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  1. #1
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    Default Charles John OFFEN or Arthur Henry CLARKE?

    An anomaly from the WW1 Service Records (WO 363):

    C J OFFEN deserted the RMLI in May 1894 and joined the Royal Artillery as Arthur Henry CLARKE. A confession to this effect was made, but unfortunately it is missing from the records.
    Is this man OFFEN (Charles John, b Q4 1874) or CLARKE, Arthur Henry?

    It is usually safe to assume that the first name given is the correct one ... but as CLARKE he married Eunice Annie Elizabeth OFFEN (1899, in Malta) and at least the last 2 of his 10 children are surnamed CLARKE. (The others were born in Malta & Edinburgh, so I cannot check them)

    Details (as CLARKE):
    Enlisted May 1894, declared age 19y, born Chelsea. Served as 3936 RGA until 1920.
    Father: THOMAS (Notting Hill).
    Children: Eunice Foy 1900; Amy C 1901; Una May 1903; Charles A G 1904; Hector 1906; Eva 1907; May 1909; Dorothy 1910; Kathleen 1912; Rose Mary 1915.

    Source: Anc****y, CLA, pages 108491 to 108509

  2. #2
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    ScotlandsPeople has 2 entries for Hector M CLARKE, both in 1906, one in St Giles RD and the other in Leith North RD (both are Edinburgh).

    There is an Amy Louisa Mart CLARKE registered in Leith South but in 1903.

    I only made a cursory check in SP. Can you specify which were born in Edinburgh? If so, I'll take a closer look.

    Peter

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    Hector - 22 July 1906 - Edinburgh (Leith).
    Eva - 8 November 1907 - Grain Island (I have no idea where that is).
    Kathleen & Rose Mary - Sep 1912 & June 1915 - Pembroke Dock (both registered as CLARKE)
    Others - Malta.

    Father's address c1894 - Thomas CLARKE, 23 Georges Street, Notting Hill, London W
    Family's address Feb 1920 - Pembroke Dock, S Wales

    I feel that the family name since 1899 is probably CLARKE - but did he change it from OFFEN? Or did he join the RMLI (underage?) using a friend's name? It just seems odd that he served as OFFEN, then married an OFFEN ...

    Jane

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    Isle of Grain, Kent. Birth of an Eva Clarke Dec 1/4 1907 Hoo reg district which includes Isle of Grain. Two entries, one without the e on Clark.

    Christina
    Sometimes paranoia is just having all the facts.
    William Burroughs

  5. #5
    Super Moderator christanel's Avatar
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    Charles Offen was admitted to ST Stephen's Parochial school 5 April 1880, Father Thomas address - 3 Godmershaw T(best I can make of it) Howe Road
    The funny thing with this entry is that in the column for the father's name all the entries have just the first name and for the entry under that of Charles for a boy by the name of Frederick Doalks? the father's name is Offen.
    Further down the page is the admittance record for an Herbert Offen admitted 6 April 1880 Thomas father, same address.
    Because the lines onto the next page don't match up properly it may or may not be Herbert who attended a private school previously.
    Christina
    Sometimes paranoia is just having all the facts.
    William Burroughs

  6. #6
    Super Moderator christanel's Avatar
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    I just lost some results when I lost the internet connection. It is possible that Charles John Offen's and Eunice's fathers were brothers. There is a Thomas and an Alfred Offen on the 1861 census with their father John a Footman. Thomas age 11, Alfred 7. Alfred is named as Eunice's father on her baptismal record.

    None of this explains which name he started out with. As you say fullscot it is usually the name they first join up with that is their birth name and then they change it for one reason or another - usually something nefarious like my dad's birth father who was dismissed from the army in 1909 (his own name) then joined up again in 1916 using his mother's maiden name, went AWOL and joined up again using a name none of us recognise.

    Christina
    Sometimes paranoia is just having all the facts.
    William Burroughs

  7. #7
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    All six of the children born in Malta were registered under the surname CLARKE. (British Nationals Armed Forces Births 1761 – 2005 on FMP)

    Arthur Henry CLARKE'S character reference on discharge:
    “Exemplary” and “ Capable, trustworthy, tactful, hardworking, good influence with his men, very straightforward, of even temperament”
    Doesn't suggest a shifty character, does it?

    TNA has a viewable* record for a Charles John OFFEN, service number 6245 of the RMLI. The transcript gives his dob as 12 Nov 1873. (ADM 159/11/6245).
    *£3.45!

    Peter

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