The Bower & Collier Family History
Research by Colin Bower
The Brecht One-Name Study
1939 Register of England & Wales
The Missing Brechts
The 1939 Register is a very useful document for research into the name Brecht.
The main shortcoming is the redaction of the names of young people under the 100 year rule.
Two of the constant problems in researching the name Brecht has been:
1. The variable ways in which the surname has been mis-spelt by the enumerator or transcribed incorrectly.
2. the adoption of Brett (which is a much less common name than Brecht) by some members of the family.
Research into Missing Brechts
The research is summarised under 3 headings:1. Young Brechts born 1926-1939
2. "Missing" Spouses in the 1939 Register
3. Comparison with 1911 Census
1. Young Brechts born 1926-1939
The following young people were born 1926-1939:
1. Eleanor M. Brecht (father, Albert H. Brecht, mother's maiden name Payton) born Poplar 1926
2. Iris P.Brecht (father, Alfred Brecht, mother's maiden name Berry) born West Ham 1927
3. Ada M. Brecht (father, Albert H. Brecht, mother's maiden name Payton) born Poplar 1928
4. Norman W. Brecht (father, William J. Brecht, mother's maiden name Trew) born West Ham 1931
5. Joan Brecht (father, Albert H. Brecht, mother's maiden name Payton) born Poplar 1932
6. Sheila D. Brecht (father, William J. Brecht, mother's maiden name Trew) born West Ham 1934
7. Jean D. Brecht (father, Albert H. Brecht, mother's maiden name Payton) born Poplar 1935
8. Audrey E. Brecht (father, George Brecht, mother's maiden name Washer) born Stepney 1935
9. Terence B. Brecht (father, Walter I. Brecht, mother's maiden name Atkinson) born Birmingham 1936
10. Maureen B. Brecht (father, Albert Brecht, mother's maiden name Leaney) born Woolwich 1938
Young Brechts not found in the 1939 Register
A small number of young persons were not traced in the Register:
2. Iris P. Brecht - entry found for her father Alfred Brecht and her mother Margaret Brecht (formerly Berry)
8. Audrey E. Brecht - entries found for her father George C. Brecht in Walthamstow and Ellen E. Brecht (formerly Washer) at the City of London Hospital in Finsbury - it appears that the details 2 children were redacted
In the case of the entry for mother Annie H. Brecht (formerly Messor), I could not identify the name of the young person living at that address in West Ham.
2. "Missing" Spouses in the 1939 Register
According to the Register, a small number of people were living apart from their spouses:
My grandfather Arthur Brecht was separated from my grandma Ellen Brecht, both recorded as Brett.
Charles Brecht was a Widower living in West Ham.
Henry J. Brecht and Annie H. Brecht were living apart, both in West Ham.
Albert Brecht was living in West Ham and was recorded as married, but I could not trace Jessie Brecht (formerly Paxton).
Frank B. Brecht, recorded as Brett, was living in West Ham, but I could not trace his wife Elizabeth Brett or Brecht (formerly Church).
3. Comparison with 1911 Census
There are a number of other Brechts missing from the 1939 Register identified by comparing the 1939 Register with the 1911 Census:
Comparison with the 1911 Census
Colin Bower
17 June 2018
