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Can't think why he would have said only three children on his war record. Thanks for that MC - hadn't thought to look for that, especially as he was quite old (44) at enlistment.

It's strange that the Army Records start in 1915 he is aged 44years and he gives his Next of Kin as his wife Elizabeth Sarah so how could he be a widower in 1911?

perhaps these were the only children still at home with him?

Purely a guess, but perhaps in 1911 she hadn't died but they'd parted (even temporarily)?

Not unheard of for someone to say they were widowed rather than dumped.

Regarding the children on the army records, perhaps they were the only three that were still dependent on him?

LB
A very good point. Intriguing. This is my wife's tree and it only gets more complicated!! I think I need a rest for a while, but I'm very grateful to everyone for your help. I definitely need to order the Lilian and Walter birth certificate. As the reference is is identical for both can I assume that they were twins and if so will I need only order, say, Walter's certificate and will it show Lilian as well?

MC
Interesting you should say parted, as I understand that later (than 1911 I think) he 'met with' a French lady with whom he had a child in 1922 in France, so it's possible he liked to 'dally' a little. For a man who'd already fathered 12 children he was quite a lad, but I do feel sorry for Elizabeth Sarah. I haven't been able to establish whether he married the French lady so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

The birth cert will only give one name . I know on some certs if there were twins then the time of birth is on the cert, but don't know when that was started

Thanks Jan for that. Off to watch TV for a while. Will give an update when I receive the birth cert.