Army birth 1908 - Lichfield?

[fionadeb]

Helen (Nellie) McGovern was born 6 - 9 -1908 to sergeant John McGovern 3203 West Riding Regt and Ellen Brosnan.  She was baptised at Lichfield 4 - 10 - 1908. The family believe she was not actually born in Lichfield but in transit somewhere, perhaps on board a ship. Is there any way of checking this? The birth cert of her brother John in 1903 specifies that he was born in the Married Quarters at York army barracks. However, Nellies birthplace is not specified on her cert.
thanks, Fiona 

[BumbleB]

I am not sure what you mean by "Nellie's birthplace is not specified on her cert".   What exactly does it say in  Column 1 on the certificate?  All the English birth certificates I have in my possession state the date, plus a location - OK some are more vague than others, giving just a town rather than a precise address, but they all give a location.

Added:  The entries recorded on certificates are only as good as the information given by the Informant.

[fionadeb]

Hi,
What I have is a "Certified Copy of an entry of Birth" from the GRO. Attached here hopefully !
thanks, Fiona

[BumbleB]

Never seen one of those before - I'm assuming it was a Forces registration document - and it is very different from the registration documents issued via a Register Office.

[fionadeb]

Yes, it is very different from the one for the birth of her brother in York barracks but is the exact same format as those of her two brothers born in India. This may be an indication that she was not actually born in England?
Thanks again, Fiona

[BumbleB]

I think you're possibly right.  I've just found her birth registration under British Forces Births, rather than the usual Register Office returns.  It might be interesting to see if you can find out where the 33rd Regiment were in 1908.   

[fionadeb]

Thanks BumblB - I'm hoping someone will come into this discussion who can tell me that ! Her brother was born in Jalapahar, India in Oct 1906 so presumably they were in transit from India to England when she was born, or just before she was born. However, this is just speculation on my part and someone may have a more accurate account of their movements!

[fionadeb]

Are there ships' records anywhere that give troop movements information? Were there ships specially dedicated to transporting troops around the world ?
Fiona

[Jebber]

Have you got the family in the 1911 census for Ireland? According to that she was born in England.

If the family were moving with a Regiment, they would have been on a troop ship, but if travelling alone, they would probably have been on passenger ship.

Jebber