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Author Topic: East Indies Military Birth  (Read 1751 times)

Offline shayne

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East Indies Military Birth
« on: Monday 14 April 08 22:59 BST (UK) »
I have a bit of a brick wall that I need help with.  My ggrandfather, Alfred O'Keefe, was born 1864 in the East Indies.  I have found him in the 1901 and 1911 Canadian census as well as the 1940 Canadian National Registration.

I am having trouble because he severed ties with his family after he came to Canada.  He didn't talk about them except to say that he ran away from home.  His father was apparently a "military man" and ran the home life that way.  Family legend states that the family was Irish and that Alfred was born while they were stationed in the East Indies.  Alfred brought up his family as strict Roman Catholics.

He was in the Boer War (I haven't found him yet) and in WWI (I've got the record).

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Shayne Moon
Ontario, Canada

Offline jorose

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Re: East Indies Military Birth
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 15 April 08 10:47 BST (UK) »
When he married, did he give any information on his family?

There are indexes for both overseas military births and civilian (consulate) births for British citizens (on places like findmypast and familyrelatives).

On Google Books there seems to be some reference to a lawsuit regarding James William O'Keefe, born in Ennis, County Clare in 1835, went to India before 1857, and married a lady of Irish parentage there around 1858.  It is found in Cases, Notes and Materials on the Conflict of Laws.
This may be this family:
http://users.usinternet.com/jokeefe/html/fam00091.htm
 - no Alfred listed...

I see on the WWI records he claims not to have served in any military force before - or is that because if they looked up his Boer War records they'd find out he was too old for WWI?
Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline shayne

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Re: East Indies Military Birth
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 15 April 08 23:14 BST (UK) »
I haven't found a marriage either.  I think I have been following a red herring on that one.  I was so convinced that they had married in her township that I haven't yet looked into his.  I will be in Toronto at the Archives at the end of the month and plan to have a good look.

I believe you are correct.  He fixed his birthyear so he could serve in WWI.

I have do some searching for him in the online records but I either get no hits or 200.  I can't afford to check them all so I have to wait for more information.  I had great hopes for the 1940 register but he left his parent's names blank.

I'm not even sure when he came here.  Family legend states he was between 12 and 14 when he ran away from home but he states in the 1901 census that he came here in 1885.  Again, the dates don't jive.

Thank you for taking the time to give me some thoughts.
Shayne
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