RootsChat.Com

 
You guys are really helpful - thankyou for taking the time.
Ok - story that I know so far......
fact- I have birth, baptism and marriage certificates of Henry John Potter. Born 04/03/1884, married 16/10/1903.
fact- 1st child born 1904 (m), 2nd child born 1907 (f), 3rd child born 1909(m), 4th child born 1912 (m).
- Harry deserted wife/family #1 and went to the U.S.  He "joined" the U.S navy. 
fact- Have photo of him in uniform WW1 - 4 bands on the sleeve (Commander?).  He never divorced #1. 
- Family story (hearsay) - he was under government employ as secret agent/spy/service from England to U.S. (could be embellishment to save face).  This apparently took place any time between the birth of 4th child in 1912 and 1918/9 upon his return to England.
- He met and married a lady in the U.S. and had a family (bigamy). 
- He deserts wife/family #2 and returns to England and wife/family#1, towards end of WW1.
- He is still employed by English or U.S. navy/government.
fact- He moves to Australia in 1919.
fact- His 1st child son Harold Henry John born 1904 was enlisted in English navy WW1, but was included in family move to Australia in 1919.
fact- Henry enlists in Australian Army and is stationed at Park Orchard Melbourne Victoria, WW2.  Park Orchard is/was a communications base and is now called Watsonia.
fact- A letter was found about 25 years ago (now destroyed), from wife#2 in America demanding that wife #1 return her husband.  No details were recorded or remembered other than it was post marked U.S.A. 1930's.  Skeleton best left untouched.
fact- I have photographs of grave/headstone of Henry and wife #1 Susan from current living daughter (my great aunt).
(- I also have death certificate of 2nd child. Only details pertaining to immigration is: Place of Birth and Period of Residence in Australia) 
This coincides with time frame of arrival into Australia as being 1919.
- I am now about to tackle the U.S. census for that period of time.
thanks again
Michele

yes, thankyou it is the same person - i have all the service records (even though his name is actually Henry John), but can not locate any entry into the country.   Spent a day in the Archives building a few weeks ago in Canberra with no results - it seems that he just appears in Australia with a wife and 4 kids? 
I am not 100% convinced though of his passage here either - since he decided to become a bigamist and depart the motherland in the from of a rat that desserts a sinking ship .......... running from wife number 2!

That may be why he chose to the vocation of lighthouse keeper off the coast of Tasmania perhaps.

I will keep trying the Archives site - something might come up - (he probably changed his name!)   Is there a department in the UK where he would have had to have applied to leave the country i.e.he must have applied for a passport?

Thanks again
Michele