"There is nothing in that WWII file to confirm that ESA WARD and Alfred WARD are one and the same person. The letter from Steven is about the WWII service and the official reply to that letter is also on that file.... Pages 23 and 22. Steven's letter was written more than 11 years after his father's death."
I don't believe I said that the records confirmed that they were one and the same, I didn't mean even to imply it. What I said was -
"The WW2 records linked to give Edward Steven Alfred Ward's dob as 29 Dec 1896. As he admitted in the newspaper report to dying his hair brown to appear younger, this would appear to be a lie, one of many.
There is also a letter from S C Ward, 9, York Close, Yowie Bay, 2228, NSW, dated 6 Dec 1982 regarding his father's medals in the link provided earlier -
https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection "
I haven't had time to go through all the documents that Bob has sent me, as well as all the records in the above link, though I did see the replies to S C Ward's letter.
The Varney connection, POW in Turkey connection, Hinkley connection , especially the first, are enough to convince me, if not you.
But I don't need to convince anybody. I know that there are many unanswered anomalies here, Bob may have the answers to each and every one of them, having spent many years researching his father and paternal grandparents (Modified: or he may be as puzzled as the rest of us).
My reason for posting was as follows -
"Hoping that someone may be able to help me find a shipping record for Ure Beatrice Ward (possibly Holden or Hubbard) in 1922, returning from Australia to London, England"
The answer to that appears to be a resounding no.
Regards Margaret