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Just a supposition here Graham and I may be way off base - the occupation given on the enlistment papers for the Francis Gordon below is Ford driver. As he was in the Royal Army Service Corps he would probably have knowledge of mechanics.

If he were AWOL he may have taken another job as a motor mechanic and may be 'hiding' in Coventry.

Unable to find Francis Gordon born Sevenoaks on freebmd

looks like another birth at about the time of the marriage.

Births Dec 1919 (>99%)

Gordon Francis R Hickman Bromley 2a 1038

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Marriages Dec 1919 (>99%)
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Gordon Francis Hickman Bromley 2a 1445

Ive got the same military records,only on my marriage cert he was a company sergent major and the service number is different . I am assuming Alice as his next of kin was his mother as he was not married until October 1919 I can find no record of Alice being married to his father francis who was a farmer

I had that problem too Christine.

The military record is very badly damaged and I assumed place of birth was Sevenoaks as it asks what parish - it may very well be his home town.

There is nothing against the question 'town you were born' but it does say Kent against the county.

This is why I assumed it was asking about place of birth.

The address given at time of enlistment/re-enlistment is 37 ? Square, London W.

If Francis Gordon was in the army just as a wartime occupation would he have been discharged by the time of the marriage to Annie Hickman in 1919?

Francis married to Alice

Marriages Dec 1863 (>99%)
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Gordon Francis Stamford 7a 643

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Marriages Jun 1904 (>99%)
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Gordon Francis Reginald Stroud 6a 810

Plumstead and Woolwich were both in kent as was Bromley.

You're welcome Graham

On the 1891 census there is a Francis Gordon born in Scotland boarding in Wandsworth - could this be where the Scotland bit comes in? Was Francis snr born in Scotland and not Francis jnr?

1891 England Census
about Francis Gordon
Name: Francis Gordon
Age: 23
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1868
Relation: Boarder
Gender: Male
Where born: Scotland

Civil Parish: Battersea
Ecclesiastical parish: St Phillips
County/Island: London
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View Image

Registration district: Wandsworth
Sub registration district: East Battersea
ED, institution, or vessel: 20
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Alfred C Taylor 27
Alma J Taylor 24
Alma A Taylor 2
Ethel Taylor 6/12
Robert J Smith 14
Melinda Smith 15
Francis Gordon 23

Could this Francis have married a sister to Robert and Melinda Smith?

Marriages Jun 1891 (>99%)
Gordon Francis Wandsworth 1d 804
Smith Clarinda Wandsworth 1d 804

Hi christine got the marriage of Francis Gordon born abt 1826 married Alice Jane Percival 1863, they had a son Francis George born 1864 I though this may have been the father of the Francis Gordon 1893 but i cant find any record of Francis George [1864] after 1891. His father was a farmer they lived in Thornhaugh Northamptonshire.

Graham

Have you considered applying for Francis' military records? That will give you the place of birth, next of kin and may give you all sorts of other interesting information about him.

As you have his rank, number and regiment from the marriage certificate you could go to the Veterans UK website and download a form to fill out to make the application. We've just applied for my Grandfather's military records from World War 2. We didn't have to pay anything as my Grandmother is still alive (90 last month - bless her) and there is no charge for applications made by the spouse. For all other applications the cost is £30.00 but may be money well spent if you can finally pin your guy down.

Hi Ninjalady Thanks for all your help I will give the veterans uk website a go.