Question about Herbert Austin K.B.E.

Question

My Dad Eric Saunders was born a bastard in 1916

It is my belief that his father could be Lord Herbert Austin. My Granma was called May Saunders (nee Harding) from Smethwick. My father worked at the Austin Car Sight as a apprentice draftsman but was always given special privudilgess.

My Granma moved to Margate in 1940's and it is my belief that Herbert Austin bought her a Guest House called Greenfield Guest House, 26 Canterbury Road, Westbrook, Margate to pay her off. All my searches have stopped at my Dads birth as Horace Saunders (who also worked at the site) is on his birth certificate as father. Irronically my Granma had another so that she called Vernon.

Please can you help me.

Best regards

Alan Saunders

Answer 1

You're probably barking up the wrong tree here. Property was much cheaper relatively in the 1940s and a guesthouse in Margate would have cost what? £500? Austin was a very rich man worth £500,000 when he died. Anyone being "bought off" for raising his illegitimate son would have wanted a bit more than that!

In any case your father was not born a bastard at all. May Harding and Horace Saunders were married in Kings Norton in 1915. Your father was born in 1916 so the simplest explanation for Horace Saunders being on the birth certificate is that he was your grandfather.

Comments

thank you or that. You found out more than I could. My Dad told me he was born a bastard and I always believed him. That is why I asked.

Thank You

Alan

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Superior assistance, Matthew!