Surname NORMAN of Dunster Marsh, Somerset

[sage]

Hi All,
This inquiry is generated from Australia regarding one Kenneth Ronald Norman born 10 Apr 1918 who disappears after marrying in 1946 and having at least 5 chn.  When he marries he says he's born Dunater, Somerset, England and declares his parents to be John Norman and Mary (nee Murphy).  When he enlists in 1943 his mother is NOK living at 20 Conygar View, Dunster Marsh, Minehead, Somerset.  On this record he says his father is Edward Norman and that he's born 10 Apr 1920...I think this is him trying to confuse the army as he already enlisted in 1940 and was subsequently discharged about 6 mths later.

A birth cert has been sourced by family mbrs which agrees with the birthdate 10 Apr 1918, born to Hilda Norman (no father recorded) in Biscot, Limbury, Luton, Bedfordshire, only he is one Kenneth Raymond Norman!    I have no idea if that is the correct record and I wonder if he was illegitimate and perhaps raised by family back in Somerset (pure speculation!)

I wondered if it might be best to try and source a directory that might locate Mary Norman at the above address in the 1940s and see if I can get some leads there.  Can anyone help me please?
Sage.

[sparrett]

Just to correct and clarify some details of the two ww2 enlistments you mention.

First enlistment June 1940.-
Birth Date 10th April 1918.
Next of Kin Mother, Mary NORMAN
Address 20 Conegar View Marsh Dunstar, England.

Second Enlistment 1943-
Birth Date 10th April 1920
Next of Kin Father Edward NORMAN
Address Somerset England.
His record notes and so fully acknowledges he was discharged from military service in Jan 1941 due to severed sinews in his foot. The details of this are plain to see, so there is not an attempt to confuse or deceive the army on this.

[sage]

Thank you, Sparrett,

So perhaps his foot injury healed and he attempted to enlist again and managed to get his year of birth wrong?

[sparrett]

Thank you, Sparrett,

So perhaps his foot injury healed and he attempted to enlist again and managed to get his year of birth wrong?

I have no doubt it is the same man.
The signatures on the 2 enlistments are a close match.

The officer writing up the documents notes the foot has regained function.

Sue

[sage]

I suspected the two enlistment records were a match only with some unexplained anomalies.  I've been researching today and think I've found Kenneth coming out to Australia in 1929 from a Dr Barnardo's Home in Stepney arriving in Sydney in June on board the S.S. Berrima aged 11.  I suspect that many details about his origins became vague over the years but he does seem to recall the family address back in Dunster and that's why I wanted to follow that up

[wivenhoe]

Using FreeBDM   I am not seeing a marriage for Kenneth Ronald NORMAN / Kenneth R NORMAN, 1946.

How is he named at marriage?  I am assuming that he married in England?

[sage]

Thanks Wivenhoe,

It looks like he arrived in Australia about 1929 aged 11 and married there.  I have his marriage cert and research has been done on his family here but no one knows what became of him after about 1953.

[sparrett]

If you or someone making this inquiry is a descendant of Kenneth, yo may find more about his birth family here

https://www.barnardos.org.uk/former-barnardos-children

Sue

[sage]

Hi Sue,

Thank you so much...I have passed that website onto the family. 

Sage