Thank you Louisa, this is quite a help. I don't intend to go back very far, as they are not my own family, I am doing this for my son in law. I was assuming they were Catholic because the father came from Ireland, lived in an Irish Community off Digbeth and later Skinners Lane, and also the mother, although born Birmingham, was an O'Hara. I was just lining up places for research for when I am able to go into Birmingham to actually do the research. I did realise they would have had to come into England via a port, so have not just concentrated my search on Birmingham, however, I cannot find him at all. My first endeavours now, seeing as I cannot find the GRO entry for the son's birth (we know his actual birth date), is to get the parents' marriage, (which came some years after the first son was born). I thought after researching for more than eleven years, I would find this one easy, but not so! As for poor Michael, I have his parents address from the CWGC web site, which concurs with that on the Electoral Roll which I got via the Forum, so I know I have that right.
Thanks for your input, much appreciated.
Shortie