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[topas37]

The witnesses were Eleanor Emily Lough and James Edward Lough not a lot of help as that is his wife's family, we can't understand where the May came from or the Alfred it's a real puzzle

[groom]

It was rumoured that he joined one regiment, left and joined another

I wonder if that is a clue - did he rejoin under a different name for some reason?

[topas37]

Your guess is as good as mine, as I say it is only a rumour I have no way of confirming this as nobody left in the family knows anything

[groom]

Look at this

First name(s):   Matthew
Last name:   HEDGES

year of birth:   1889   

Parish of birth:   Poplar   Middlesex

Age at attestation:   17 years 2 months  (29th Aug 1906)

Attestation corps:   5TH ROYAL FUSILIERS   

Attestation soldier number:   6070

Discharge corps:   Royal Fusiliers (City Of London Regiment) - 7th Foot

Looks as if he joined under the Hedges name.

[topas37]

Well when he married in 1911 his name was Alfred Matthew William Hedges May and he was listed as a Colporal 2nd West Riding Regiment stationed at Halifax.


Anyway thanks for all the info everybody have left it for my husband to sift through as I am off to work now, but please keep the info coming if you have any and I will check it out in the morning

[MargP]

Look at this

First name(s):   Matthew
Last name:   HEDGES

year of birth:   1889   

Parish of birth:   Poplar   Middlesex

Age at attestation:   17 years 2 months  (29th Aug 1906)

Attestation corps:   5TH ROYAL FUSILIERS   

Attestation soldier number:   6070

Discharge corps:   Royal Fusiliers (City Of London Regiment) - 7th Foot

Looks as if he joined under the Hedges name.

He was only in this unit for couple of months then transferred to R M S J what ever that is???

[groom]

Royal Military something?

[panda40]

This is just a theory but it does happen. Alfred/Matthew was born in June.
Matthew and Ellen married after birth.
Could the mysterious May surname come from Alfred/Matthew's real father and Ellen only married Matthew afterwards and he took on Matthews surname of Hedges. Only to find out in later life his real surname should be May.
It may pay to order his birth certificate to see if it contains any other information that might help us unravel this mystery. his might explain why he uses all four names.

I would also suggest looking back through the censuses to see where Matthew and Ellen were before they married.

regards panda

[groom]

Could be and I wondered that, but the baptism gives Matthew Hedges as his father

Matthew William Hedges
15th July 1889
Father Matthew Hedges clerk
Mother Amelia Hedges

Unless of course Matthew was willing to accept him as his. Odd as they weren't married but she is down as Hedges.