You often hear about family secrets, but you rarely see them solved after eight decades. A New Brunswick family spent nearly two decades searching for a secret relative across the Atlantic. Now an 81 year old man in England finally knows his father was a Canadian soldier.

Rod Anderson grew up in the United Kingdom wondering about his father. Born at the end of the Second World War, he recently received an unexpected phone call. His biological father was Charles Blakney, a soldier from New Brunswick who served with the New Brunswick Rangers.

An 18 Year Search

Bethany Allen, a New Brunswick resident, drove the 18 year search. She followed persistent family rumors about her grandfather having a child in England during the war. In 2008, she obtained her grandfather’s divorce records. These documents confirmed the rumors were true. Before Allen’s mother died, she asked her daughter to keep searching for her overseas sibling.

The DNA Match

The search ended this spring. Allen took a DNA test through Ancestry. The results pointed directly to Anderson as her half uncle. She quickly tracked down Anderson’s daughter, Dawn Roberts, who delivered the news to her father.

Anderson had taken his own DNA test years ago to find his father, but those early results yielded nothing. This time, the technology connected him to a family he never knew existed.

Like Father Like Son

Since the discovery, Anderson connects weekly with his 77 year old half sister, Barb Lowe, who lives in Ontario. They share a similar sense of humor and physical traits.

Anderson also shares a surprising career path with his biological father. As a child, Anderson lost an eye and an arm in a rail accident. Government assessors told him he was unable to work as a mechanic. He proved them wrong and built a career in the trade. He recently learned his father, Charles Blakney, also worked as a motor and driver mechanic during the war.

The family mystery continues. The same divorce records indicate Blakney had a second child in Britain during the war. The family is now searching for this unknown relative.

Anderson is visiting New Brunswick this summer. He is traveling with his granddaughter, Samantha Eldridge, to meet his extended Canadian family in person.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did the New Brunswick family find their relative in England?

Bethany Allen took a DNA test through Ancestry. The results matched her with Rod Anderson, confirming he was her half uncle.

Who was Rod Anderson’s father?

His father was Charles Blakney, a Canadian soldier who served as a motor and driver mechanic with the New Brunswick Rangers during the Second World War.

Will the family meet in person?

Yes. Rod Anderson is traveling to New Brunswick this summer with his granddaughter to meet his extended family.

Is the family search over?

No. Historical divorce records show Charles Blakney had a second child in Britain during the war. The family continues to search for this individual.