Should I believe the newspaper?

[DianaCanada]

Thanks for everyone’s help.  I think the most likely scenario is that the newspaper got it wrong. 

[DianaCanada]

If you check out the 1918 marriage certificate, no father is named for Millie.

But George Brook was a witness at the 1918 wedding.

Jebber has already found that the mother's maiden name for the two eldest sons was listed as Brook.  There is a 1928 birth with similar.

Nell

Actually, FreeBMD has the maiden name as Brooks, not Brook.
For the third child, Maurice, it is Brook.
Still don’t know who Percy is, maybe another newspaper mistake!

[DianaCanada]

If in doubt the son ‘s Marriage Certificate will indicate if his Father is deceased.

That isn't necessarily the case.
I have a good few marriage certificates for our tree with a date range starting in 1837 up to very recently, some correctly say the father was deceased, others, though the father was definitely deceased don't mention that fact.
Boo

I agree, Boo.  There’s quite a number of variations on this theme.  I even vaguely remember (not my family) where a mother’s name was given in lieu of the father’s, think it was an underaged bride.

[coombs]

I am related to George Brook, hence my interest in Millie and her descendants.  I believe George or his brother William was my illegitimate great-grandfather’s father.  I am trying to see if I can find any matches on those lines to myself or my brother.  I have lots of Brook matches to earlier generations but need something more specific to either George or William.  I am leaning towards William as that was my great-grandfather’s name and George was a bit younger.

Have you got a copy of Millie Bradford's 1895 birth certificate?

[DianaCanada]

I am related to George Brook, hence my interest in Millie and her descendants.  I believe George or his brother William was my illegitimate great-grandfather’s father.  I am trying to see if I can find any matches on those lines to myself or my brother.  I have lots of Brook matches to earlier generations but need something more specific to either George or William.  I am leaning towards William as that was my great-grandfather’s name and George was a bit younger.

Have you got a copy of Millie Bradford's 1895 birth certificate?

No, I don't.  As she is registered under Bradford, doubt that the father's name is there.  There is no strong evidence that she is his, really need that DNA connection!