The Hampshire Family Historian | Volume 50 No.2 | Sept 2023

HGS News

My experience of working on the BDO

I was late to the “party” (December 2022) but, with good guidance from John Bowman, I was soon (“rocking and”) “rolling” on the British Deaths Overseas records (BDO)! Transcribing death records, you might think it will make you sad. To be honest, at times it does. From those in the East India Company who died of disease, those in the Boer War who also died from disease but also died from their wounds or killed in action to more recent conflicts in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. There are also incidences of Britons, including missionaries and their families, both in distant and recent times, being murdered. Other sad events include accidents (skiing, climbing, drowning, falling off balconies) whilst on holiday. Two sisters, aged 19 and 22, being killed in a motorcycle accident in Greece, made my heart wrench for their divorced parents. Another tragedy, again recent times, was a father, his 2 teenage sons and 1 teenage daughter being killed in a car accident. Coming across Britons who had died in the “Herald of Free Enterprise” ship sinking was particularly poignant for me – hearing about it at the time made me wonder if any of my fellow Merchant Navy colleagues were involved. So, yes it can be hard, but there are many transcriptions where you can celebrate achievement, courage, bravery and long life. Something we will all be aware of are the World War 2 brides who emigrated to their husband’s home country – Canada and America predominantly. You have to admire their courage and not knowing if they would see their families again – transport, travel and

communication not being as accessible as it is now. (I remember my aunt, uncle and cousins moving to America in 1967 and, as a young child, thinking I would never see them again – I did!). I would like to think they had a happy and fulfilling life – some had quite a few children i.e. 6, 7, 9 so it certainly would have been a busy time! One of my friend’s mother did it in reverse – an American who came over to marry a British man. Remaining with the World War 2 theme, one transcription was for an ex WAAF who was awarded the George Cross for rescuing an airman from a crashed plane. This is where distraction can come in – I had to find out about the full story! What a heroine she was. In 1852, two young sisters applied for assistance to emigrate to Australia – there was no mention of other family or family in Australia. I have to admire that courage in taking a big leap to emigrate to the other side of the world. I hope they found their sea legs as it was a long journey (no Suez Canal then to shorten the journey!). There were others who were assisted by unions to emigrate to Australia including a pauper, who I hope was enabled to enrich his life. You may have heard of the 1820s Settlers to South Africa. On one transcription, the male was listed as an 1820 settler, travelling with wife. Unfortunately, he died at sea. The wife arrived in South Africa and remarried the following year. It wouldn’t have been easy for her to remain on her own – and in a strange country! Still in South Africa – the Cape 1817, a gunner in the Royal Artillery died leaving his wife and children destitute. Again, she remarried the following year. I think positive

67