Blame it on the Internet goblins but Maureen’s original contribution from way back in 2004 just disappeared into the ether. Happily Maureen’s been back in touch and we can restore her info, originally published in The Journal (2/7/2004). Thanks Maureen.
Maureen Rumfitt had never used the internet before when she logged on for the first time. But within seconds of entering her father’s name into a search engine she had found the clues to help solve a family mystery that had haunted her for nearly 50 years.
Maureen was nine when her mother and father died within six months of each other in 1955. Split up from her brothers and sisters, Maureen spent several years in foster care at Hillcrest in North Shields, filled with questions about her family that she never thought would be answered.
Maureen’s online search led her to westallswar.org (the first incarnation of northshields173.org). Through the site Maureen found out that her father William Frankland was injured in the raid (smoking at the entrance, Billy was flung clear). His brother Arthur was buried up to the neck in rubble but was taken to hospital and survived. However, sadly, another brother Alexander (Sandy) Frankland was killed. She also discovered the full name of her grandfather, which she had never known and learned of relatives who she never knew existed.
“I’m just so grateful to the site for giving me answers to questions I had about my family, particularly my father”, Maureen says. “It’s been amazing being able to find out the truth after all these years.”
RELATIVES: Henry P Rose (father’s cousin), Arthur and Alexander (Sandy) Frankland (father’s brothers), Norah Sturrock (father’s sister)
image courtesy of The Journal 2004.