Information found in genealogy research can be cold and sterile – a set of factual dates, nothing more – unless it is understood in relation to the times in which those people lived. I was reminded of this just yesterday, when my blog received a google hit from someone looking for information on “Edwin Hough WW1.”

So I checked what I had not previously checked – the military records for the Edwin Hough in my family tree, and discovered he had, indeed, served in WWI, as had his older brother.  He, however, was fortunate enough to have not been killed in that war.  “My” Edwin had served as a gunner in the RGA, the Royal Garrison Artillery, beginning in mid-June 1916, and had been stationed in Weymouth, Dorset and on to India in September 1916, where he contracted malaria.  He was released from duty on February 22, 1919 (but could still be recalled to active service) and was listed as disabled due to malaria for the year between Dec. 15, 1919 and Dec. 14, 1920.  His marriage took place, you will recall, in December 1919, just 2 days prior to being found disabled.

It makes you wonder about the timing – had he thought he was going to die and wanted her to have his pension?  How had he met her?  Had she perhaps been a nurse?  Had they met during the War?  That someone was searching for his service record suggests the two newlyweds may possibly have had children after all…  I was disappointed that no comment had been left by the searcher – was this person somehow related to me, or was their Edwin not “my” Edwin?  What had driven “my” Edwin to enlist when he did?  Was his brother’s death in the Gallipoli campaign just a year earlier a factor?  From this one hit on my blog I suddenly found myself with so many unanswered questions…

© Deborah Ray and archivecookie.com, 2010.