south african roots help!

[clairebearjay]

hi everyone, my great grandfather William R (Reginald) Martin was born in south Africa about 1890, i do not know where exactly though. i know he had a brother who i think was younger than him. i know he immigrated over to the UK sometime between his birth and WW1 because he was in the Navy and married my great grandmother in 1916 whilst on leave for that day. My nan (his daughter) always used to tell me how his mother took him and his brother away and left for the UK leaving my great grandfather's father behind but we never knew why. so also i may still have relatives in south Africa?!

I have always wanted to know more about my great grandfather because i can never trace his birth or immigration records and i am a little confused. his death certificate if i remember rightly said he was born 1890, and i have always known he was born in SA. Could someone please help? my mum would like to know as well as she was only 2 when he died. Many thanks

[gortonboy]

Hi,,,do you think there may be a military connection,,,seeing as he has come to the uk,,,maybe his parents were british?

[gortonboy]

do you know the name of your grt grandmother,,,if you can find the marriage reference,,,you could order the certificate,,,,the cert should tell you his fathers name and occupation .

[ShaunJ]

Have you got his navy record from the National Archives ? You can download it for £3.50 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7133882&queryType=1&resultcount=1

[clairebearjay]

i know that his mother took the two boys away and left his father in SA. So i'm guessing they were young when they left, i just can't find any him on any immigration records! i know my great gran's name was Elsie M Cobb (maiden surname) i just would like to find his birth record then try and trace SA relatives if any?!

[gortonboy]

it may be worth looking at the navy record,,,it may tell you something...from tiny acorns,,mighty oaks grow 

[gortonboy]

Marriages Jun 1916 
~~~~~~~~
 
Cobb  Elsie M  Martin  Poole  5a 561   
Martin  William R  Cobb  Poole  5a 561

the marriage cert should have his fathers name and occupation,,,,it may help in your search for relatives in South Africa

[clairebearjay]

thanks i'll try that 

[ShaunJ]

I don't have a sub to the 1911 census but from search results there appears to be a William R Martin, born circa 1890 in South Africa, serving in the military in Portsmouth.