The mystery deepens further.
To summarise and to also add a little extra info-
I know that John Holmes was English and had travelled to SA on a ship called Devonia just prior to the outbreak of the Boer War. After the war he married Elizabeth Pretorius and they had at least 3 children in SA and 7 more in New Zealand.
Son - John Roland Holmes born Vyrheid approx 18 Nov 1904
Dau - Enid Maude Holmes born Pietersmaritzburg, 7 Dec 1905
Son - Thos (Listed on ship bound for NZ, see below)
Her Son, John Roland Holmes, South African birth certificate (courtesy of my Nanna) stating; Born; Vryheid, 18 Nov 1904, Parents; European
One of her other daughter's New Zealand birth certificate, (my Nanna), stating; - Born; 29 Jan 1921 / Father; John Holmes (Occupation; Tailor, Age; 52, Birthplace; Tavistock, Devon, England) / Mother; Elizabeth Holmes (Age; 38, Birthplace; Babango, Zululand, SA)
Elizabeth's New Zealand death certificate stating; - Died; 27 Oct 1960 / Age; 76 / Born; Pretoria, SA, 50yrs in NZ / Married; Johannasburg, SA, Age; 21, to John Holmes
They both then emigrated to NZ in 1907 on the St Corinthic leaving Plymouth 27 Jul 1907 destined for Wellington NZ, details from the passenger list; - John Holmes (Tailor, 35yrs), Elizabeth (Wife, 24yrs), John (Son, 3yrs), Heuda (Dau, 2yrs), Thos (Son, 1yr)
And as a curiosity my Nanna has the following personally written note in her documents; - Monuments Commission, Around his Tree, Commandant General A W F Pretorious, members of the Volkstand, and the b??ghers of the Republic of Natalia, Decided by a majority on 5th July 1842, To accept British Rule. For what reason she has this note, she cannot yet recall.
If I was to obtain them, what information do birth and marriage certificates have on them in South Africa? Do they normally list parent names and details
Do birth certificates normally omit the parents names?
Once again all your help is much appreciated,
Kind regards,
Aaron