David, thank you for your response, good spotting. A more detailed explanation is required

Alexander was the youngest of three sons in my grandfathers first marriage to Jane Dunderdale which took place 29May 1881 at Saint Michaels, Toxteth Park, Liverpool.

Unfortunately Jane Dunderdale Miller died in the Isle of Man on 30th October 1891 (aged 30). Alexander would have been 13 months old.� The other two brothers were Henry also very young (3 years old, born 1888) and William (2 years old born 1889).

My grandfather then married my grandmother a manx woman on 10th September 1893 and had five more boys. William and Henry appear in the 1901 census in Holywood registered as stepsons. Alexander is not listed, neither is my grandfather. I did manage to track my grandfather down living and working in Liverpool as a bricklayer. So he was travelling between Holywood, Douglas and Liverpool.

It doesn't seem reasonable my grandmother would take care of the other two boy plus three of her own sons and not give Alexander a home. I'm puzzled as to were Alexander was, perhaps he remained in the Isle of Man. I know he's not in Liverpool with his mothers parents and he doesn't appear on the Isle of� Man census.

When I discovered Alexander joined the RIR I was hoping for a next of kin or address so I could establish his whereabouts. Tragic he died at 18 but chances are if he had survived he would have re enlisted in 1914 and met the same tragic fate of many others.

Note the Alexander you found was born in Dublin. It appears the ragged school kept pretty good records ie other boys birthplaces are listed as Belfast, Canada, England, Scotland and Manchester. I dont think this Alexander is the person in question

Regards
Frank Millar