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Deborah, I'm sorry to keep asking questions but sometimes the key to research is in the small details.

Above, you have LBombardier on the marriage- is that correct? If so this would be Lance Bombardier.

Does the marriage certificate or the children's birth certificates have any service numbers on them- where does the service number you have come from?

Also, could you just confirm the address where Sandra was born was WHITECOAT STREET? (I'm not seeing this road in Islington). What was Henry's occupation on Sandra's birth certificate?

Also the address your father was born- did you mean Sutherland ROAD?

My father was adopted in 1946 and his sister born to the same father in 1947. so my grandfather must have been born around 1920-1921 and with a father Herbert. Herbert was listed as a glass packer. In 1947, Sandra's birth was registered to a 27 Whitecoat Street in London. But by 1949, Vera had her first child with Herbert Sendall. They lived at the Sutherland address in Croydon which I know know was owned by Herbert.

Austin, it's confusing I know. I'll tell you what I have to go on.

Henry Harry Alexander is listed as 22 on his marriage certificate in 1942. They lived in Mitchell Street Croydon. In 1943 my father was born at 15 Sutherland Stret Croydon.

He is LBombardier on the marriage certificate and a driver in 1943 (ex army). The Pioneer Corps say that his army service number is not one of theirs, so I crossed that out three days ago. They thought he might be Royal Artillery but when I researched the war records HH Alexander pops up in the RNVR. The dates he served tie in with the dates that he appeared to be with my grandmother. But the only complete records I seemed to find are during the war - father Herbert and family with Charles in it.

There seemed a possibility that my grandfather COULD have joined up overseas. So I searched US military records and found a Charles and Henry H Alexander signed up in N Carolina. But there are no births register to Henry Alexander to a father Herbert though. Maybe it's the wrong one - I don't know. The American link would explain a lot. Maybe they weren't American but signed up there.

I found the records for the RVNR ships register but for the life of me, I can't find them again now. I SSed them!

Bear with me as I'm a learner genealogist. I know that my father's adoption was arranged by a naval officer in Chatham. The adopted family worked at the Dock Yard in Chatham. So navy connections there now might make sense.

I haven't looked into anything yet, but like Nyx I am a little confused.

Bombardier is not just an American term- here's an example from the newspapers (Despite it saying aged 26- this Henry was Henry G Alexander born 1915 West Derby):

Liverpool Evening Express - Tuesday 04 September 1945
Bombardier H. ALEXANDER
'Arrived safely at India. Hope to be home soon,” is the text of a cablegram Mr. and Mrs. Alexander, of 16, Watts-lane, Bootle, have received from their son, Bombardier Henry Alexander, R.A., aged 26, who has been released from camp in Thailand. He was taken prisoner at Singapore in 1942....

Liverpool Daily Post - Monday 15 October 1945
...Four of the ex-prisoners of war who arrived yesterday were Liverpool men. They were Bombardier H G Alexander of Watts Lane, Bootle....Bombardier Alexander was welcomed by his parents...
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Previously you said he served with the Pioneer Corp during the war. You then later said on his marriage he was listed as Bombardier of the British Army.

Now you have him as serving in the Royal Naval Reserve?

What is the exact wording of his occupation on his marriage certificate and the births certificates for his children?

What were the addresses where the children were born?

Where did you get this info from ? it really doesn't sound likely if he was an American.


"Henry H Alexander was actually registered to the RNVR during the war as a bombardier in squadron 810 among others. He won a DSC before 1942. Possibly on the HMS Illustrious. "

There is no Henry H Alexander on 1930 US census with a father called Herbert,

The birth is likely on Familysearch of the Henry H Alexander b 1921 on US military records, but I don't think it is yours, if other records on there are correct he was in the US as there are births of children to that name 1944 & 46

edit can you post a link to where you found the US record please as I'm possibly looking at the wrong one.

Also does Marjorie Sendall (nee Collins) show up after 1940? I have her marriage to Herbert and her marriage to Skeet, but wondered who she lived with between those dates.

If anyone is adept at American researches, I may need a little help.

Henry H Alexander was actually registered to the RNVR during the war as a bombardier in squadron 810 among others. He won a DSC before 1942. Possibly on the HMS Illustrious. The reason I couldn't find a thing about him before or maybe after the war is that he is probably American.

Bombardier is an American expression, the English registered themselves as Bomb Aimers. The service records match up to him enlisting around 1940. He had the name Charles Alexander as a witness on his marriage certificate to Vera Collins. The US enlistment records show a Henry H Alexander enlisting in North Carolina in 1940 and Charles Alexander enlisted the year after in 1941. Both records show they came from Franklin in North Carolina. I've tried the us census and births, but nothing seems to match. Fresh eyes and ideas would help me greatly, if anyone has ideas.

Vera's birth date was different on documentation. Marriage certificate and census. Or death certificate... I've seen too many dates this last week.

There is no contact with Sandra Alexander/Sendall with the relatives I've spoken too, but I'm sure they will now turn up.

Sorry Deborah it's been a busy day- I meant to answer earlier. So pleased you've made contact, and I hope, through contact with wider family, that some of the questions you have might be answered.

Just in reply to Kay- Margery/ Marjorie was Vera's sister (not cousin or in-law).

Deborah- I'm not sure what you meant by " The birth dates could be different as the mother died. If you have a lot of children it might be hard to remember them all I guess!! Lol" ???

The older children did not appear on the 1939 register with their father as they'd left home.

I'm in contact with my cousins now - Lydia is the daughter of Keith named after her aunt!

My aunt Sandra has not been in contact with them since she learned that her mother Vera had an earlier marriage.

It's going to be tough - no one knew about my father.

Thank you so much. I can't say how much this has affected me.

all pointers covered Rose.but kept as private information......

Has anyone traced Lydia yet? I don't want to duplicate if you already have :-)

Almost certain link on FB, son and daughter

Have sent some details of marriages for Sandra , and in case no one has yet sent or Deborah hasn't noticed herself, the two Sendall/Collins children were also reg 'later' as well as their original birth years.

I have sent simple laymans details to Deborah and hopefully gone though the findings so hopefully made it easy to follow ,hard without a voice to explain........gave pointers of some contact,

Marjorie/Margery may have been an inlaw or cousin?

Ok that makes more sense. The birth dates could be different as the mother died. If you have a lot of children it might be hard to remember them all I guess!! Lol

Deborah- just home. I'll message more info tomorrow, I already posted the birth for Vera- registered first quarter 1924:

Births Mar 1924
Collins Vera (Mother's maiden name: Griffin) Congleton 8a 454

Parents were Henry Collins and Louisa nee Griffin- Vera had many siblings. (Henry married Clara in 1931).

Possible death for mother, Louisa:

Deaths Jun 1930
Collins Louisa 44 Stoke T. 6b 156

Nyx, I have no message from you? :-S

Have sent you a message Deborah :-)