In message <MABBLMMEBBFIBCCILIAIKEKMHAAA.terry.barcock@153.co.uk>, "Terry Barcock, 153 Ltd" <terry.barcock@153.co.uk> writes >Eve McLaughlin wrote: > >"change of name on joining the army etc against the wishes of father". > >How did this work in practice? Was it necessary to obtain father's >signature? Not normally in the past, but if father strongly objected to a juvenile son going (or the lad was an apprentice, who could not legally join up) it was easier to avoid someone recognising the name and letting Dad know. A father (or master) could steam up and demand the return of an underage or apprenticed lad - and think of the loss of face. Same applied if he had got a girl into trouble (or was in debt) and wished to avoid easy detection. If he was recognised, well, then he was, but if the name was heard and passed back to the wrong quarter, it made repercussions easier. -- Eve McLaughlin Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society