Hi have found further information regarding John Flannery born 1834. from his military records.It looks as if he was court martialled and that could be why the children were sent back to England as Mary I believe had died. He was discharged from the army on the 7th June 1873 at Chatham, Kent, in England. I believe he died in 1875 at Medway in Kent. The boys were in Medway Union Workhouse so I am now trying to find further information if perhaps John was also in there at one time