Was able to identify which Jack Keeton on the list above is associated with the soldier serial # on the button stick. Plus I found him on a Ancestor family tree. He was born on 16 June 1914 in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, and died on 21 September 2001 in the Chesterfield area of Derbyshire. On 30 May 1936 he married Ellen Scott at St. Bartholomew Church, Clay Cross, Chesterfield area, Derbyshire. She died in 1983. They had at least 2 children who are labelled "Private" suggesting they may still be living.
Tomorrow I plan to find out if I can contact the tree owner, as they are likely to be related to Jack and interested in history. If they respond, I'll ask some confirmation questions, to determine if indeed they are related. If so, I'll offer to send them a link to this post - so they can see first hand this isn't a scam. Then arrangements can be made to return the button stick.
While waiting for their response, I'm going to research some more records (i.e. parish), hoping to get the info of a next of kin - just in case the tree owner isn't related. Two other organizations that may have some potential are the
Derbyshire Record Office and
Chesterfield Library.
Lastly, in the British Telephone book for Derbyshire there were 3 people with the Keeton surname. If all else fails I'll call them - but past experience has shown me not to have too high of expectations.
The findmypast website has a lot of British records. Fortunately I have free access to that website via the local Family History Center. Time permitting I may resume researching
Horace Astin. However, after tomorrow the next time I'll be able to visit the center will be 17 July or later.
