Need help with my great grandfather's ancestry

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My Great-grandfather was called Erich Bockhoefer (I've heard that surname can variate in spelling) and he was born in/around Bremen or lower Saxony 10th July 1926 to a father apparently called Friedrich. He was taken as a prisoner of war during WW2 and sent to a camp near Wolverhampton, in the west midlands of England, where he met Jean Parry (no info on her) Erich had two daughters Helen Irene Bockhoefer (B.1951) and Kathleen Bockhoefer (B.1953) and a son John Bockhoefer (B. 1967). This is all the info I know of him. ANY help would be appreciated
in Genealogy Help by C Thomas G2G Crew (760 points)

1 Answer

+8 votes
 
Best answer

Hello,

Perhaps you would like to add the profiles to Wikitree including the information you have - this makes it easier to collaborate around finding sources. Some findings from a search: there are Bockhöfer's in the World War I lists of losses, including a Friedrich. Please check if they were KIA, MIA or wounded in the original images. Bockhöfer residence locations are e.g. Gretesch in Osnabrück, Hustädte in Melle (in Lower Saxony) and Bad Essen.

See at https://meta.genealogy.net/search

See also: http://www.denkmalprojekt.org/2012/buer_gold-ehrenbuch_stadt-melle_lk-osnabrueck_wk2_ns.html

See Ancestry: '''Death Registration''': "England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007", General Register Office; United Kingdom, {{Ancestry Record|7579|1812487}} (subscription required, accessed 14 June 2023), Erich August L Bockhofer death registered Dec 2000 in Dudley (born 10 Jul 1926).

Findmypast: '''Death Registration''': "England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007",[https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=BMD%2FD%2F2000%2F12%2F83537128 FindMyPast Transcription] (accessed 14 June 2023), 
Erich August L Bockhofer death registered Oct-Nov-Dec 2000 in Dudley (born 10 Jul 1926).

And a tree with Bockhöfers: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/112101247/family?cfpid=272137863828

Here are a few records from a Military KIA source on Ancestry:

'''Military''': "Germany, Military Killed in Action, 1939-1948" Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt); Berlin-Reinickendorf, Deutschland; Gräberkarteikarten Gefallener Deutscher Soldaten 1939-1948<br/>

{{Ancestry Sharing|4297008|7b22746f6b656e223a226a6f6178714b6544374c59544c62644c504e36563662492f7766714e6333614f2b2b757338646a485247413d222c22746f6b656e5f76657273696f6e223a225632227d}} (free access)<br/>

{{Ancestry Record|61641|11228534}} (subscription required, accessed 14 June 2023)<br/>

Name: Walter Bockhöfer; Rank: Matrosenobergefreiter; Birth Date: 22. Sep 1924 (22 Sep 1924); Birth Place: Rheine; Military Unit: 27 M S Flottille; Death Date: 4. Jul 1944 (4 Jul 1944); Death Place: Auf See; Mother: Bernhardine Bockhöfer; Identification Number: G-B 287/0349.

* '''Military''': "Germany, Military Killed in Action, 1939-1948"<br/>Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt); Berlin-Reinickendorf, Deutschland; Gräberkarteikarten Gefallener Deutscher Soldaten 1939-1948<br/>{{Ancestry Sharing|4297034|7b22746f6b656e223a2258694a4c4f3377725634486759356b4c567a6244344866697a765247757966316c6a6d726f33454c6439593d222c22746f6b656e5f76657273696f6e223a225632227d}} (free access)<br/>{{Ancestry Record|61641|11228535}} (subscription required, accessed 14 June 2023)<br/>Name: Heinr Bockhöfer; Rank: Wachtmeister; Birth Date: 12. Jun 1916 (12 Jun 1916); Birth Place: Schlingdorf Melle; Military Unit: 1/Div Füfl Batl (A G) 69; Death Date: 4. Mrz 1944 (4 Mar 1944); Death Place: Andejuschino; Identification Number: G-B 287/0350.

* '''Military''': "Germany, Military Killed in Action, 1939-1948"<br/>Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt); Berlin-Reinickendorf, Deutschland; Gräberkarteikarten Gefallener Deutscher Soldaten 1939-1948<br/>{{Ancestry Sharing|4297041|7b22746f6b656e223a224748444f776d674a54585231757a6232384b743243762b3177372f51465056445a5a73436c62754f6956343d222c22746f6b656e5f76657273696f6e223a225632227d}} (free access)<br/>{{Ancestry Record|61641|11228536}} (subscription required, accessed 14 June 2023)<br/>Name: Adolf Bockhöfer; Rank: Oberschütze; Birth Date: 17. Jan 1921 (17 Jan 1921); Birth Place: Hustädte Melle; Military Unit: 7/I R 44; Death Date: 24. Okt 1941 (24 Oct 1941); Death Place: Krasnoja; Identification Number: G-B 287/0351.

Hope this helps as a starting point.

Sven

by Sven Elbert G2G6 Pilot (108k points)
selected by Sven Elbert
The only other info ive managed to find is that friedrich was a "Railway engine driver" which i believe is "wagenmeister" in german records, but this is really a brickwall for me
Hi Thomas, I've seen you started building out your ancestry - looks great - just wanted to wish you best of luck with the research and hope the pointers were useful! Sven

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