Walter Drysdale born London c1894

[prince2010]

I am trying to assist a friend who needs some help sourcing a birth certificate for his grandfather Walter John Drysdale.
 
According to Walter’s military documentation he was born in the Parish of West Kensington, London, in the County of Middlesex on the date 1.9.1894. For some reason there doesn't seem to be a record of his birth.
 
His details in 1914 when signing up were (next of kin and his address) : Mrs J Drysdale, 31 Bronsart road, off Munster road, Fulham, London SW. His education is listed as School Higher Certificate - Senior, 1912 South African. [Not sure who Mrs J was as Walter would never talk about his family when he was alive].
 
His military service was with the 3rd Infantry, 3rd Mounted Brigade. 1914-1915 St  General Service in connexion with Overseas Operations. 1916 to 1919.   His details on discharge were Number 208, Rank C/Sgt., Drysdale W.J., H.Q. Staff S.A.N.L.C. Regiment.   His trade as stated on enlistment Clerical.   
 
He did sustain a serious leg injury in 1915 and received a disability pension until he died in 1979.   He was injured in South West Africa now Namibia.
 
Firstly, any ideas on why the birth is not recorded anywhere,
Secondly, is there any way of proving where he was born, maybe hospital records, in the absence of a birth record.
 
Any help and suggestions would be appreciated.
 
Thanks,
Glenn

[suffolk*sue]

Who and when did Walter marry, does your friend  have the certificate? If so what does it say for fathers name?

[prince2010]

Suffolk-Sue, thank you for the reply.

He was married in South Africa and apparently the South African detailed birth certificate in those days didn't name the parents, only the wife.

Something else that we are considering.....if he was born illegitimately how would we find anything more about him.

[suffolk*sue]

I checked 31 Bronsart Rd in an earlier census but there weren't any Drysadales there then.

[prince2010]

Thank you, this one has me baffled.

[Valda]

Hi

Unfortunately if he was illegitimate you don't know whether his birth was registered or not. It may very well be but not in the surname you are looking for. That will be the same for any other records such as hospital records. The difficulty when the surname isn't known is trying to find it out.

Your only clue is the Mrs J Drysdale and her address so you need to try and check directories from around that date to see if you can find out more about her.

Lookups of course cannot be done from the 1911 census because this is a copyrighted source.


Regards

Valda

[prince2010]

Thanks Valda.

[jorose]

A link for Hammersmith/Fulham local archives, who might be able to help out:
http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/directory/leisure_and_culture/libraries/archives/17430_Archives_and_Local_History.asp

http://www.historicaldirectories.org/ has some directories for the 1910s but they don't seem to list the occupants of number 31 (coverage of private houses is often not good so not exactly surprising)

[prince2010]

Thank you jorose.