Hello all,
Well - an update. *Long post warning!*
It turns out that A Brendan P Crean, estimated birth 1921, died in Cheltenham in 1967, aged 46:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVC2-GX87 was the right man. Through British Newspapers, he was indeed in the RAF -as per family hearsay, and appeared to be a heavy drinker!
http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.u ... 8/007/0001 He was married to Edna Barsby in 1944 and was still married when my Nan got pregnant. I found the marriage cert. of Edna and Brendan and got Brendan's Father's name of 'John' from it and the fact he was a farmer still alive at the time of the wedding. Plus he was living in 'Silstock Salop?' and was a Sergeant in the RAF.
By sheer luck and chance and with the help of some amazing people on here - Luxor in particular, I came across a tree on Ancestry that had a link to BPC. I contacted the owner and she turned out to be a niece of one of Edna's brothers. She has been very helpful and found a letter sent to Edna by a Fintan Creane after her husbands death - clearly they were estranged. Fintan was BPC's brother who was living with his wife in Dublin. He had a sister already based in England (the 'baby' of the family) and I think this is the 'Kathleen' who appeared on the electoral role at Hartington Rd living with Brendan. Brendan died of cancer of the jaw in Salterly Hospital and I found out he is buried in EI 1874 Cheltenham Cemetery Priors Road. The Mother flew out along with Fintan and saw to the funeral etc. Clearly this farming family had a bit of money to fly out - plus the boys were educated in boarding schools in Ireland!
It would appear Brendan was a bit of a mystery man all his life. Fintan describes in his letters that he was a poor communicator with the family even when away at school. He also confirms that after the war, he flitted between Dublin and Liverpool and Cheltenham working - his drink problem made him "careless" though. Interestingly, he was in Dublin just after my Nan gave birth! Fintan also says the family name is sometimes Crean or Creane - clearly Edna must have asked for clarification for some reason! Sadly, the letter said Brendan "often said to my wife and I that he had a daughter. I never knew whether he were joking or not. If he had I hope she is well and please give her our kind regards." Edna and Brendan never had any children and sadly that daughter is my Mum....
The lady who shared this with me also sent me 2 photographs of Brendan which has meant that, for the first time ever, my Mum has seen her Father....
Now I am keen to find more... Is anyone on findmypast that could help me see where he was in 1939? I'm guessing in Lincoln - RAF? I'm going to see if I can find 'the family' through Census links in Ireland if I can and take a look at this Cemetery in Cheltenham. I'm also considering contacting the RAF - am I right in thinking that as 25 years have passed since his death I can now request details as a not next of kin?
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-rec ... -personnel
My head is now swimming and I promised an update to all you incredibly helpful people! Part 2 now...!!
Mx
