G'day Michael, I obtained the death notice for William McKerrell in the pre-internet days from the South African Archives, who now have a website. http://www.national.archives.gov.za/ >From 1910 to the mid-nineties, the Union of South Africa (1910-1961) and later Republic of South Africa (1961- ) was organised into four provinces, each with their own archives. The four provinces and their capitals are: Cape Province (Cape Town), Natal (Pietermaritzburg) Orange Free State (Bloemfontein) Transvaal (Pretoria). The Administrative Capital of South Africa was Pretoria, while the Parliamentary Capital was Cape Town. (Since the nineties, there have been a number of changes. Transvaal has been split up into several provinces and I think the Cape has been also split into two). The catalogue for the Federal and Provinces was fully computerised in nineties and linked together. I found my reference by asking the Natal Archives for a listing of "Baikie" references and as you'll see the only time was Baikie was mentioned was as one of William McKerrell's wife's middle names. More recently, I obtained a non-military and much earlier Death Notice from a local archive in the Eastern Cape which allowed me solve another early 19th century Scottish problem! So you can either approach the South African Archives direct or if you need further advice, sign on temporarily to one of the South African mailing lists on Rootsweb. David Armstrong Maylands, Western Australia ----- Original Message ----- From: michael@allbrook.com To: leicestershire-plus@rootsweb.com Sent: Friday, July 25, 2008 2:01 AM Subject: Re: [LEI] C H Grey Off list Thank you very much, please, do you have a web address for the S A Records as I have not found it Michael -----Original Message----- From: leicestershire-plus-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:leicestershire-plus-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of David Armstrong Sent: 24 July 2008 17:53 To: leicestershire-plus@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [LEI] C H Grey Michael, If your Charles Horace Gray died while serving with the South African Infantry during the First World War, then there will be a South African "Death Notice" for him. This death notice is a detailed death certificate with probate records attached. A Scottish cousin of mine married a South African soldier in 1915, and he was later killed in France. Below is the sort of thing you'll get from South African Records. Death Notice; South Africa : Name : William Archibald Struthers McKerrell, Place of Birth : Cradock, South Africa, Nationality : British, Father : William McKerrell, deceased, Mother : Christina Leishman Sneddon, deceased, Age : 27 years and 7 months, Occupation : Engineer, Residence : Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, Marital Status : Married out of Community, Spouse : Margaret McAndrew Baikie Meek, Place of Marriage : Prestonpans, Scotland, Date of Death : 10th April 1918, Place of Death : At a Clearing Station Hospital in France, Cause of Death : from Wounds received in Action, Children : Archibald Alexander McKerrell, 29th July 1916, Has Deceased left - Movable Property ?; : Yes, Immovable Property ?; : No, Is Estate greater than £300 ? : Yes, Left a Will ?; : Yes, Dated : 26th February 1919 at Edinburgh, Scotland, Signed : Margaret M.B. McKerrell, Capacity : Widow of the Deceased, not present at Death . Probate : Last Will and Testament. I, William Archibald Struthers McKerrell, presently of Cape Town, do hereby revoke, cancel and annull all former Testamentary Dispositions made by me and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament. I give and bequeath to my brother Colin Thomas McKerrell, the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Pounds (£150) Sterling. I appoint my intended wife, Margaret McAndrew Baikie Meek of Woodbine, Prestonpans, Scotland, to be the sole and universal heiress of all the rest of my Estate and Effects of Whatsoever kind. I further appoint my said intended wife, Margaret McAndrew Baikie Meek and Henry Duncan Wright, at present Manager of Stewarts and Lloyds (South Africa) Limited, Bloemfontein, to be the Executrix and Executor of this my Will and Administratrix and Administrator of my Estate, granting unto them all power and authority in law, especially that of assumption. I reserve to myself the power to make all alterations in or additions to this my Will as I shall think fit, either by a separate act or at the foot hereof, desiring that all such alterations or additions so made under my own signature shall be had as valid and effectual as if they had been inserted herein. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Cape Town, this third day of September in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Fifteen in the presence of the subscribing Witnesses. W.A.S. McKerrell, Witnesses : 1) William S. Row, 2) J.W. Loubser. Will accepted and Registered: M. Huhbling ?, Master, Supreme Court, Bloemfontein, 27/6/19 So I'd follow up the South African lead if I were you. Regards David Armstrong Maylands, Western Australia