surnames getting changed over time and general help :-(

[snoopysue]

You can get birth marriage and death certificates directly from the GRO, they're £9.25 at the moment. You can order using the GRO reference if you know it, but sometimes it's better not to, as you get to add other info. This means that if the record doesn't match up to the info you've provided they'll give you a refund. Down side to that is it takes longer than with the GRO reference.

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certi ... efault.asp

You can also get them from the relevant local archives, and I think they are cheaper. The ones I've looked into need payment by cheque (whereas GRO is ok with credit cards), so as I live in Denmark it's easier with the GRO.

Would Harold have fourght in the first world war? If so a lot of records were destroyed due to bombing in the second world war, so it's hit and miss as to whether you'll find anything. I've found a possible medal card for my gr grandfather, which I can tie in to the town he came from, the unit the family says he fourght for - but there is no direct evidence to make it a definate.