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By annoying a lot of the wrong people over the course of many years until I found the Defence Business Services. I'm at least glad that I got an answer about where the records were and that at the time they were destroyed I was still knee-high to a grasshopper so I had no chance of ever finding them.

Their actual response:
"Further to your request for information relating to your great grandfather, I am sorry to have to inform you that despite an extensive search having been carried out of our Civilian archive records, there are no documents held by the Department. Records relating to civilian employees are only retained for 100 years from date of birth (following guidance from The National Archives) and unfortunately after conducting an extensive search for any additional records, there are no records held. Civilian employee records are only retained for 100 years from date of birth and then destroyed without copy, however it is possible that National Archives may hold some information and hopefully you will receive a response in due cause." - DBS Information Records Management

The National Archives didn't give me any response whatsoever.

Hi!

I'm still here.

Unfortunately I've since had confirmation that my great grandfather's admiralty records were destroyed in 1990 (100 years after his birth, per instruction). So there's a lot I'll never know.

I surely can't be the only one to have come across a Phanuel in their tree?

Reminds me of the old joke about the name being spelled "Steven with a ph" - Pheven

Quote from: chris_49 on Tuesday 25 March 25 18:57 GMT (UK)

There's also the option to add a middle name at Confirmation, at least Anglican ones. I was offered (but declined) this in the 60s.

I didn't know this!  I wasn't invited to add a name.  If it had been offered, I would have seized it with both hands.  I hate my name and was only given one.

To be fair, you can call yourself anything you like right now  (either for yourself, or to confuse your future descendants  )

That does remind me though, my middle name was in honour of someone who married into the family. It wasn't until she died recently that I found out what her actual name was!

I suppose in some cases earlier on they may have been used patronymically. William (son of) John SMITH. That doesn't explain the trees without a source though.