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OK thank you something definitely odd here and the probability that this is not who I've been led to believe it is is dawning. Another mystery! Many thanks 

Can anyone identify this uniform please. James Christian Mears attested in 1902 and eventually became a Sergeant Major -  James joined RGA in 1902 - 11450 or 1401129 and described as a labourer. Born in Woolwich in 1884 and died in 1939 - he became a Physical Training Instructor for the boys school in Tonbridge (though they denied his existence when I called them) I am mystified by him in what appears to be a Scottish uniform with a date of 1906! His death notification in the newspaper

“Tonbridge Pysical Training Instructor
We regret to record the death, which occurred suddenly on Friday of Sergeant Major James Christian Mears of 9 Thorpe Ave Tonbridge. Mr Mears who was a physical training and gym instructor at Tonbridge School had been playing in a Rugby match for the staff against the boys and at the end of the game he collapsed in the pavilion and died. He was extremely popular and respected by the staff and boys at Tonbridge School and also to a large circle of aquaintances in the town and his death will be a shock to them all. Mr Mears was 55 years of age. He had been at Tonbridge School for ten years coming from Borden Grammer School Sittingbourne. Prior to that he had been in the Arny serving with the Royal Artillery  for 21 years. He was in China when the last war broke out and served in France from 1916 until 1919. He retired with the Rank of Warrant Officer. He took a keen interest in the boys Club in Shipbourne Road and last year instructed them in physical training and would have done so again this winter. He was also a Drill Instructor at Hilden Oak School. The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon preceded by a service at the Tonbridge School Chapel”
Sevenoaks Cronicle & Kentish Advetiser 29th December 1939;

It's not that far, Shipley is West Sussex and Fletching is East Sussex - Staplehurst is also a place name and just over there border in Kent - they likely took the name from there way back 

Quote from: buttercup2009 on Thursday 22 December 22 18:19 GMT (UK)

They were from the Fletching/Maresfield area in Sussex 

Quote from: Lisa in California on Thursday 22 December 22 18:14 GMT (UK)

Sorry to sidetrack, but I see you have Staplehurst from Sussex.  Your ancestors weren’t from the Shipley area in the late 1700s/early- to mid-1800s were they?  The name seems so familiar.

Thank you.  Then not from my area of Shipley, Horsham, Itchingfield where my Vaus, etc. ancestors roamed. Don’t know why Staplehurst seems to ring a bell.

Bless - it's exciting because there's a son 

Sorry, I didn’t post it.  bbart found the record.

They don’t come any dimmer than me (regarding technology) - maybe someone else can help?


I haven’t found the family in Montreal yet, but I’m still looking.

Yes my Grandfather was Jack.  It might be because of his father Frederick it seems to have happened in the army and it's possible they confused his F for a J and he just went along with it. He does use the H for Harold though and that continues. And now I seem to have found a brother for George in Canada - see below 

Poor Agnes, what a sad story.  . Thank you for the details, though.

If it hasn’t already been mentioned, John and Jack are interchangeable names.  How he ended up choosing John/Jack is a mystery but perhaps he stopped using Frederick to differentiate himself from his father?  Could he have had two middle names, one being John/Jack?