resonated with me up to Friday 21 April. This week I found several posts where bloggers' stories contained shared tips/reminders for researchers and also I learnt about people and places from other stories.



1. Two posts of most interest to we who blog came from my genimates James and Julie.
http://genealogysstar.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/are-we-nearing-end-of-genealogy-blogging.html
http://genealogy.julietarr.com/blog/what-happened-to-genealogy-blogging/

2. A different perspective on digging up the ancestors.
http://ancestralresearchjournal.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/archaeology-dig.html

3. Remembering Henry at Canada Bay.
https://canadabayconnections.wordpress.com/2017/04/11/henry-lawson-remembered/

4. Chris reminiscences on Easter.
https://urungamaiden.wordpress.com/2017/04/15/following-the-trail-at-easter/

5. Learning from the challenge.
http://ancestralresearchjournal.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/learning-little-more-about-blogging.html

6. Another treasure from Alona's chest.
http://www.memorabiliahouse.com/2017/04/licence-plate-number-21-419/

7. Kylie revisits the records.
http://blog.kyliesgenes.com/2017/04/mary-plunkett-read-carefully/

8. A Kiwi genie visits Canberra.
http://kiwichoccie.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/canberra-planned-city-but-is-it-part-of.html

9. Neville's missus.
http://headlinesofold.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/trove-tuesday-18th-april-2017-whats-in.html

10. Witnessing a gruesome scene.
http://cicadasbeesandbargepoles.com/edward-winter-witnesses-the-hanging-of-three-bushrangers/

11. Jen checks the facts.
http://conversationswithgrandma.com.au/2017/04/18/early-postmaster/

12. Pauleen returns to blogging with two bumper posts.
https://cassmob.wordpress.com/2017/04/18/the-reddans-from-gortnaglogh-part-i/

New to Me Blogs

From Emily in Sydney https://diaryofayounggenealogist.wordpress.com/



Thursday, April 20, 2017

Getting There

My back is aching, my shoulder blades are sore and even my hands are hurting but I am well on the way to setting up my new geneacave.

Geneabooks shelved

Folders and photo boxes in place

Orphan photos to date and sort.
I have the challenge of one more large bookshelf to pack up, a cupboard that houses my gadgets and sougenirs to sort out and my desk to empty. Once that is all boxed up I can unpack it into my new office and get back to research and blogging in earnest.

Sunday, April 16, 2017

My Grandmother's Birthday Book

My Grandmother's Birthday Book  was a post I read on Michelle's Heritage way back in 2011.

As I am in possession of My Grandmother's Birthday Book I thought it also worthy of a blog post.

My Nanna's book is an ordinary little volume with a dark green cover. It gives me an insight into her life.

Nanna's Birthday Book
The Birthday Book, Links of Memory, was published in London in 1890 and is still available from Amazon.co.uk. It has a religious theme, each date being accompanied by a religious text.






I love opening this insignificant book,seeing my grandmother's familiar handwriting and researching the names recorded. Many of these are her cousins some are residents of Dungog the town where she grew up. The dates in the book have been most helpful as I research family members.

Friday, April 14, 2017

Unputdownable

Last night I was dog-tired but thought I'd read a few pages of Nathan Dylan Goodwin's latest novella,

The Missing Man: A Morton Farrier novellabefore retiring. Well that was the end of my early night.


The book was unputdownable, I just had to keep on reading right up to the last page. I don't know if Nathan has excelled himself with this latest adventure of Morton Farrier or, now that I have read all the previous stories, I am so familiar with the characters that they are like old friends and I have to keep up with their latest exploits but this story drew me in, I just couldn't put it down.

As with his other books I think that Nathan needs a bit of assistance to develop more attractive covers and layouts but one shouldn't judge ta his book by its cover.

In this tale we join Morton and his now wife, Juliette, on their honeymoon in Cape Cod. As well as honeymooning with the ever patient Juliette Nathan takes the opportunity to try and track down his American biological father. As we join Morton on this journey we learn about US research and repositories and are with Morton when he meets various members of his extended family. 

The characters in this story are believable and the mix of dialogue and prose seems to work well. Nathan's writing has developed and improved in this work.

I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.  Thanks Nathan for producing such a beaut story and for providing me with a review copy. I hope that there is another Morton Farrier story coming out soon.

If you would like to purchase a copy of the book it is available for Kindle and Paperback in the US from Amazon and from here in the UK. We folk downunder can find the Kindle version on Amazon.com.au here.

GAGs - GeniAus' Gems - 14 April 2017

I'm taking an hour off from packing boxes of books and geneastuff to indulge in a little blog business. I hope that the posts I am sharing today will do one of these three things,  Educate, Enthuse or Entertain, that Michelle Patient mentioned in a recent podcast.


I've caught up on reading my overseas blog subs this week so have a couple of international posts to share as well as local items.

1. Lorine shares some exciting news for those with ancestors who may be buried in Highgate.
http://olivetreegenealogy.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/burials-at-highgate-cemetery-london-uk.html

2. Libraries we love from my mates at Librarything.
http://blog.librarything.com/main/2017/04/national-lib-week-2017/

3. Can you help James?
https://jamesobrien.id.au/2017/04/12/wanted-american-soldier-and-war-bride/

4. I don't think I can declutter to this level.
http://mycrazypaving.blogspot.com/2017/04/100-essentials.html

5. Susan's letters.
http://susansfamilytales.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/a-lady-of-letters.html

6. Genies in Geraldton reflect on their history.
https://geraldtonfhs.wordpress.com/2017/04/06/early-meeting-memories/

7. A roadworthy story from Moya.
http://www.outbackfamilyhistoryblog.com/2017/04/10/cobbled-road-near-poison-creek/

8. I'm ignorant in matters of music so found this educative.
http://boobookbacktracks.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/london-school-of-music.html

9. A few suggestions for inclusion in your vocabulary.
http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/04/oxford-dictionary-new-words/

10. Thanks to Linda I have a story for my CurryAus Surname Study. https://argonautsite.wordpress.com/2017/04/12/j-is-for-john-curry/

11. What would Sydney be without the Royal Easter Show? Thanks fro the update, Pauline.
http://paulineconolly.com/2017/social-history-sydneys-easter-show/

12. Something old is new again.
https://suzysu.wordpress.com/2017/04/07/some-random-musings-on-sharing-our-social-lives/

Congratulations

6th Blogiversary for Western Districts Families
https://westerndistrictfamilies.com/2017/04/12/a-box-of-chocolates/

Pauline Connolly has clocked up 100,000 visits
http://paulineconolly.com/2017/a-website-is-a-wonderful-thing/

Let's not forget the stalwarts who are participating in the #AtoZChallenge:

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Birthday Gamble

My best friend recently celebrated a significant birthday. I wanted to mark her birthday with a special gift, something that would keep on giving. She and her husband have recently downsized and have gone down the minimalist path so a nice piece of china or a crystal vase wouldn't have been appropriate.

A chance comment she made several months ago gave me an idea but I didn't know how it would be received. I purchased the present when there was a sale and put it aside. Although her birthday was in February I only saw her last week because we have both been travelling.

When we finally got together and I handed over the gift I was quite nervous. She had a perplexed look on her face when I handed over the lightweight parcel. Of course she was polite and read the card first then, when she extracted the white plastic envelope from the gift bag, I encouraged her to open it. She stared at the small pre-addressed brown envelope that was inside before the penny dropped. When she realised what it contained she was surprised and thrilled.

A Wow response


She is a genie and said that doing a DNA test was on her "To do" list. She promised to scrape her cheek and post it off the next day.

My present was a HIT. If you can't think of something for the persn who has everything how about surprising them with a DNA kit.

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Trove Tuesday - Carey Bay

Mr GeniAus and I are preparing for our permanent move to Carey Bay near Toronto, NSW. We have been dividing our time between our Sydney house and there. As one does I started thinking about the people who had lived in Carey Bay. I turned to Trove to learn about some of them.

Firstly I found a photo of Miss Ethyl Thompson but due to copyright restrictions I cannot publish it. You can view it here: http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/15506519.

In the Government Gazette I found a notice of Bankruptcy.

1925 'IN BANKRUPTCY.', Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 2001), 21 August, p. 3715. , viewed 07 Apr 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223015674
 There were several notices relating to probate and estates.

1987 'IN the Supreme Court of New South Wales.—Notice of intended distribution of estate.—Any person having any claim upon the', Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 2001), 19 June, p. 3135. , viewed 07 Apr 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231679490

There were also several mentions of local folk in the newspapers. The good news is that I found a photo of Ethyl in the newspaper.

1949 'No title', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 22 June, p. 2. , viewed 07 Apr 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158289073


1924 'CAREY BAY.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) , 16 April, p. 9. , viewed 07 Apr 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139492442
1954 '£6000 Win To Carey Bay', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 14 September, p. 14. , viewed 07 Apr 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163296599
1949 'Pensioner Found Dead in Tent', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 8 January, p. 8. , viewed 07 Apr 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158239718
1934 'TO-DAY'S ACCIDENTS', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 23 November, p. 7. , viewed 07 Apr 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166298335

1934 'Calder-Smith—Tingle', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 12 July, p. 7. , viewed 07 Apr 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165055537

It seems as though the people from our neighbourhood are typical of  Australians all around our country.

Friday, April 7, 2017

GAGs- GeniAus' Gems - 7 April 2017

I have realy enjoyed my blog reading this week although I have concentrated on blogs from below the equator. Some weeks there are so many posts that resonate with me while in other weeks there are slimmer pickings, this was a bumper week.


1. Please help Jenny find her soldier.

2. No doubt there will be a flurry of posts on this topic. This was the first I read.

3. As I am in the throes of moving house this post from Diane struck a chord.
https://diane-adventurebeforedementia.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/new-home-new-car-new-life.html

4. Manly Local Studies do a great job highlighting past citizens.
http://manlylocalstudies.blogspot.com.au/2017/03/john-leplaw-manly-policeman.html

5. Third instalment in a charming series from Jennie. Read them all.

6. A new source of images for bloggers.

7. I loved the ovie, looks like I'll be reaing the book, thanks Alex.

8. Jess shares the tale of a skeleton.


10. It's time to get a new app under my belt.
https://www.theedublogger.com/2017/03/29/picmonkey/

I have found that several of my genimates (and I) downunder are participating in the 2017 A to Z blogging challenge. Please give your support. Here are links to some maiden posts (where are the boys!).









Have I missed anyone?

Finally congratulations to Chris who is celebrating her 1,000th post on her As they were blog.

Thursday, April 6, 2017

#AtoZChallenge

The frequency of posting here on the Geniaus blog is suffering this month because I decided to take part in the 2017 A-Z Blogging Challenge over on my neglected personal blog, jillballau.

Each day except Sunday I will endeavour to post on that blog. I will be sharing photos of Windows that I have photographed on my travels and highlighting from A-Z the places where I found these Windows on the World. 

So far I have managed to post on the first five days plus I have  seven more posts scheduled. When I get a few more posts under my belt I'll turn my attention back to genealogy. 

Window on Ile Royale, Iles de Salut, French Guiana



More free Online Offerings from Familysearch

In my mailbox today:

Here’s some important information on upcoming Webinars we think you all will be excited about. These include not just British (this time), but we are presenting a European Family History Conference series on the week of the 15th of May, 2017. You’ll want to view these class titles for several European countries. Don’t miss out on this annual event, with classes for Beginners as well as Intermediate:  http://media.familysearch.org/free-5-day-family-history-conference-focuses-on-western-europe-research/

Here’s our monthly class Webinar offerings for your British ancestors:

Tracing Ancestry in Scotland’s Heritable (Land) Records (Raymon Naisbitt) – Wednesday, April 12th at 1:00PM, B-2 Lab. This class illuminates the advantages and how to use Scotland’s heritable records. The Scottish made land conveyance a ‘science’ in that there are several record types which provide researchers with different perspectives on their ancestral lands and land conveyance over the centuries. Listen to what Raymon shares as he demonstrates how to use each record type in your Scottish genealogical research.

Scottish Naming Customs (Craig Foster) – Thursday, April 13th at 1:00PM, B-2 Lab.  Tracing Scottish ancestry prior to about 1780 can be a bit tricky if you don’t know how the Scots used naming customs for naming their children. Come and learn exactly how to properly and accurately construct your Scottish family genealogies.

How to Trace Scotland’s Poor (Mark Gardner) – Friday, April 21st at 1:00PM, B-2 Lab. This must-see webinar promises to provide all Scottish researchers with skilled knowledge, key records and resources for tracing the less-fortunate in lesser-used but important records. Come and learn about all those records he identifies that will give you the best chance for successfully locating your Scottish poor.

Your British/Irish Research Questions Answered (Craig Foster) –Thursday, 27th at 1:00PM, B-2 Lab. Are you lost in your pre-1800 research in England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales? This is your big opportunity to gain direct access to one of the Family History Library’s professional genealogists to obtain answers to your brick wall ancestral research problem. Listen while Craig, and other researchers in-house and online provide some new, innovative ways that will be sure to help you along your more difficult ancestral trails.

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