The tracing of one's family tree can be a daunting task to say the least, as I have come to realise over the past year.

On my wife's side (Pauline Taylor) the majority of the work was done for me some years ago by a family friend, and work still continues on it when time allows. Pauline's side is traceable to 1750 (on her mothers side) without any breaks. How much further we can go back will only be decided with time and effort.

As for the DOWD side... I knew the task would be a difficult one from the start.

At the beginning of 2003 my family tree went back as far as my father.... and I was stuck. The problem being - my father was born in St. Helen Auckland, County Durham......!

He was called up towards the end of World War II serving with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, attached to the Durham Light Infantry.

Returning from Germany, he was billeted at Proteus Camp, Ollerton in North Nottinghamshire.

 It was here that he met and married my mother - Sheila Jennings - and never returned to his roots, settling for married life in Barlborough, Nr. Chesterfield.

Although I have vague memories of visiting my Geordie Cousins in the very early 50's, being only 5 or 6 year old, the "old grey matter" ain't what it used to be.

Contributing to my lack of knowledge is the fact that I left school at 15 and joined the Army, where I spent the next 20 years away from the "normal" family get-togethers, weddings, christenings, funerals etc., and with Mum and Dad now passed away it looks like I have a job on my hands.

My father had two elder sisters and one younger brother:

                Jennifer (Jenny)

                Isabella (Bella)

                Wilfred (Wilf)

Aunt Bella and Uncle Wilf stayed "Up North" when they married, with Aunt Jenny moving south to Staffordshire shortly after starting her married life.

My Granddad and Grandma Dowd, sadly I never met, and hardly know anything about them. Although I recall seeing the odd photograph when I was a kid of my Granddad, it wasn't until very recently that I managed to obtain photographs of him.

His name was Harry Dowd and the only information I have on him at present, is what I have found on his birth & death certificates.

My Dad had his looks

Death Certificate of Harry Dowd

Thanks to cousin Wilf Shaw for providing this

From the certificate we know that he died of Coronary Thrombosis at the age of 44 on the 29th July 1945 - and this is interesting: When and Where Died: On the roadway near Tindale Junction, Bishop Auckland.

"The Tindale Crossing" Public House - at Tindale Junction (c.2003)

From the age registered at death, it tells me he was born in 1900. This has now been verified by obtaining the birth certificate, 16th November in fact.

It also tells me that Grandma Ida Dowd survived him, as the death certificate was issued for the purpose of Widows Pension.

I've now established that Grandma Ida Dowd re-married after Harry died, to a THOMAS LOWES, on 16th October 1948. Sadly she passed away a couple of months later - aged 44.

Ida Dowd

CLICK ON PHOTOGRAPH FOR MORE ON IDA

To-date, I cannot find any trace of where Harry and Ida are buried. An extensive search of West Auckland cemetery has revealed nothing.

In the case of Harry, and knowing his date of death, I thought I would have been able to walk straight to the grave - as West Auckland cemetery have taken great care in burying people in neat rows in order of date of death.

I am informed by the family elders that Harry was definitely interred at West Auckland, but there is no headstone where it should be.

I have now acquired a photograph of Harry's grave - taken a couple of days after the funeral. On my next visit I intend to try and locate it using background landmarks.

Watch this space