Sue McGowan
proper brummie kid
Dear Maurice and "Master Brummie"! I've been out of the loop for a few days as I'm in the middle of my 77 hrs week night shift! Thankyou So much for all your Brilliant detective work and at last I know Frank was in the area at the right time. The newspaper cutting on Frank and two other soldiers who went AWOL just before Christmas 1915 is intriguing as they may have come up to Birmingham which would also be the right time as Hilda had her son "Frank Whitting" 25th. September 1916. Just to recap, baby Frank's original birth certificate was altered later on by persons unknown. The child's name, Frank Whitting, was scribbled out and Robert Butler was written over the top. He grew up thinking Hilda was his big sister! Frank/Robert was born in 10, Back, 460 Garrison Lane. I went to the Central Library last week and they discovered it was a private house owned by Sarah Jane White. They were able to tell me about child-care in the area at the time and how Hilda might have managed. There were people who would help unmarried mothers and Hilda might have been hidden away for her "lying-in" as the Authorities had no qualms about just taking illegitimate babies away! There were also creches where women could leave their babies for days at a time. Once again Thankyou for your help and interest! Sue.