I am from South Africa and am researching my family roots.

This is my story:

Alexander Crombie married to Mabel May Cookson in Essex, England in 1899, had a daughter in 1900 also in Essex.

They emigrated in 1904 and in 1905 Mabel fell pregnant and her husband filed for divorce. A son Eric Gerald Crombie was born in March 1906 in Johannesburg, with the divorce becoming final in June 1906.

Eric grew up and joined SA Customs and Harbours, when in about 1929 he advised them that he had changed his name from Eric Gerald Crombie to Gerald Eric Hoaten. Mabel had remarried after her divorce to a William Charles Hoaten, who was in the BSAP in Rhodesia. He eventually became a Major and was one of the highest ranking officers at the time. It is suggested that he died in about 1955.

I have found mention of William receiving a medal as rank of Sergeant under number 1219 with the BSAP on the casus-belli site.

I think that he was born in 1877 in England and emigrated early 1900’s.

I am looking for any information on this man. Date of marriage to Mabel, any children born on their marriage, whether William officially adopted Eric Gerald, and hence the name change? Anything at all for me to be able to further trace his roots.