GRO can't provide a certificate

[carolosunny]

Ive been researching my family tree for 18 months now...I applied to the GRO for a birth certificate and a death certificate for my Grandfather William Henry Downing (Hulme)..I need the birth certificate so I can contact the army so they can give me details of his service in the hope that there might be a photograph as no one in the family knows what he looked like. They sent me a copy of his death certificate but couldn't give me a birth certificate as they said there was too many William Henry Downings born around the same time and couldn't be certain which was my Grandfather. No one in the family knows his birthday so I'm really stuck Has anybody got any ideas of where I can go from here please? Thanxs XXX

[t mo]

hi
unless the rules have changed to get his service records you should only need a death cert , who told you  you needed a birth cert as well , i take it you have downloaded the forms from the veterans site  www.veterans-uk.info/ .
regards
trevor

[CaroleW]

Can you include details of his birthyear - how old was he on his death cert and what year did he die

If he was born in or after the September qtr 1911 - his mothers maiden name will be shown against the entry on freebmd

[Alexander.]

If you know nothing about your grandfather or his parents, you really need his marriage certificate to your grandmother (assuming there is one). This will give his father's name and help you track his birth certificate.

Alexander

[carolosunny]

It would be great if I only need a death certificate On his death certificate it says he died 1st January 1958 aged 62 years xx

[carolosunny]

He was married 3 times and I have copies of 2 of the marriage certificates....his Father was also called William Henry Downing

[Alexander.]

What was his father's occupation on the two marriage certificates?

[CaroleW]

So a birthyear of around 1895.  You say (Hulme) in your opening post.  is that where you know for certain he was born or is it where he lived after his marriage

What about any siblings - do you know their names?  There are 2 censuses he could appear on - 1901 and 1911 so if you have any info re: siblings - let us know as it may lead to getting his parents names

[CaroleW]

A likely candidate for his parents is this marriage

Marriages December qtr 1891 
William Henry Downing     Chorlton  8c 1079   
Emily Mellor