Firstly, I recently ordered copies of mypaternal grandparents birth certificates from the GRO and when they arrived, on both certificates, the father was not listed. I presume this means they were illegitimate, as both took the surname of their mother. And I also presume, short of finding a living relative who knows, that I can never find out who the fathers were.

Am I right on all this?

Secondly, I have a copy of their marriage certificate from 1936. This was not ordered from the GRO - it is an original, or a copy of the original. Next to my grandfathers entry under 'father's name and occupation' is a person listed as 'Jack Swaine' (deceased). His mother's surname is Swaine, and that is her unmarried name.

Would I be right in thinking this person may be made up? I know he took his mother's surname and not his fathers. I can find no uncle called Jack whom he could have regarded as a 'father'. His grandfather was called Thomas. I have also noticed his age is put at 21, when in reality it was 23.

Should I have doubts about the validity of this certificate? How can the anomalies be accounted for?