Grandfather

[maggiebee]

I wonder if anyone could give me some pointers on how to trace what happened to my paternal grandfather. After my grandmother died he left for Australia leaving behind three young children. My dad and his brother ended up in Aberlour Orphanage because their grandparents couldn't afford to keep them.
I know my grandfather's name was Thomas Mitchell and he is listed as a passenger on the SS Beltana which sailed from Liverpool in 1912. Is there any way I could start to trace his movements in Australia? He would have been a relatively young man (late 20s/early 30s) and may have married again.

[andrew1707]

This might be a good place to start:

http://australia.gov.au/topics/law-and-justice/births-deaths-and-marriages-registries

Each Aussie state appears to have their own registration system (a bit like the UK!) and they are not free.

...and lest we forget:

http://www.cwgc.org/

a

[andrew1707]

Oh, and good luck.

[maggiebee]

Thanks Andrew, will start my search. It's been a fascinating journey tracing back the generations up till now, but Grandad Thomas has eluded me. Not for much longer though, I'll track the retrobate down!

[DJHawkes]

he would probably have been in the first world war, possibly gallipoli? What was his brothers name and do you have a date and place of birth?