Baby Linda

Long Lost Baby Sister

The Story

James William had a younger sister Linda born in 1950 who died aged just a few days old.

The story was that she was born with a cancerous growth on her neck and would in all likelyhood not survive unless a dangerous operation was undertaken.

She was given survival odds of 50/50 from the operation and as such the decision was take to operate but she died in surgery.

In those days baby's mothers were confined to hospital for 2 weeks after giving birth so sadly she was unable to attend the funeral for baby Linda. James Williams father and an aunt were the only people to attend the funeral and with James Williams Father & his Aunt now passed away the grave of Linda had been lost for many years.

The task at hand was to locate Linda's resting place and also to find any information about Linda

The Investigation

Burial records were searched and the resting place of Linda was found and James William visited the grave to pay his respects. It was expected that there would be no headstone as this was a public grave but we were lucky in that her name was inscribed on the stone.

In addition, we quickly put together a family tree for James William & Linda as well as the Aunt and it was noted the Aunt had a daughter who would be James Williams cousin.

After lengthy investigation a telephone number was obtained and a call placed to what was believed to be James William cousin and it was the right person.

She confirmed that her mother had been the Aunt who had attended Linda's funeral and that she herself had been in the home when Linda's coffin was brought home prior to burial. She recalled it being pink and white. She also had been told the story in later life by her Aunt that Linda had been born with Spina Bifida not a cancerous growth and that the operation was to try and improve her quality of life as she would otherwise spend her life severely disabled. She confirmed the risks had been conveyed to Linda's family and the difficult decision to operate taken.

Whilst this was desperately sad to hear the story being unravelled was of great comfort to James William.

By chance Linda was found just days before her birthday so on her birthday James William visited the grave and gave her what may well have been her first ever birthday present.

Another family finder success story. If you have a long lost relative you would like to find please or story you would like to get to the bottom of please contact us on the form below including as much detail as you have as well as your contact details and we will be in touch to see if we can help you too.