RootsChat.Com

Yes yes and more yes.
After my last message I went back to the basics and sorted out all the sisters, brothers and cousins, where they were married and to who.  I came up with 2 suspects, a Bessie Hardacre, cousin in England who had dropped off the English radar and Harry's older sister Elizabeth A.  I found the same entry you had for Miss B Hardacre on the Moeraki in 1919. I had also found the marriage and death of Elizabeth, Hannah and Anna can be interchangeable. I think the cousin went to America with her brother.

So when I saw your message this morning, I just cheered, as we both have it. 

Then I went onto Paperspast and found this entry:
Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 50, 1 March 1939, Page 13
CROSSING TOLL.
DOUBLE FATALITY.
FARMER AND HIS WIFE. MOTOR CAR SHATTERED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ASHBURTOX, Tuesday. A double fatality occurred at a level crossing near Fail ton. four miles from Ashburton. this afternoon. The victims were: Martin John Esker, farmer, of Dromore, aged about 5O. Mrs. Bessie Esker, his wife, also aged about 50. Both were killed instantly. The car. an open model, was proceeding over the crossing when it was struck by a special south-bound goods train, which shattered the vehicle. Mr. Esker. who was driving the car, was carried along in the wreckage and was eventually thrown clear about 50 yards from the crossing. Mrs. Esker. who was in the front seat alongside her husband, received the full force of the impact and was thrown clear a few yards further on. Mr. and Mrs. Esker leave three sons, one in Christchurch and two in Ashburton.

This also fits in with the initial family story that Harry's parents had been killed in a railway accident. Bessie and Martin were his "parents" so that fits in nicely.  Harry of course was married by this time in June to Elsie May Morris in South Canterbury.

The other sister, Thelma married in to Robert Frederick Hessell also from Sth Canterbury, so there is a tie in there although Ethel married in 1944 to Bert Tickner in Wellington.

Thanks to everyone and especially jorose for all the information and encouragement to look outside the square.  This is just great to have solved this problem.


Thanks again Rootschatters

Spell check, I meant to say, Baker not Barker,  slight difference.

I agree with the comments that Janette and jorose have suggested to me as to why send children away from their home, seems truely bizzare but there must have been a reason. Will relook at family members again just in case there is a family over in NZ that took them in.

Where would I find those records? In Archives possibily ?

Thanks. Worth a try