HARDEN Albert Edward 2/Lt

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Surname: HARDEN;

Forename(s): Albert Edward;

Initials: AE;

Rank: 2/Lt;

Born in: Tralee;

Previous Battalion: 6 of;

Previous Regiment: S Staffs Regt;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: 61 Bn;

Other Data: WO90/8/56 3/3/1919 at Abbeville (F&F): Striking/Drunk - severe reprimand

The first date and place I have relating to my grandfather is Deal in Kent and the year 1920. I have this information from my uncle's Birth Certificate. My grandmother's name was Kate Harden (nee Holmes) and on this Birth Certificate my grandfather's occupation is given as "of independent means".
My father was born in Tralee (8 Ballymullen) in May 1921. On my father's Birth Certificate my grandfather is described as "Member Crown Forces MGC". I am assuming "MGC" stands for Machine Gun Corps because on my parents' Marriage Certificate my grandfather is described as "Lieutenant Machine Gun Corps (deceased)". However, the "G" of "MGC" on my father's Birth Certificate is a little unclear so there is a possibility it is something else.
By June 1922 my grandparents were living in Hull where another child was born. On that Birth Certificate my grandfather was described as "Grocer Own Account".
From the above it would appear that my grandfather served in the Army for a very short time.
In 1929 my grandmother re-married. From that Marriage Certificate she is described as a widow, so it would seem he died between the years 1922 and 1929. However, I and other surviving members of the family, do not believe he died during that time. I have searched all the relevant registers and have not been able to find the death of any Albert Edward Harden between those years. I also believe that my grandparents were not married, but just said they were.
In 1919 my grandmother gave birth to a daughter in Norfolk. That Birth Certificate describes my grandmother as a ladies maid in domestic service and her name is given as Kate Holmes - her maiden name. Details of the child's father are left blank, but the child was given my grandfather's surname - the Birth Certificate shows her name as Denise Harden. In 1920 when the second child was born in Deal, my grandmother is called Kate Harden with Holmes as her former name. One would therefore assume that my grandparents married between 1919 and 1920 but after searching all the registers I cannot find any trace of that marriage. I have searched beyond 1920 but still nothing.
Talking to members of the family three stories are known about my grandfather's disappearance:
1) He was shot and killed by the IRA. This could not have taken place in Ireland because he left Ireland and was living in Hull in 1922. Therefore if this did happen it happened in this country between 1922 and 1929- As I have said before I cannot trace any Death Certificate for him.
2) He fell from a gun carriage and died from a broken back. Again this could not have happened while he was in Ireland and I cannot trace any Death Certificate for him.
3) He just disappeared.
I believe the third and I am desperate to know what happened to him.
Short of hiring a professional investigator I have tried every means I know to obtain more information on my grandfather in order trace what really happened to him. He would be a very old gentleman if he were still alive and I do not believe that he is. My father, his two brothers and sister are all deceased but I have managed to trace his sister's son and a brother's daughter, but they are very much in the dark too and, like me, feel my grandfather's disappearance was very odd. He was never talked about and, by all accounts, my grandmother (who died many years ago) was always very reticent on the subject. However, the other brother's widow is still alive and has been a great help. She, too, found the subject of my grandfather just wasn't discussed.
I have tried the Army Records Office, but they say they cannot trace my grandfather's service records.
The Army Historical Branch have told me that the Machine Gun Corps did serve in Ireland but they were not based in or near Tralee at the time of my father's birth.
My cousin has told me that in fact he believed my grandfather served with the "Black and Tans" in Ireland. I know that these were nothing really to do with the British Army but with the Police Force. Could you tell me please whether any members of the Machine Gun Corps could have been seconded into the Black & Tans?
Would you be able to help in any way at all? I'd like to have information on the Corps and its service in Ireland during the time my grandfather would have been there. Also anything you can tell me as to why he apparently served in the Corps for less than 2 years. I know a bit about the history of Ireland at that time and am thinking perhaps he (along with others) was conscripted to deal with the emergency.
Although my parents' Marriage Certificate (and also my aunt's Marriage Certificate) says my grandfather was a Lieutenant I have no way of knowing if this was the case.;

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