Vaudeville artists Peggy Adair and Bill/Wil Hastings

[ShaunJ]

Following up on the Heathmere House, Ash Vale address on the 1927 passenger list, Will's parents and siblings are there in the 1921 census:

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC%2F1921%2FRG15%2F03224%2F0487%2F04&tab=this

[maddys52]

I'm not sure about this, however findagrave has Will HASTINGS death in Canada in 1961:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39028128/william-hastings

[maddys52]

Following up on the Heathmere House, Ash Vale address on the 1927 passenger list, Will's parents and siblings are there in the 1921 census:

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC%2F1921%2FRG15%2F03224%2F0487%2F04&tab=this

the same address is given for Edith HASTINGS, mother of William when he is  travelling to Canada in 1931 on the Duchess of Bedford. Says he was an actor, born Farnborough, is now intending to be a builder. Intending to stay with a cousin, Jack HORNE, in Toronto.

[Sc00p]

There is a well documented tree for the family on Ancestry including a picture of William Hastings although the family name is listed as Heskins despite all the source documents supporting the surname Hastings.  The picture is captioned 'My Dad'.... https://www.ancestry.co.uk/mediaui-viewer/tree/27789767/person/130199822113/media/d669fb02-e2a5-4f35-a870-ea3515b3d6b4

[maddys52]

This would seem to be William HASTINGS in 1891 at Farnborough. Father Frederick is  a plasterer.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:47YS-Q3Z

[Sc00p]

Likely birth reg
   HASTINGS, WILLIAM       mmn BEAGLEY 
GRO Reference: 1889  J Quarter in HARTLEY WINTNEY  Volume 02C  Page 184 

Edith Beagley looks likely to have married Frederick Hastings after the death of her husband George Parfitt Hence the Parfitt children with the family....
   
Death reg
PARFITT, GEORGE       39 
GRO Reference: 1887  M Quarter in HARTLEY WINTNEY  Volume 02C  Page 112

Marriage Reg
PARFITT George       
BEAGLEY Edith
GRO Reference: 1878  J Quarter in Farnham    Volume 2a Page 171

[Sc00p]

If the 'Will Hastings' press reported naval and musical exploits can be believed, there is a likely Royal Navy service record for William Hastings no 232290 b 13 Oct 1888 Aldershot.  Engaged 13 Oct 1906 - 12 years.  I'm no expert on naval records but it appears his last few postings were at HMAS ships or shore establishments and he was invalided out 16 Mar 1918.  It may be relevant to his later reported musical career that his sub-rating on joining presumably as a boy in Aug 1904 was Bugler.....

Edit:  His RAN service record https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4428175 states he was lent to the RAN and forfeited a trip back to England if allowed to discharge at Sydney.

[maddys52]

Wow, I'm overwhelmed with the response! Thank you all so much for your efforts with this, there's a lot to go through! The effort from each of you is very, very much appreciated!

I will have to go through some of it over the next few days, but I think the mystery has been solved with Ethel Rose Dinger. Her father, Arthur Dinger, was my grandfather's brother. I believe this makes her my first cousin, once removed. That would definitely explain why she travelled to see my grandparents, who had migrated from England in 1911, in what was then the middle of nowhere!

I've attached the photo Ethel/Peggy with my grandparents, circa 1924. From left to right is Bill Hastings, Lilian Dinger (my grandmother), Ethel/Peggy, and Alfred Dinger (my grandfather).

I just wanted to reiterate how thankful I am for everyone's help. I have a lot of reading to do! I will make sure to have a look at every link you've all provided. Thank you!

That's great RagdollFan. Good to find the connection. 

[maddys52]

If the 'Will Hastings' press reported naval and musical exploits can be believed, there is a likely Royal Navy service record for William Hastings no 232290 b 13 Oct 1888 Aldershot.  Engaged 13 Oct 1906 - 12 years.  I'm no expert on naval records but it appears his last few postings were at HMAS ships or shore establishments and he was invalided out 16 Mar 1918.  It may be relevant to his later reported musical career that his sub-rating on joining presumably as a boy in Aug 1904 was Bugler.....

Edit:  His RAN service record https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4428175 states he was lent to the RAN and forfeited a trip back to England if allowed to discharge at Sydney.

Just to note that the address given on the record - 28 Crown St (crossed out) - is the same as on his marriage to Rosaline LAWRENCE.