brown family

[DD65]

Hi, I've been trying to find more information about my grandfather for many years, with little to no success. Can anyone help me please? He was born Robert William Brown to Duncan Brown and Margaret McGrath - I found this out because he was born in Bermuda in 1879 and someone in the family must have managed to get some kind of extract from Bermuda with the details of his birth. Beyond that I can't find out where he lived or where he went after Bermuda. The next thing I found out was that he changed his name to Robert William Duncan, took a few years of his age and came to Australia to join the Anzacs. Went to Gallipoli, got injured and then met my grandmother in Egypt. I would love to know more about this man and find out what happened to his family and whether he had any siblings. I hope someone can help!

[Milliepede]

he was born in Bermuda in 1879 and someone in the family must have managed to get some kind of extract from Bermuda with the details of his birth.

Is there a way of finding out who that was?  It sounds like family information would be the way to go.

What year do you have him in Australia please? 

His marriage or death record may have more information about him - who was your grandmother?

[CaroleW]

A tree on Ancestry has entirely different info

Born 4.6.1885 England.  Duncan Brown & Margaret McGrath b Scotland - no marriage in Scotland or England.  His service record is attached to the tree

Married Philomena Abela

Died 1957 Melbourne

No evidence of birth in 1885 in either England or Scotland with mmn McGrath or Magrath

[mckha489]

Has anyone managed to figure out who Ruby Duncan of 88 Great Howard Street, Liverpool is?
(His sister, NOK on attestation)

[Milliepede]

(His sister, NOK on attestation)

What year was that from please?

[mckha489]

(His sister, NOK on attestation)

What year was that from please?

1914

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3526675

[mckha489]

OP.  I presume you have had this document digitised?  Is it the same man?
What did it tell you? Anything useful?

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=1103312&isAv=N

[AMBLY]

Other researchers online:
https://www.bnl.bm/2011/08/29/bermuda-history-genealogy/comment-page-4/
"Robert William Duncan who, according to his marriage certificate was born in Somerset, Bermuda in June 1885. His parents names were John Duncan and Margaret Duncan (nee McGrath).

and:
https://www.bnl.bm/2011/08/29/bermuda-history-genealogy/comment-page-5/
 "I ordered this from Bermuda many years ago and it arrived but when I contacted them recently for more info they had no trace of this birth certificate......My grandfather was born in Sandy’s Parish Bermuda on 4 June 1878 to a father listed as Duncan Brown a sapper in the Royal Engineers and mother Margaret Brown nee McGrath or MaGrath.

WW1 record
Joined the AIF 18 Aug 1914
Enlisted:     Blackboy Hill, Western Australia
Robert William Duncan
Age 29 years, 2 mnths (4.6.85)
Occupation: Clerk
Born Ratheslathe, London Surrey (is this meant to be Rotherhithe?)
Sister: Ruby Duncan, 88 Great Howard Street, Liverpool, Lancashire
Had served 2½ years in RAGA (WA)
Description: 5',11¾", blue eyes,  brown hair, fair complexion, Roman Catholic
Honorably Discharged Egypt 1916
A note re conditions of Discharge saying, the Army wouldn't be paying for his return "home"

How and when did he return to Australia?

RAGA
Royal Australian Garrison Artillery

So the AIF record indicates he was in Australia at least from around 1911 or so?

I couldn't find 88 Great Harwood  - in any census near 1914.

Cheers
AMBLY

[mckha489]

One would think that if Duncan Brown was a sapper in the R.E. that the birth would be registered in the British Armed Forces & Overseas Births & Baptisms