Hi Chris, Thank you so much for your interest in my Grandfather. :-) >You might be interested to learn that all service records for 1st >A.I.F. Servicemen can now be viewed online, on the National Archives >of Australia web-site at: www.naa.gov.au I have downloaded all 40 pages (in color). :-) I had seen the references to this web site, but until your message spurred me on, I had not yet visited it. >His Attestation Form was filled in from other sources, suggesting, >as his occupation was recorded as Soldier, that he may have >transferred to the A.I.F. from some other military position. Oh yes. This is but one of the "mysteries" in my Grandfather's life. He served 21 years in the Royal Garrison Artillery, in such places as India, China, Aden and several UK locations. I also hold this Military Record. At the end of his service, his typed papers stated that he would retire to Broadstairs, Kent, where his children and other family members were residing. Within two weeks of January 7, 1914, his plans changed. Penned changes show that he went to Dover, and was next noted escorting and in charge of "350 boys" enroute Australia. We "assume" that the boys were a part of the Drednought program. Why he suddenly changed his plans and left his three small children under the care of his brother is a mystery. Although there were many PIGGOTT families in Australia by that time, I have not found any PIGGOTT (yet) who might have influenced his decision. With no wife, one can only assume that Frederick might have planned to establish himself in the Melbourne area, and then send for the children. After his untimely death, the only Australian who I have found that took note and left a remembrance in the Melbourne newspaper was a Mrs. O'Laughlin. >I take it that one of the two girls was your mother. Yes, my mother was the middle child - Marjorie May PIGGOTT (incorrectly shown as Mary on one certificate) >There was a letter addressed to National Mutual & Life Association, >Collins St, Melbourne, suggesting he may have had business >connections or had resided there. The Australian Army HQ was in >Melbourne - perhaps he transferred to the A.I.F. from a Staff postion there? >The Regiment from which Frederick Edward PIGGOTT transferred, as you >are undoubtedly aware, was almost certainly the Victorian 52nd, I have a record from June 1914 that shows Frederick as assigned to the 52nd Regiment (Reserve), so he wasted little time after arriving in Melbourne to resume a military career. > From this humble Australian, a very special & solemn greeting to > the PIGOTT-List for this coming Anzac Day. Lest we forget. I am heartened by the manner in which most Australians stand tall for their War Dead, their heritage, and their special customs and way of life. When I was a youth here in the U.S., we were much the same. Alas - Political Correctness has overwhelmed my country, but you folks apparently still stand firm. I applaud you. >But you probably knew all of this anyway. When I first started to research the life of my grandfather, I paid an excellent researcher in Australia to recover a good bit of this information, so I do in fact have black and white copies of his record. However, your note caused me to re-read every page as I downloaded them. I note that among his personal effects a "birth certificate" is listed. I hold every birth and marriage certificate for the entire family - EXCEPT - the birth certificate for Frederick. From the family records I know that he was born while his father was stationed at Bury, Shingle Parish, 8th Coast Guard Station, Suffolk, England. I have tried every first and last name spelling that I can dream up, but I have found no record listing of his birth. I have downloaded the great majority of all of the images from the old 1837 On Line, and no Frederick PIGGOTT (or reasonable variant) is to be found. Since I am here in south Texas, I am probably at the end of my rope. Another hope that I have is to find newspaper articles concerning the 52nd Regiment as it prepared for the coming war effort. My "guess" is that the Melbourne papers would have posted many such articles, and perhaps Frederick might be mentioned. When I finally scrape together enough funds, I intend to hire a researcher to see what can be found. Thank you once again for your effort on my behalf. :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) Warm regards, Joe Joe Bissett, PIGGOTT/CUMMISKEY List Administrator/Rootsweb I use America's Book CDs in my genealogical research to access otherwise unavailable primary source material. http://www.abcd-usa.com/ I support the Godfrey Memorial Library. http://www.godfrey.org/ Proud to be a member of LostCousins! http://www.LostCousins.com/

HI Joe and Chris too If I can help let me know what I can look for. I am in Canberra so have the Archives, War Memorial and National Library with newspapers etc. If it is anything to do with the War Memorial or Archives it is probably best to leave it for a bit as even the on line are overloaded at the moment. ? Regiment papers? I was at both places today. I have also recently booked a researcher in England who is delving into Navy records and pensions for birth etc for my brick wall on another family etc. Would the coastguard have come under Navy at any time to see if father was posted anywhere else for church records? There is quite a bit I believe on the Dreadnought scheme. Best Wishes let me know if I can help..Penny in Canberra -----Original Message----- From: piggott-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:piggott-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Joe Bissett Sent: Monday, 16 April 2007 9:53 PM To: piggott@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [PIGGOTT] BROADSTAIRS MAN'S BRAVE ACT - F E Piggott