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Hi, This is an unknown person from a collection of family photos. If I could identify which force (army/navy/airforce) from the outfit and cap I might be able to work out who he is. Even better if it gets narrowed down to a regiment etc.

I'm assuming it's around WW2 but if anybody could confirm that for me that would be fantastic.

Thanks.

My GG Grandfather, George Coote, married Lucy Laurie Clarke on 8 November 1896 at St Mark's Walworth, Newington, London. George was 37 and a wharf labourer; his father James was deceased but had been a horse-keeper.

I have plenty of records about him afterwards from his 3 sons baptism records (George Francis, William Henry & Albert Charles); the 1901 census where the family was transcribed as 'Coster' which gives his year of birth as about 1859 and birthplace as 'St James, London, England'; and various electoral registers. I think that he was the George Coote who died in Apr-Jun 1903 in Camberwell as Lucy remarried in 1905.

I'm really struggling to find any records of his life before his marriage. I have found a possible in the 1881 census living at 15 Snowsfields, Bermondsey:

James Coote       Head    44  Butcher     Essex, Shalford
Ann Coote               Wife     30                  Wales, Aberyswith
George Coote       Son      23 Carman      London
Edward W. Coote   Son   15 Butcher     London
Mary Evans       Visitor   23 Dressmaker  Wales, Aberyswith

but I've been looking at it for many years and I'm still unsure whether it is the family. It also doesn't help as I can't find any records for the family on the 1861/71/91 censuses to try and dismiss them as a possibility. I do realise that if it is the family then Ann can't be George's mother as she is only 7 years older than him.

Any help would be most appreciated, even to narrowing down which parish records I should search for a birth in 'St James, London'.

Thanks for reading.