Why is it so difficult to find records for Lennox Aldbrough on the web?

QI’m trying to find the second husband of my great grandmother Susan Britton, Lennox Aldbrough, who she married in Middlesbrough in July 1920. On the certificate, Lennox’s father is also recorded as Lennox Aldbrough. Susan died in 1928. The 1939 Register shows Lennox as a widower aged 68, living in Whitehouse Street, Middlesbrough. There was a National Registration Book for him: “J F B T 535/1 born 22.03.1868”. Records show he died in 1944. I can’t find him anywhere else. Liz Thurlow

ALennox Aldbrough is indeed only mentioned in three records on the commercial genealogical sites: registration of marriage in 1920, the 1939 Register and registration of death in 1944. Sometimes, in this sort of situation, further references to an individual might be found in other sources such as historical newspapers or passenger lists. Additionally, searching names that are similar but spelt differently can yield results. Frustratingly, in this case neither method produces anything: he doesn’t appear in any online records before he married your great grandmother in 1920.

It’s possible that Lennox was born outside

Britain, and changed his name once he got here. Laws forbidding foreigners to change their names were only introduced in 1916 and 1919. If Lennox arrived in Britain before this, he might well have anglicised his name (no legal procedure would have been necessary). Aldbrough is a very English-sounding name and is, incidentally, the name of a small town (now Aldbrough St John) not far from Middlesbrough.

You mention a National Registration Book/Card. These were issued to civilians after the 1939 Register was taken on 29 September 1939 as a means of keeping track of a dislocated population, planning for future rationing and analysing demographics (see nationalarchives.gov.uk/helpwith-your-research/researchguides/1939-register and find mypast.co.uk/articles/1939register-enumeration-districts).

Card colours and codes were important. The letter V on a yellow card, for instance, indicated that the holder usually resided outside the UK. The code you give for Lennox Aldbrough’s card is a little confusing, but may repay further investigation on the sites I’ve suggested. Ruth Symes

No census was taken during the Second World War, but the 1939 Register – here showing Lennox Aldbrough – is a good substitute