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« on: Tuesday 02 June 20 08:02 BST (UK) »
Hello
My ancestor's brother was born as Edward Scifleet on 3 Jul 1867 in New South Wales, Australia. When he was aged 10 or 11 his maternal grandmother Charlotte Dixon, who had emigrated to Australia from England with her husband and children, took Edward with her to live in England (as her husband and children including Edward's mother had all died). I can't imagine my ancestor (Edward's father) allowing his former mother-in-law to take his son to live in England permanently, so I assume that Charlotte effectively kidnapped Edward, although I have found no evidence of this.
Edward enlisted in the British Army in 1885 (I obtained his service record from the British Army Soldiers Records held by the National Archives, Kew) under the name William Henry Edward Smith which he had adopted (he was also listed under this name and his original name in his grandmother's will). Edward/William's army enlistment and discharge papers list his distinctive marks as "wreath and ES 1878 on right arm, anchor on left arm". These were obviously tattoos. I believe that the initials ES were for his real name Edward Scifleet and the year 1878 was when he and his grandmother went to England.
His first 5 years service was in England and then from 1890-1904 he was stationed in China, North China and Hong Kong. On 6 Apr 1896 in Victoria, Hong Kong he married Constance Maria Louise Varden (born 1863 Islington RD, London).
On 24 Feb 1911 William's body was found floating in the foreshore in Southend/Southend on Sea (he was living in Westcliff). Please see the attached article which mentions his sister-in-law and niece (must have been a sister and niece of his wife). The article states his wife was still living in Hong Kong at the time but had sent him money. I would like to find out if he and his wife had children. If so, they were probably born in China/Hong Kong as William lived there until at least 1904, but his wife and child/children may have returned to England after William's death. Any help in tracing his wife and any children would be greatly appreciated, thank you.