G'ay Redroger,
You said:
I had hoped Holmes was a British General, but unfortunately he was also Australian, so clearly AEH did not enlist in his regiment, or did he?
I think I get what you are meaning, Harrison was a member of Holmes's unit but the unit wasn't an English one, so there would be no British record of this connection
You said: The whole thing might be a giant red herring!
Yep, it could be , but I don't believe intentionally by the services, it is certainly perplexing, the documents are confusing, but if we are to believe what we are seeing on them, then he did join the British permanent army at some stage between 1917 and 1919. If we are unable to confirm this there will be a valid explanation, and I then believe this will be intentional on Harrison's behalf, in that he has concealed his name intentionally to lead us all on a wild goose chase
Maybe Nora knew his circumstances all along and never told the family because of her emotional pain and embarrisment, apart from her own feelings she had the lives and minds of her 4 children to protect. Not too good to hear that your dad was actually alive in England, had been Court Martialled for theft and replaced you for another woman (perhaps)
The children never sighted him nor heard from him. I am 30 years divorced myself and just can't imagine being without my dear children who I love more than life itself. How he did that is quite beyond me? and I had always thought that he would have returned to Australia at some point to communicate with them and see how they turned, out at least. "Getting a bit misty here"
He would have been very proud for numerous reasons, Nora did a good job, from a military perspective, in WW2 another Captain, a Sergent and a young Private in the family, apart from just being great kids, smart, loving, respectful and responsible.
Good hunting
Thanks
Ian