Change of name

[MICOSEV]

I am researching a soldier who was killed in France on 22 June 1917. His name was Henry George Pryer and he was a driver with the Royal Horse Artillery.

His notice on the CWGC site has the wording 'In Memory of Driver Henry George Pryer' but also states that he 'Served as CLARKE'. On the 'Soldiers who died in the Great War' database he is listed under George Clarke.

Was there a common reason for a soldier to use a different name? He was 36 years old when he died having served 17 years so would have been 19 on enlistment.

Any help much appreciated. Thanks.

Mike

[dothawkes31]

He will have had to provide identity on enlistment, either birth or baptism certificate, and if his mother had been unmarried at the time of his birth and had not subsequently married his father and changed the registration, which she would probably not realise she could legally do, he will have enlisted in his legal name not the name he had grown up with if say his mother had remarried but a step father had not legallt adopted him. What area of England was he from?

[craft1948]

I can't find his birth but from the 1891 census he was born in Ireland. I think his mother can't have been married to Charles Pryer at his time of birth, but there doesn't appear to be any gaps in the childrens' ages.

[craft1948]

If this is the right family in the 1891 census with father Charles a colour sargeant, and mother Louisa, they will have been married when Henry was born as according to the 1911 census they'd been married 32 years.

[dothawkes31]

Oh they lived just up the road from where I work! I can see the Barracks from our works back door! His father was obviously regular army which means he served in Ireland.
The 2 eldest boys were born Ireland then the first daughter born Guernsey then a son born Malta then another one in Portsmouth the youngest 2 born here in Preston.
So I actually think that Louisa must have obviously travelled with Charles. I can't see where the surname Clarke comes in though, can't find a Louisa Clarke born Guernsey at all, possibly they married in Ireland in 1879/1880.
Ok think I have solved this:
Charles Pryer married Mary Ann Clarke Thetford Norfolk Q1 1877 ref 4d 625.

Mary Ann possibly died giving birth to Henry and he married Lousisa soon afterwards?

[dothawkes31]

Plus that Charles Pryer's father was called Henry, the only problem is he was born Norfolk not hailing sussex

[craft1948]

Sounds good dot, but if the 1911 census is right Louisa married him in 1878/9.

[dothawkes31]

I think you can scrap that one as I have found a Charles and Mary Ann Pryer on the 1881 (born Norfolk) but living St Pauls Hammersmith, (in the same streets as my kids great great grandparents as it happens!)

[craft1948]

Can't find them in army marriages on findmypast either.