My mother suffered a still-birth

[jms28]

Hi Colin, I'm sorry to have inadvertently hi-jacked your thread I didn't mean to. I'm still rather emotional after unexpectedly locating the whereabouts of my siblings grave and just didn't think. If you have know the name of the cemetery have you tried googling it, it maybe that volunteers are also involved in compiling a database there as well, its worth a try.

[jms28]

Thanks Peter, I'll try that, appreciate the information.

[Colin Rowledge]

Hi Colin, I'm sorry to have inadvertently hi-jacked your thread I didn't mean to. I'm still rather emotional after unexpectedly locating the whereabouts of my siblings grave and just didn't think. If you have know the name of the cemetery have you tried googling it, it maybe that volunteers are also involved in compiling a database there as well, its worth a try.

No apology needed. It is a very traumatic experience and I'm happy you've located the grave.

I've narrowed the possibity of the cemetery to 2 locations, but no response to my emails has been forthcoming. Being in Canada, it is unlikely that I'll be visiting either in person.

B-T-W Welcome to the site.

Colin

[Colin Rowledge]

I have contacted a cemetery that may have handled the interment.

My grandfather died in 1939. My still-born sibling abt 1943 and my grandmother 1953.

I was born in 1944.

With the exception of the death of my grandmother, all of the other 'events' above took place in Acton.

My late mother visited the grave-yard up until we came to Canada. She never wanted 'company' on her visits and never drove a car. This indicates to me a 'local' cemetery.

That is the basis of my search.

Colin

I just want to add some new detail to this thread. Without the help of several members who have so diligently assisted me [you know who you are], I would still have more questions than answers. Here are the results:
1] I now have details of where they are interred. The cemetery, grave-site and section and row #. It holds my mum's dad, with a beautiful headstone. An additional entry on the headstone, mentions my mum's brother. A seperate plaque names my mum's mother. All 3 are memorialized together which, as a family, is as it should be.
2] I have been blessed to receive several photographs. The photographer even added a flower arrangement without me asking, which was a most pleasant touch and brought tears to my eyes.
3] My mum, as I may have said, never took me to the cemetery and after 1954 mum never again visited it. I can now look at these photographs on the dates when they all went to a final sleep and tell them how grateful I am to have been a part of their family.

The only thing missing is the reference to the still-birth. The photographer asked if there was a 'children's section' and was pointed in that direction. Sadly, there was nothing in that section. A gardener on site, who had been caring for that section for years indicated that he had never heard of a reference to a burial site for a still-birth Rowledge, so I am faced with the reality that my mum wasn't in a condition to recognise this event and kept the memory hidden deep in her sub-conscious. That is where I am going to leave the memory and let my mum rest in peace knowing that I will not disturb her.

Again my thanks to everyone for their help.

[Colin Rowledge]

Finally, I have an answer from the G.R.O. Here, verbatim, is their reply:
"A search has been complted in the Still Birth Records for the years 1941-1944 in the District of Brentford. We have been unable to find an entry that matches the details you have provided.

I should perhaps explain that a "still born" child means one born after the 28th week of pregnancy, who did not at any time breatheor show any signs of life. If the birth took place before this time, the event would not be registered. There would also be no entry available if the Still-Birth was not registered within 3 months, which is the legal requirement for registration?

So, was my mum wrong and she had a miscarriage or due to the war was the record destroyed?

I guess I'll never know.

Colin