Walter Malcolm

Walter's son, Walter Malcolm was born just three weeks before his death in action. Three years later his widow married Douglas William McCay, my great uncle, whose second name I share. After Ethel's marriage to Doug in 1921, Walter (junior) was enrolled at the Musselburgh Primary school. He was enrolled as McCay. Legally this was wrong but undoubtedly due to the many, many thousands of New Zealand children born to war widows, it was an oversight made by many, not an intentional error. Ironically Walter was not made aware of this 'error' until he applied for a passport after his retirement, being informed "you don't exist". Walter said at the time (jokingly) they didn't seem to care during the war (WWII) as he was sent overseas with the 2nd N.Z.E.F. However the New Zealand authorities insisted he do the right thing by becoming adopted aged 70+. Only problem, his parents weren't available.

Sources

1. New Zealand and World War One Roll of Honour: http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~sooty/genealogy/nzefrohMa.html / Ref 11.4.2021