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It could be, as you have obviously already suspected, George did not die in WW2, it was just the story adopted by the mother or adoptive parents.

He may have been a total fabrication by the mother, to "save face" so to speak, and may never have existed - but I'm sure you will have considered this.

Thank you Flip, I certainly have considered this. Of course, we will never know, but then that makes me think, how certain are we of any facts, even when recorded officially. The information is only as accurate as the informant is able OR willing to make.

Likewise, the information posted here is from a cousin of m friend's dad, as the father in question never mentioned any of this.

However, strangely, the baby was originally named George Henry, and then the name changed completely. So that was a clue ... and then, my friend has a photo of an unidentified man, in military costume with the words 'From your loving brother George'. Perhaps?!

Who knows?

But was that birth name change a clue - or are you on the wrong track? And the photo, "from loving brother George" - who was that intended for, do you know who it was addressed to?

Just putting obstacles/thinking points in your way, I've no answers to this either!

Not thank you Flip - so the baby was named George Henry in the workhouse, BUT registered as Harry. The name George linked possibly to a GEORGE and Elizabeth Coates (living in the same street), as mentioned by my friend's dad's cousin. This cousin is the one supplying this information.

When we looked into a George and Elizabeth in Middlesbrough in the census/marriage, we found the info posted earlier in the 1901/1911 census, which is the same area where the baby's mother was living at the SAME time as a child, and when the baby was born in the 1920s.

So, did the mother leave a clue with the baby being born George Henry? Or is that coincidence?

And the photo ... no idea it was intended for. I am just putting an assumption out there now due to the name and the fact no one knows who he is from his face.

What do you think from this?