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Research in Other Countries => Other Countries => Topic started by: Worlygigger on Wednesday 15 July 15 11:09 BST (UK)

Title: INDIA: Looking for info on the family of William Cotton French of 3rd Gurkhas
Post by: Worlygigger on Wednesday 15 July 15 11:09 BST (UK)
Major William Cotton French (1871-1915) married Evelyn Mary Rose in Worlingworth Suffolk in 1899. He was killed at Neuve Chapelle in March 1915. I know a lot about this fine man but virtually nothing about his three children and his widow and what happened to them. John 'Jock' William French, his eldest son, served in WW2 but his other two children are a mystery - Frederic Hugh Rose French and Doreen Evelyn French - both perhaps born in India, where their father must have served, in the 1900s.

Can anyone point me in the right direction - I wish to find births and marriage records for the children in India and even perhaps find out if the family remained in India after their father's death.
Title: Re: INDIA: Looking for info on the family of William Cotton French of 3rd Gurkhas
Post by: miriamkinga on Wednesday 15 July 15 11:13 BST (UK)
Doreen Evelyn French's baptism appears in the British India Office Births & Baptisms: -

born 25/11/1907 & baptised 05/01/1908 in St Mary, Lansdowne, Bengal. Father William Cotton French, mother Evelyn Mary.

Frederick baptised 09/06/1901 born 06/01/1901 at Ranikhet, Bengal.
Title: Re: INDIA: Looking for info on the family of William Cotton French of 3rd Gurkhas
Post by: miriamkinga on Wednesday 15 July 15 11:20 BST (UK)
Marriage for Frederick Hugo Rose French, 35 to Avis Marion Durie Parsons 31 at St Michael's Chester Square, London 28/11/1936. His occupation is given as Captain, Royal Engineers and Evelyn French is one of the witnesses.
Title: Re: INDIA: Looking for info on the family of William Cotton French of 3rd Gurkhas
Post by: ShaunJ on Wednesday 15 July 15 11:37 BST (UK)
On the baptism register, Doreen's date of birth is annotated "should be 18th see f...ds papers" (hard to  read - funds papers? friends papers?).  The father is a "Captain 2/3rd 2 A. D. Gurkhas"

Frederick's baptism entry has some dates written in the margin: 9/10/18 and 7/4/49. Father Lieutenant 2/3 Gurkhas.

The register images are viewable on FindMyPast.
Title: Re: INDIA: Looking for info on the family of William Cotton French of 3rd Gurkhas
Post by: ShaunJ on Wednesday 15 July 15 11:43 BST (UK)
Evelyn Mary French died 16 December 1964. The probate calendar gives an address in Wickham Market, Suffolk. Executors John William French and Doreen Evelyn French.
Title: Re: INDIA: Looking for info on the family of William Cotton French of 3rd Gurkhas
Post by: Worlygigger on Wednesday 15 July 15 11:50 BST (UK)
Thanks for that very welcome information - I've got much more to be going on with now!
Title: Re: INDIA: Looking for info on the family of William Cotton French of 3rd Gurkhas
Post by: ShaunJ on Wednesday 15 July 15 12:01 BST (UK)
There's a death registration for Doreen Evelyn French aged 65 in Ipswich in 1972.
Title: Re: INDIA: Looking for info on the family of William Cotton French of 3rd Gurkhas
Post by: ShaunJ on Wednesday 15 July 15 12:07 BST (UK)
Quote
"Captain 2/3rd 2 A. D. Gurkhas"

Looking at Frederic's engagement announcement in The Times (Oct 15th 1936), that probably should read "Captain 2nd/3rd Q A O Gurkhas"
Title: Re: INDIA: Looking for info on the family of William Cotton French of 3rd Gurkhas
Post by: trish1120 on Wednesday 15 July 15 12:55 BST (UK)
Avis Marion Durie FRENCH died in Inverness-shire it appears;
Probate;
29 Dec 1964
Of Mid Balchraggan, Drumnadrochit, Widow, died 23 Sept 1964.
Confirmation of Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
Title: Re: INDIA: Looking for info on the family of William Cotton French of 3rd Gurkhas
Post by: trish1120 on Wednesday 15 July 15 13:12 BST (UK)
Entry from The Peerage;
Frederic Hugh Rose French married Avis Marion Durie Parsons, daughter of Clement George Parsons and Grace Boddam.
He gained the rank of Captain in 1936 in the service of the Royal Engineers.

Clement George Parsons was the son of James Parsons and Temperence Beckett.
He married Grace Boddam, daughter of General Hungerford Meyer Boddam and Louisa Maria Husband, on 5 December 1895 at Bombay, India.
He was buried, in the Red Sea.
He gained the rank of officer in the service of the British Army.
Children of Clement George Parsons and Grace Boddam;
Avis Marion Durie Parsons
Grace Parsons b. 1897
Claudia Parsons b. 1900

From F/S;
Avis Marian Durie Parsons christened 21 November 1905, Simla, Bengal, India

Title: Re: INDIA: Looking for info on the family of William Cotton French of 3rd Gurkhas
Post by: brionne on Thursday 16 July 15 17:32 BST (UK)
There is a shipping record FindMyPast,for Miss D.E French age 23 no occupation
Ship, Ormonde 18 th July 1931 disembarked Port Said.
Having embarked Port Of London,
Address,Stayer House,Eye,Suffolk.
Appears to have remained unmarried.
Title: Re: INDIA: Looking for info on the family of William Cotton French of 3rd Gurkhas
Post by: Worlygigger on Tuesday 21 July 15 16:39 BST (UK)
Does anyone have access to Forces War Records? It looks as if the eldest son Frederick Hugh Rose French was, by 1942, a Major in the Royal Engineers. FWR don't do a trial period  >:(
Title: Re: INDIA: Looking for info on the family of William Cotton French of 3rd Gurkhas
Post by: ShaunJ on Wednesday 22 July 15 11:01 BST (UK)
Frederick's promotion dates are in the 1940 army list

http://www.mocavo.co.uk/Army-List-July-December-1940-Volume-July-December-1940/360897/399
Title: Re: INDIA: Looking for info on the family of William Cotton French of 3rd Gurkhas
Post by: Jbo11 on Tuesday 12 December 17 01:22 GMT (UK)
General Hungerford Meyer Boddam was my 3rd Great Grandfather, I'd be really interested in knowing more about him if anyone has any stories or if there would be any photographs or portraits out there I'd love to see them. I found a picture of his Wife Louisa Husband so that's why I was hoping there might be one of him out there!
Title: Re: INDIA: Looking for info on the family of William Cotton French of 3rd Gurkhas
Post by: barryd on Tuesday 12 December 17 01:42 GMT (UK)
Google has a page of items and there may be more on succeeding pages.

https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=XTMvWsKBJpK2jwOp54KIDg&q=Hungerford+Meyer+Boddam+&oq=Hungerford+Meyer+Boddam+&gs_l=psy-ab.13..0i22i30k1.2671.2671.0.6672.2.1.0.0.0.0.145.145.0j1.1.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..1.1.145.0...0.pLa9NJi3kO4