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My uncle, Kenneth Reginald Marden was born at 10 Hungerford Road, Swilly, Devonport on 22nd July 1917 to our grandmother Ellen Marden (nee Connor).

While his father William was at war (with DCLI), the family were normally based at Bodmin Camp.

Can anyone suggest what his family was doing in Devonport at that time or name anyone else that might have been in that household?

Hello Stephen

Although this doesn't answer your question if you scroll down you will find the DCLI in Devonport around 1920.
http://www.britisharmedforces.org/li_pages/regiments/dcli/duke_timeline.htm

It is sometimes surprising to find Army barracks in places know as a Naval port.

freebmd has mother's maiden name as CORNER

you might want to submit a correction


Births Sep 1917
Marden Kenneth R- Corner - Devonport 5b 439



Marriages Jun 1905

Connor Ellen - Bodmin 5c 127
Marden William - Bodmin 5c 127

There are photos of Kenneth on Ancestry

is that your tree showing that he had twin brothers ?

Yes that's our tree on Ancestry as well as on here.

His mother's maiden name was definitely Connor - Married to William Marden in 1905 at Bodmin. We have the certs.

Is this a birth of a sister?

ETHEL M LA B
Last Name MARDEN
Birth Year 1915
Gender F
Mother's Maiden Name CONNOR
Year 1915
Country England County Cornwall
Event Quarter 1
District BODMIN
Volume 5C Page 110

As she was so young, she'd be likely to be with the family.

They are in Gravesend in 1911 as you've probably found

25 ALBION ROAD GRAVESEND
Parish GRAVESEND
County Kent
Country ENGLAND
Ecclesiastical District
Enumeration District 7
Registration District GRAVESEND
Registration District Number 44
SubDistrict Number 1

First Name WILLIAM
Last Name MARDEN
Birth Year 1881
Age 30
Where Born CAMBERWELL LONDON
Relationship To Head of Household HEAD
Gender Male
Condition MARRIED
Year Of Marriage
Years Of Marriage
Occupation SOLDIER PRIVATE

First Name ELLEN
Last Name MARDEN
Birth Year 1888
Age 23
Where Born BODMIN CORNWALL
Relationship To Head of Household WIFE
Gender Female
Condition MARRIED
Year Of Marriage 1905
Years Of Marriage 6

First Name WILLIAM ALFRED
Last Name MARDEN
Birth Year 1909
Age 2
Where Born BODMIN CORNWALL
Relationship To Head of Household SON
Gender Male
Condition SINGLE

First Name LESLIE
Last Name MARDEN
Birth Year 1910
Age 1
Where Born BODMIN CORNWALL
Relationship To Head of Household SON
Gender Male
Condition SINGLE

RG14PN3820 RG78PN145 RD44 SD1 ED7 SN87 Piece 3820

4 children born, 2 had died. The names crossed out might be them
Alice and Doris.

So assuming the family travelled with the parents, the 2 sons were probably also in Devonport aged 8 and 7 in 1917

Have you looked for William Marden's Service record?

Yes, Weve got William Marden's service record but it is very vague around the time of WW1. We think he may have been wounded at some time and was also a PoW.

Ethel once told us she was a baby when the family was in Ireland with William on duty there. The records say they were there in 1914 - but she wasn't born until 1915. All very confusing!

Do you have previous thread about this family?? The DCLI and Gravesend rings a bell!

Depending on Ethel's birth, it's possible that she was born in Ireland but they fibbed and registered her in Bodmin if they were in transit. There was 6 weeks to register a birth.

Think Stress and Packing on a heavily pregnant woman!! She could well have been conceived in Ireland :-D

Yes Tec, We did have a previous thread on the family at Gravesend in 1911 - turned out William was stationed at Woolwich at the time