Bernard Claude D'ARCY

[Blunter]

Hi,

I'm hoping someone may be able to assist.

I'm research a First World War soldier who enlisted into the Australian army. He initially enlisted in August 1914 as Clauade D'ARCY, however was discharged for disciplinary reasons. He again enlisted in July 1915 under the assumed name Charles MARAIS, which in 1917 he declared was a false name and that his true name was Bernard Claude D'ARCY.

The only information I have is what is stated on his enlistment papers -

1st enlistment (August 1914) - born: Dublin, Ireland; age: 26yrs, 8mths.

2nd enlistment (July 1915) - born: Dassenberg, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa; age: 26yrs 7mths.

As you can see he was somewhat loose with his age, assuming he is around that age he would have been born around 1888-1889, but this is really just a guess.

Apparently he was an apprentice for 5 years at the Robertson Gold Mining Co., Sth Africa. He also states he served with the Cape Garrison Artillery.

The only other information I have gathered is he was married, in South Australia, to Ella Madge HUTTON (16 Nov 1915). In January 1928 they both embarked for Cape Town on the steamer 'Balranald'. His wife died in South Australia in 1965 (did he return to Australia with her?), and that his death proceeded hers (no information as to when or where).

Lastly, from information contained within his army files state -

Mother: Martha (Dassenberg, Sth Africa)
Father: W. D'Arcy (Cape Government Railways, Cape Town, Sth Africa)

I'm wondering if the surname MARAIS may have been his mother's maiden name.

Any help or guidance would be very much appreciated.

Dan

[jorose]

Hi Dan!

This may be him under Bernard Claude, passed away in South Africa in 1948:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPJL-Z5R9
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WCKL-4PW2
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPJL-Z5R7

Mother on these records listed as Ida D'Arcy born Barraball, 255 Long Street, Cape Town.
Father listed as deceased.  Ella was with him at the time.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6NHG-7PWW
Ida Barraball Anderson Moss d'Arcy died in 1953. She was the widow of William Norman D'Arcy and was born in England.  Her husband is listed as deceased in action, 1918. She was formerly Anderson and before that, Moss.  The three surviving children listed, one was born a Moss and two as Anderson.

Moss = Marais?

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGPP-3XXL
William Norman D'Arcy was from Ireland, and he had no children.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZHR-2ZLR
 - he married Ida in 1909, at the time she was going by "Young" and was divorced.

Ida's previous marriages:
1887, to Henry Charles Moss:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6NVV-FGXD

They had a son, Henry Charles, born 14 December 1887.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6X84-CFQM

I wonder if this could be Claude? Born "Moss" but considered William D'Arcy his father.

[softly softly]

Info only, marriage of William Norman D'arcy's parents

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1872/11307/8148845.pdf

[Blunter]

jorose & johnhood,

Fantastic!!! thank you both so much.

I found Bernard listed in the following site (haven't figured how to attach the link properly) -

http://ww1sa.weebly.com/da.html

They have listed the same birth date (14 Dec 1887), however they list date of death as 2 May 1948, which is obviously wrong.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission site records the death of Willian Norman D'ARCY -

16686 Private Willian Norman D'ARCY - 2nd Regt. (Inf.), South African Infantry -
Died: 12 April 1918 - 43 years old - YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Panel 15, Belgium

If you happen to find anything about his siblings/half-siblings, I'd be grateful to learn their details also 

Again, thank you both so much, this has filled in a lot of gaps for me.

Dan

[Blunter]

Oh!!! didn't realise just pasting the link into the message attached it.

So here's the CWGC link https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1602401/william-norman-d-arcy/

[jorose]

Children of Ida (possible siblings/half siblings of Bernard) - all info from familysearch

Eleanor Florence Ida, born Moss, 1889, married a Bridge and then a Gilbert. She was divorced when she died in 1964.  She had at least one child, a son in 1910 (https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/G6L3-B6V )
Frank Arthur Anderson, born 1925, died 1928. He was married but had no children.
Ida Jane Maud Anderson, 1897, married George Harry Pepper in 1918 but unclear what happened to them afterwards.
Gladys May born Anderson, 1898, married a Mann and then, late in life, a Dunn. She had three children according to her first husband's death notice (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9RZ-L7VT-W )

An interesting point on the last?
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVT-495B-B?cc=2821281
 The officiant of Glady's second marriage was a Marais
(probably just a coincidence!)

[Blunter]

Thank you so very much jorose, every little bit adds to the picture.

Can you please confirm the dates for Frank Arthur Anderson?

I wonder how common a surname is Marais.

Again, thank you for your efforts

Dan

[pampoen]

Marais is a very common surname in South Africa.