Is this my Norman Sinclair??

[susanx123]

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

My great aunts told me of a picture that their grand mother had at her house. It was of a young soldier in his army uniform and she said it was of "Our Norman".
They have asked me to find out who Norman was. It was obvious to them their grandmother was fond of Norman but she never said how they were related. ( I know what you are all thinking - wouldn't make more sense to ask the grandmother at the time than their grand neice years later!!)

What I have found out is -

Our Norman is Norman Sinclair born about 1896.
He is in the 1901 census living with

George Moore age 26 head
Emma Moore age 36 wife- grandmother as mentioned above.
Hannah Kirby mother-in-law
Alice Smith age 12 daughter -in-law( emma's daughter from previous relationship)
Norman Sinclair age 5 Nephew

They are living in Weston St Coventry and all apart from Norman were born in Coventry. he was born in London.

I have looked for a birth cert for Norman but cannot find a suitable lead.
I'm not sure which side of the family he is from - George's or Emma's.

In the 1911 Census

George & Emma Moore and Norman E Sinclair are living in Eagle Street Coventry. Norman is 15 and described as assisting in an office. Alice is now married to Jonathan Batchelor and Hannah has passed way.

I have found a Private Norman Edward Sinclair on the Common War Graves Commission website.He was in the Royal army Medical Corps. He died on 15/10/1917 and is buried in Tycot Cemetry in Belgium.

How can I find out if this is my Norman Sinclair?? Would an office worker be in the medical corps without medical training? and will I need to find out who Norman's parents are?

thank you for any help

Michelle

[AnnB]

How can I find out if this is my Norman Sinclair?? Would an office worker be in the medical corps without medical training? Michelle

I think the answer to this is yes

My father was an upholsterer and when he signed up in WWII he was put in the Royal Army Medical Corps, despite having no medical training whatsoever. He was trained to do basic nursing and work in a field hospital. He was captured on Crete and ended up in a POW camp, but his basic skills were put to good use within the camp.

Best wishes
Ann

[Wirral]

I have found a Private Norman Edward Sinclair on the Common War Graves Commission website.He was in the Royal army Medical Corps. He died on 15/10/1917 and is buried in Tycot Cemetry in Belgium.

This chap was born in Southwark. Could be this birth (I don't know if this is the right area for Southwark):
Norman Edward SINCLARE born Dec 1901 West Ham 4a 143.

[Procat]

Soldiers Died Great War records him as being born in Southwark (as Wirral has already posted) and enlisting in London.

[Keyboard86]

Hi all maybe not your man, West Ham definitley not Southwark.
Keyboard86

[Keyboard86]

Just a thought, maybe his family lived in West Ham, and moved to Southwark and he grew up thinking he was born locally?
Keyboard86

[susanx123]

Thank you everyone for your help.

I have seen the birth reference
Norman Edward SINCLARE born Dec 1901 West Ham 4a 143.

but I had dismissed it once I found the 1901 census stating he was living in Coventry aged 5.

I think I will have to find his parents perhaps looking back at George and Emma's family. I have looked at some of Emma's sisters but none of them have married anyone called Sinclair.

I haven't looked at George Moore's family to see if there is a Sinclair connection as he isn't a direct family member My great grandmother is Alice - Emma's daughter and Alice's father is unknown and Emma married George many years later.

Thanks again for your help

Michelle