Genealogy Chat

Samantha, I would say your aunt was first registered in Germany, she being illegitimate and her mother being German (you don't say if your grandfather was in Germany in the forces). When your grandfather married your grandmother she was re-registered in Britain, possibly as a British subject. As for the query in the 1970's - both my brothers were born in Malta of British parents. The elder brother had a current passport, but when the younger tried to get his renewed (when Thatcher was in power) he had a problem, as he was declared an alien - something the conservative government decided - that anyone born outside Britain - whether their parents were British or not was not automatically an alien - irrespective of any passport they had previously held!!!!! maggie

Have you noticed that siblings are christened the same day but were actually born a year or two apart?

My father was never sure when he was born (sometime in 1814). His Mum said it was January 10th all his documents from the navy said Feb 4th, When he was about 70 he sent for his birth certificate ... it said feb 10th ! I guess all this confusion would not happen these days but by 1953 I am suprised it could still happen. Good luck with the certificate, hope it makes things clearer. Alice

Sam You may find the following helpful http://home*.clara*.net/dixons/Certificates/births*.htm remove * first - its info about what is on a birth cert and what it means. It's entirely possible that your aunt wasn't registered as she was illegitimate and therefore not considered "British" but German, and the oversight was remedied when your family found she hadn't been registered. I had an uncle who married a German, but their first child was born [and registered] over here and the second one in Germany. I remember being narked when they were over here when the 1966 World Cup was on as the elder one said whoever won he had the same nationality! nell

Hi, thanks for the replies. Karen: Until the 1956 certificate arrives I do not know who registered the birth etc. My aunt does not appear on the army service records until 1970 where it details a change to her date of birth. There is no record of her birth in 1953 when she was born only the record on the army births register in 1956. Think I'm going to have to be patient and wait and see what the certificate brings. Sam

I'm no expert on this but if i read it right your aunt i beleve will be regesterd in Germany as your gran was German. The army would do nothing, unless every thing was in triplecate stamped and sent to the wrong place six times. Basicly this meens that unless there was proof of marrage they would not see it as there problem, and leve thing to the civil authorities. The best advice I can give you is contact the German Embassy and arsk for there help.

Hi There have always been concerns in the family about my aunts birth! She has two birthdays (no, she's not the queen!) and nobody knows which is correct. Apparently my grandfather was drunk when he registered her birth and put the wrong date! (must say the more I think about this, I don't believe a word of it) Anyway, here goes. Grandfather was in the army. Grandmother was German. Aunt is born in 1953 before my grandparents married Grandparents married in 1954 in Singapore (army registers) Aunts birth in registered in 1956 on the army registers (have sent for the certificate) I have today received my grandads army records and every child (apart from the aunt) is listed in the right date order. Would a illigitimate child be recorded? My question is (finally!) if my grandparents had a child before marriage would my grandfather have had to legally adopt the child when they were eventually married? Would this explain a birth registered three years later. My other question is: As my aunt was born before the marriage (and my gran would have been a German citizen) would this mean that she couldn't be registered through the british army registers and therefore could be listed in the German indexes. My mums really intrigued about this one and rang her sister (the aunt) to try and find out more (sensitively!). All we've managed to find out is that when she was 17 (about 1970) there was some problem with her birth certificate and the army wouldn't let her join the family in Malta. If you understand this, then well done!!! Any ideas would be gratefully received. Sam

See below ... Sam x