Jack Wilson a.k.a. Arthur Sullivan

[miss marple]

There area number of reasons why people change their names. Have you seen Jack's service records? If for example, he got into trouble and was dishonourably discharged from one regiment, but wanted to stay in the army, he would change his name to join another regiment as in the 1940s the murderer Neville Heath did.

I' m not saying that he was in trouble with the army, but they may have other reasons why he changed his name, maybe he was a spy, or had gambling or financial debts. The army was a good cover to escape a lot of trouble.
Or perhaps he was married bigamously, that does pop up in family trees,

Miss Marple

[MayBea]

There area number of reasons why people change their names. Have you seen Jack's service records?

I've looked at all of his service records. He was discharged from the, Cameron Highlanders for being medically unfit. He changed his name after that.

Do you or anyone know anything about marriage banns?

I just read that, often in marriages 'after banns', people give the same address, so they don't have to pay in two parishes.

Jack's uncle's niece, Margaret Rawlinson gave the same address on Thrawl Street as her husband, John Reardon.

[MayBea]

Since it's beens proven that Mary Jane Kelly was involved with the Salvation Army, I thought to take another look at this mystery of Arthur John Sullivan who's mother was a "Mary Jane Kelly" and who said "the Salvation Army saved his neck."

Does it really mean the SA saved him from being hanged?

It is is not a theory, that's what the expression means ...

But as I mentioned, he was a career soldier from the age of 14, then got married after WW1. Unless he was speaking figuratively, there was little or no chance of him being hanged.

I have this regarding executions of juveniles.

There is little actual evidence of anyone under 14 years old being hanged in the 19th century, despite what you might read in some books to the contrary.

http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/child.html

[Livia]

From www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

There's a few more like this, found by searching on
Robert Bruce Wilson.

[MayBea]

I think this is definitely Liverpool MJK's first son, Robert Bruce.

He was born in 1875 so would have been 58 in 1933 and not 65, but I believe Redhill is in Surrey and his brother Arthur John Sullivan a.k.a. William John Wilson moved to Morden Surrey in 1931 (post #5).

The other results show a Robert Bruce Wilson of the same age that says he's a navy man and our Robert Bruce was in the Merchant Navy.

I only ever found three Robert Bruce Wilsons born in Lancashire. One was born in 1967, other one in 1903. I know one died in WW1.

Robert Bruce Wilson, born 1875, was thought by the family to have died in WW1 but I found his merchant navy records that proved he was alive in 1920. I don't know why Arthur would tell his children he died in the war when he was living in the neighbourhood.

[MayBea]

I only ever found three Robert Bruce Wilsons born in Lancashire... I know one died in WW1.

Actually the one I was thinking about is an R. B. Wilson so I can't say if he's Robert Bruce.

The Liverpool Hall of Remembrance
PTE. R. B. WILSON "THE KING'S" (L'POOL) REGT. (10TH [SCOTTISH] BATT.)

Regardless, the only other Robert Bruce Wilson of close enough age in England was born in 1873 in Hampstead.

So this Robert Bruce Wilson wandering about drunk and disorderly and singing in public in London has to be Mary Jane Wilson's first child.