WW2 adoptions search

[KevinBattle]

Hi, long time gone but my wife is fast approaching her 80th birthday and so have decided to try and uncover a bit of her past. Sigh... As you'd expect, it's complicated, or I would have cracked it long ago...
She has a birth date of 6 September 1944. She and her brother() Roger, were adopted, presumably still during WW2. Her brother, Roger and her were both given middle name of Stuart by their adoptive Bushell parents.
I believe that there may be a different birth registration name, but how can I start to uncover any trail? A birth in September suggests a Christmas conception. Any number of reasons, husband/boyfriend not returning, 1 night stand could be the reason for adoption but the "brother" aspect is a puzzle as he had a apparent birth date in November 1942, so could possibly be a biological brother if they had been orphaned or simply the second child was too much for the mother to cope, especially if her husband had been absent for several years.... Roger has died, so DNA difficult and my wife is rather reluctant to do so in case it reveals different identities or unpleasant aspects. But at the same time it is something she'd like resolved, so it's down to me to "filter" anything unpleasant...
In short, can a wartime adoption be traced?
It's an extremely long shot, but given what has been uncovered on Rootschat previously for so many others, it's worth a shot!!
Over to clever brains  

[ShaunJ]

This might be useful

https://www.gov.uk/adoption-records

https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/adoption-records/

[scotmum]

Also, as per Roots chat policy of not naming living individuals, best to remove your wife's forename (ps your marriage to her is easily found, thus you are in effect identifying yourself too).

As you realise, giving the same middle name to both siblings could be a hint to possible parentage, if they were indeed siblings. Have you worked through births in relevant quarters to see if any potential ones to check further?

Do you and your wife have any children who might be willing to have DNA test instead? Not as ideal as your wife testing, but could still produce leads that might narrow down her parentage.

Does your wife have a birth certificate in her adopted name? See this old post for some helpful info https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=824814.0 .

[scotmum]

Just noticed your previous post on the matter:

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=858095.msg7267875#msg7267875, which links to an interesting newspaper article.

[CaroleW]

The only way forward is via DNA.  If neither your wife or her brother are prepared to take that step you are left with the suggestion by Scotmum that your children take one

From your phrasing  - it sounds as though it is you rather than your wife who is driving the search - is that correct?  Have you discussed your posts on RC with her?  Even though Roger has died some DNA findings can be upsetting

If she will not take a DNA test - has she applied at any time for her adoption records?  If available - they may provide some answers.  Same question for her brothers widow/children

Reading your previous post - your wife & her brothers christian names  may have been changed after adoption so looking for birth entries for their present names may be a non-starter.

If they were both adopted as babies it's possible they are not biological siblings given the 2yr age difference

I have asked the moderator to merge this post with your previous one to avoid duplication of info

[KevinBattle]

Thank you all, and as you'll see from my previous post of 2 years back, there was a wonderful discovery.
Situation is that my wife wants to know her background, but doesn't necessarily want to know the answer(s) so I'm the filter, to assess what might be found. I can always say "Nothing came of it" if necessary.
As you will note, I can't be sure of her actual details, name and even DoB may be wrong, but I have to use what there is. I don't even know if there was any formal adoption with paper records, back in WW2 I'm sure it was easy to disguise how 2 children could be absorbed.
I know from my own fathers background how convoluted family history can be.
So I might be opening a can of worms, but... hope springs eternal...

[CaroleW]

Molly & Henry married & lived in Staffs so it's possible - but not guaranteed - that's where each child was born

Given that the 2 children were born 2yrs apart - wartime or not there should be some records.  I would start with Staffs Soc Services but suspect they will only deal with your wife - not you

However - snags listed below!!

Births may not have been in Staffs?

Both could have been "unofficial" adoptions if the Bushell's possibly knew the family/families.  The Bushells married 1930 so were childless until 1942 when Roger was born

[KevinBattle]

Thanks
That's my "suspicion" that the children were "adopted" informally, perhaps on behalf of another family member or neighbour, fearful that her absent husband would return to find extra in his family.
In which case it may be impossible to go any further.
At least that's my prepared fall back position should anything "unpleasant" emerge.
Reginald (Roger) may have a birth record in Swindon in Nov '42 but nothing links (so far) for madame.
I may contact Staffs Social Services to see if they have records that far back that can be accessed.
Then it may need a family discussion as to whether to go any further.

Thanks all for your input.

[ShaunJ]

Her brother, Roger and her were both given middle name of Stuart by their adoptive Bushell parents.

I see that Stuart was a name passed down in the adoptive mother's family

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/172141544/person/302233142893/facts