One of the first pieces of advice those new to family history research are given is to collect family stories from living relatives. I think the second should be, and then discard them (the stories – not the relatives). I had always understood that my great grandparents, George and Kate Revel, were Irish. They were married at the Roman Catholic chapel of St Canice in Kilkenny on February 4, 1895. Their first daughter, Hanoria Emily, was born on January 3, 1896 at Kate’s parents’ home in Rathkeale where George was described as a discharged soldier. By 1898 the family had moved to London where a second daughter, Catherine Christina was born on December 17 at 19 Townshend Road, Marylebone. George was at this time working as a railway servant. But then everything was to change with the outbreak of war in South Africa. George was recalled to service with the Royal Irish Fusiliers, leaving Kate pregnant and with two small daughters. A son also named George (my grandfather) was ...