John CLARKE or James McLEAN? b c1881

[fullscott]

This man served (& misbehaved) as John CLARKE, but some of his papers in the WW1 Service Records (WO 363) are marked "alias James McLEAN" & on page 151047 there is an official letter dated April 1925 that reads:

... Mr John Clarke of 28 Old Union Street, Wednesbury, formerly serving as 15860 Gunner RGA has recently taken steps to change his name, and that his true name (viz James McLean) as evidenced by the legal document produced by him, which has been found to be in order, has now been added to his pension documents affected.

I find this wording VERY misleading! Was he born McLEAN, but known as CLARKE, and so officially became CLARKE ... or was it vice versa?? Why change the Christian name?
Do his descendants stand a chance of tracing him??

He joined the RGA (as CLARKE) in June 1903, declaring age 22y, born in Glasgow, living in Wednesbury, Staffs. Next of kin - brother JAMES. He spent several periods in detention (the first for theft from a comrade, shortly after his attestation), but survived the Great War being finally discharged in August 1918.

Anc****y, CLA, pages 151008-151016 & 151042-151050

[christanel]

Substitute the word 'namely' for viz (as per the dictionary definition) and I think his true name is James McLean.
viz means 'to be more specific' in the English context.
There are 9 James McLeans born Glasgow 1881 +/- 1 in the 1891 Scotland census!
Christina

[Lesley Robertson]

Anc has him as John Clarke (James Mclean).
According his pension records, he had a wounded hip, and was no longer fir for service. Character indifferent - understatement as it goes on to list desertion, offering violence & stealing...

If he was born John Clarke, and gave his NoK as brother James, then brother would be James Clarke.
If he was born James McLean with NoK brother James, then his parents had 2 sons called James McLean.....

Maybe he was trying to get a new start and lose John's bad record..

[Lesley Robertson]

There is a John Clarke aged 9 in Glasgow in the 1891, eldest brother James, 4 other sibs, parents John & Catherine. Can't think of a way to show that he's the one....

[fullscott]

It all depends on the "legal document" for James McLean ...
- A Birth Certificate?
- A Change of Name Certificate? (did they exist in the 1920's?)
Both would fit the description, but would mean very different Search Routes!

Jane

[christanel]

Anyone can change their name without deed poll. See The National Archives guide Here
My birth grandfather enlisted in 1907 under his own name then was dishonourably discharged. He joined up again in WW1 using an alias then deserted taking all his kit with him. He went back North, signed up, deserted again taking all his kit with him. Signed up again using another alias and actually served out his time. In 1925 he had the audacity to request that the medals he was awarded under his last alias be reissued under his birth name!

Why wasn't he charged? Did they not discover his shenanigans until he asked for his medals to be reissued? No because his wife had written and informed them of his real name and asking for support for her and her only living child - my father. The only problem with that was she had adopted him out shortly after he was born and her other son and daughter had died so she was also playing the system. What a pair.
Christina