Dear all, This is my first post on this list. I've found the Geelong rootsweb list really helpful but was advised to get onto the Victoria list, as not all my queries have been specifically about the Geelong area. My gx2-grandfather Edward James Kelly was apparently born in Geelong, Victoria, Australia (although I haven't been able to find a birth record and neither has anybody else - in either the online Victoria records, or at the Geelong records office). His parents (father called John Kelly) apparently came from Cornwall, England, going over to Australia in the 1850s. Edward emigrated to England in the 1880s, became a policeman in London in 1883 and married my gx2-grandmother in London in 1886. A friend on another rootsweb list helped me find a record (in the NSW indexes) of an Edward James Kelly (born 1860 in Victoria, NSW) who was a policeman in NSW in the 1882. link to index: http://srwww.records.nsw.gov.au/indexsearch/keyname.aspx I ordered the record as I thought it was too much of a coincidence with the name and the job. When I received it, I transcribed what I could read. Could you help me with the bits I'm not sure about? I've put a ? next to bits I'm not sure on - this is what I think it says: Registered no: 4055 Name: Kelly Edward Jas Mounted or foot: M Year of birth: 1860 Height: 5 foot 8 1/2 inches Eyes: Hazel Hair: Brown Complexion: Fair A Native of: Victoria Married or single: S Calling: Groom Religion: R.C. General appearance: Good District: Northern? Probationary constable: 5.1.82 - 1.7.82 and 16.1.86 - 1.7.86 (it also seems to say 'red' underneath?) Date of leaving the force: 19.4.87 Cause of leaving the force: Dis. on. Gratuity? (I don't know what this means) If you can help me clarify any of the above, I'd appreciate it. What does it mean by 'Groom' as his 'Calling'? Is that a type of policeman? And what does 'Dis. on. Gratuity' mean? (have I read it right?) It says he was 5 ft 8 1/2 inches. And according to my gx2-grandfather Edward's London police employment record, he was 5 ft 9 inches, which is pretty close. And his appearance and religion are the same. However, the dates don't quite match up, so not sure. My Edward had tattoos (Indian ink) on both arms, but he might have got those done on his journey from Australia to England - we believe he worked his passage. Thanks, Emily (London, England)