Thanks for all your help.
His occupation given when he emigrated to Canada was labourer.
All the information you have found is what I already have. I have 7 marriages for a James or James Henry in Devon.
My suspicion is that he did a runner in 1912, having got to know Alice Bellamy. She already had an illigitimate child - Raymond Richard Jimenez Bellamy. The name Jimenez comes from his birth certificate -no father named. But the unusual name got me searching the area where Alice was living and working as a governess. I found a family (Cuban merchants) a couple of streets away with a son of the right age (Richard, b.1883) to father the child.
In 1916 there is a record of Alice, calling herself Alice Jameson (!) with a son Raymond living with her aunt, Louisa Bellamy at 98th St, Alberta, Canada. Louisa had emigrated with stepsons Frederick and Sidney and her own son Arthur in 1912. I'm afraid it is very complicated!!
When James Henry Rendle got together with Alice in Canada he acknowledged Raymond as his son and went on to have 2 daughters with Alice. I don't know if they ever got married but Alice called herself Rendle on the 1921 census and also when she returned to UK. Either James Henry died or she left him. I'd love to know which! The Canadian branch of the family have had no luck with their investigations either.
Just read Tazzie's post. Alice Irene was the second daughter born to James and Alice. This establishes James' birthplace as Plymouth. That's really helpful. I presume the reference to the Civil Service relates to Alice Irene and not James.
