My ancestor James McMillan gives his DOB on the 1939 register & other sources, (R Navy, he was at the Battle of Jutland) as 24/12/1889 in Plymouth/Keyham/Morice Town and also states, on the 1939 register that he is married. I have had no success in tracking down a marriage or his birth registration. However, as a last resort I ordered a copy of his birth registration from Plymouth Registry Office and they supplied me with a certificate for James, showing his DOB as 24/12/1892. My query is, why did he amend his age to make himself 3 years younger? Wouldn’t he have had to produce his birth certificate when he joined the Navy? He was in the Navy from 1908 to 1926. I know young men lied about their age to join up, but that was usually to make themselves older, not younger surely? Thanks for any suggestions!
Re: DOB conundrum
Posted by Deborah O'Brien on 11/7/2018, 4:36 pm, in reply to "DOB conundrum"
But he didn't - he made himself 3 years older. If his real birthdate was 1892 he would have been 15 in 1908. By giving a birth date of 1889 he made himself 18. Assuming his parents were James & Elizabeth, your James was shown in 1901 as aged 8 which tallies with the 1892 birthdate.
Re: DOB conundrum
Posted by John Avery on 11/7/2018, 7:28 pm, in reply to "Re: DOB conundrum"
By appearing to be 18 he could join the RN as an Able Seaman whereas if he was younger he joined as a Boy rating.
