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[topas37]

I will have a look over the weekend when I am not at work and see if I can find anything

[topas37]

Have just received birth cert for Aunt born overseas his name is listed as Alfred May Seargeant 4601981 1st Batt The Duke of Wellington Regiment it gives both Turkey and Gibralter as residence it says place of registration Turkey, place of residence Gibralter

[groom]

So that means everyone was right - the registration being in Turkey, but her birth being in Gibraltar. Still no clues to the name change though. 

I think the only way now may be his military records as it does seems as if the name change occurred while he was in the army, so the reason may have been recorded there. On the other hand it might just say something like, "Henceforth to be known as ......"  in which case you will still be none the wiser. I wonder if he left a will and whether that would throw any light on it?

[MargP]

Hi Topas

You now have his Regiment Number, I think that next step as suggested in previous post is to get his Army Records from the MOD, I think that it would be worth taking a chance that the answer could be in these records,if not, at least, you will the history of his army life.

I wonder if Wendy as had the Death Certificates yet

Margp

[topas37]

Haven't seen any posts from her

[Wendy111]

Hi Topas

You now have his Regiment Number, I think that next step as suggested in previous post is to get his Army Records from the MOD, I think that it would be worth taking a chance that the answer could be in these records,if not, at least, you will the history of his army life.

I wonder if Wendy as had the Death Certificates yet

Margp

No, I was hopeful for today but looks like next week now.  Will let you know....

[topas37]

Wendy has death cert it says Alfred May otherwise Alfred Matthew William May otherwise Matthew William Hedges, not a lot of help.    To get Army records apparently can take upto a year, so we are thinking on having a ride to Halifax they have a museum there and see if we can get any information there, but it won't be for a few weeks, proberly in May.

[andycand]

Wendy has death cert it says Alfred May otherwise Alfred Matthew William May otherwise Matthew William Hedges, not a lot of help. To get Army records apparently can take upto a year, so we are thinking on having a ride to Halifax they have a museum there and see if we can get any information there, but it won't be for a few weeks, proberly in May.

The death certificate is helpful in that it confirms the names he used during his lifetime.

You mentioned in an earlier post that he may have deserted from the army and then joined a different regiment.
Findmypast has some service records for Matthew Hedges born London 1889. It would be worth downloading these to see if they are your Matthew. If they are his and he did desert then that would explain the change of name.
I would make a list of all documents relating to him, census, certificates etc, in date order noting the name he used and the location. This should help to identify when he changed his name

Andy

[Wendy111]

The death certificate is helpful in that it confirms the names he used during his lifetime.

You mentioned in an earlier post that he may have deserted from the army and then joined a different regiment.
Findmypast has some service records for Matthew Hedges born London 1889. It would be worth downloading these to see if they are your Matthew. If they are his and he did desert then that would explain the change of name.
I would make a list of all documents relating to him, census, certificates etc, in date order noting the name he used and the location. This should help to identify when he changed his name

Andy

I agree, it's worth checking anything that's to be found on this man - we're all intrigued now.  My impression though, far from hiding his original name, is that he's gone to some lengths to keep it in use.

Today's wording for change of name is "If you wish to be known by a different name you can change your name at any time, provided you do not intend to deceive or defraud another person. There is no legal procedure to follow in order to change a name.  You simply start using the new name.  You can change your forename or surname, add names or re-arrange your existing names.  Although there is no legal way to change a name, you may want evidence that you have changed your name".   

FWIW, my first-hand experience of this stems from my mother's change of surname in the 1940's; she had a deed-poll drawn-up and ceased using her previous name, therefore her original name was not given on her death certificate 30 years later. I also changed my surname in the 1960's but didn't have a deed-poll because I wanted to keep my original name in use - although not all at the same time as this man's done!  I've since taken steps to ensure both my names appear on my death certificate - although I didn't know it would appear twice in the registers until Andy told me.

None of this exactly helps us with what this man did but he surely wouldn't have given both names to the prison service if he'd changed it to deceive and desert the army?  And, again from my experience, you have to be quite proactive to keep a previous name alive.  Officialdom is happier to let it sink without trace.  topas, didn't you pin it down to happening btw 1906-1911?  We know he was Matthew Hedges on the 1901 census aged 12.

Wendy