How to start finding our brother?

[geminisparks]

Hi all,
Thanks for any help you can offer.
As a child I was aware that I had a half brother, my father’s son from a previous relationship.
I never met him and do not know his name. I only know he was slightly older than me - probably born somewhere between 1980 and 1986 - and that he served in the army.
I have very limited information, I don’t even know where he was born or his mother’s name.
How do I go about looking? I have searched births using my father’s surname, but it is too hard to narrow down from what little info I know.
I tried to track addresses my father had lived at during the 80s, but found it impossible to access this census info.
What do I do?
I’d hate to think that I just need to wait for a DNA match.

[jim1]

Hello & welcome

I’d hate to think that I just need to wait for a DNA match.

I think you might have to.
You can upload your DNA to any site that will accept it free of charge.
This will give the maximum coverage.
Good luck.

[CaroleW]

Welcome to Rootschat

If your father never married the mother - it's possible the birth was registered under the mothers surname.

Unless your father attended the registration of the birth & signed the register - his name will not appear on the birth cert

Unless you are able to obtain more info to identify him - DNA is your only way forward & any contact will be dependant on whether he has already gone or decides to go down that same route

[dublin1850]

If you know any friends of your father's from back then, possibly also friends of any unclesor aunts you have, they may know more regarding surnames and places.