Hello there, I was wondering if you have tried to see if there was a marriage after she left? Maybe she married another man under her maiden name or her married Hobson name. Would have been illegal, but maybe she managed that somehow. Was there a divorce? What about hospitals, sanatoriums? Maybe she left home for a hospital and noone really knew? Next think, what did she write in the letter in 1942 to her brother? Any reference of what she was doing, how she had been or anything? Any clue in it. When she was seen in London, where exactly? On the street, that's a problem, I'm thinking more of she might have been working somewhere there? Did she have any money when she left? Could she have applied somewhere for money like a social grant or something at the time? You could try and see if there is a death entry for a Donald Hobson somewhere, and see if he had children, and try and contact them. I think it's well possible she just dropped her middle name, my grandmother also forgot about hers, and on the death certificate she is a Celia and she was actually a Cicily Mary. However, I would not be surprised if the Hobson you have is not the one you are looking for, because of the age. I find that it's very possible to find similiar entries for names and one is convinced they are the same people and they are actually not. Sorry to say that. I think you have an interesting story here, and there should be a few angles you could try to follow, but because of the war it might be difficult. Have you tried the genealogy list on York? There might be some help there. Maybe you should check the death indexes for Phyllis maiden name, or even her mothers maiden name, she might have changed her name. I do hope you will get some more pieces in this puzzle, but its a sad story. I hope my little input might bring some ideas. Best regards Melanie