Stewart and James McVey

[Cramond Brig]

I have these two WW1 casualties -

McVey, Stewart Initials: S Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Corporal Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) Unit Text: 1st Bn. Age: 18 Date of Death: 09/05/1915 Service No: 1396 Additional information: Son of Stewart Elder McVey and Theresa McVey, of 20, Moncur St., Glasgow. His brother James fell. He served using the alias "Elder"

McVey, James Initials: J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Royal Scots Unit Text: 2nd Bn. Age: 26 Date of Death: 15/09/1914 Service No: 9226 Additional information: Son of James and Theresa McVey, of 20, Moncur St., Calton, Glasgow.

You will notice that CWGC shows different fathers although the mother's name and the address are the same. I have not so far been able to find the registration of Stewart's birth. However, when Theresa registered James's birth it was as James Palmer (her maiden name) or McVey and she declared on the registration, signed with + her mark, that her husband, James, was not the boy's father because "she had not had personal intercourse with him for the previous 11 months".

Can anyone help me sort this one out?

Alistair

[ShaunJ]

James's service records are online on Ancestry. Several pages. Damaged and very fragmented in places. He first joined the Royal Scots in 1905. Next of kin given as sister Elizabeth in Canada.

[ShaunJ]

Medal card in name of Stewart Elder gives address of Mrs McVey as c/o McPhee, 193 Pallok (?) Street, S.S. Glasgow

[Cramond Brig]

ShaunJ

Thanks for your help.

Alistair

[IMBER]

On the Scottish National War Memorial Stewart is recorded under ELDER.

[Cramond Brig]

James's service records are online on Ancestry. Several pages. Damaged and very fragmented in places. He first joined the Royal Scots in 1905. Next of kin given as sister Elizabeth in Canada.

I missed this record when I looked first time, so thanks for pointing out that it was there. There is clearly more information in the next of kin section under Elizabeth's name, but it is faded. I suspect, as was often the case, this paperwork was completed in pencil.

It would be interesting to find out what has been going on in this family.

So far (still trying) I can find no record of Stewart (Elder) McVey.

Alistair

[Cramond Brig]

On the Scottish National War Memorial Stewart is recorded under ELDER.

CWGC points out that this was an Alias, gives the same address for the parents, although shows two different fathers.

Alistair

[Cramond Brig]

The only 1910 Census record I have so far found that looks at all likely is a James McVey, age 12, in an orphanage at 13-21 James Morrison St., Glasgow.
Given the family circumstances he could well have been orphaned,

Alistair 

[Cramond Brig]

The only 1910 Census record I have so far found that looks at all likely is a James McVey, age 12, in an orphanage at 13-21 James Morrison St., Glasgow.
Given the family circumstances he could well have been orphaned,

I have now found a 1891 Census entry for a James McVay with no wife and 7 children including Elizabeth, age 11, and James, age given as 3. I wonder if father decide to up sticks to Canada with some of his children and dump poor James in an orphanage, particularly since, by the mother's own admission, her husband was not the father.

The other anomaly is that CWGC has James as the husband but the birth registration says John.

Confusion reigns!

Alistair