RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => Other Countries => Topic started by: Cockneyrebel on Wednesday 30 July 25 11:28 BST (UK)
-
Diana was the daughter of R H Giles Bessant (born c 1895) I think and she married Claude Martin Metherell 15 Sep 1947 Nakuru, Rift Valley, Kenya. Claude was a Lieutenant Commander in RNVR of late HMS Cochran at the time of his marriage. He was born 27 Jun 1908 Brighton, Sussex, England and died 5 Mar 1955 Subuk, Kenya.
I know nothing of Diana other than the above.
Cr
-
Where was Diana born? Could she have returned to her birth country after Claude died?
Any children born to the marriage?
-
There is a passenger list incoming to Southampton 25 October 1920 - ship Armdale Castle
From South Africa to Southampton
Mrs. Doris Besant 31 School Mistress
Diana age 1 child
Could this be your Diana?
-
Going Back Departure 7 January 1930 left from London
Mrs. D Besant age 40
Miss D Besant age 10 address Dimblehurst? Road Horsham Surrey
Place of new permanent residence -South Africa
-
At the 1947 marriage she is Diana Sedgewick Price so a previous marriage.
Ref: Andrews Newspaper Index
-
South African Archives (NASA) - essentially an index
http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300dl?20250730150450D1883E00
"RSA" has 79 hits returned and KAB 29 using search key "besant".These are the major databases - one or two others have the odd one or two.
-
Diana was the daughter of R H Giles Bessant
There is an Eliza Giles Bessant in the 1921 census, wife of Robert Henry Bessant, a signalman with the L&SW Railway. Her maiden name was Beckensall. Married in 1891.
-
http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300ds?20250730154420E207A140&RH=00000002
A Doris Besant, age 31 is on the '21 Census with John Howard Eldridge Besant x 2 (one aged 68, the other 38), at Lydney, Chepstow
-
There's a Doris Lenton, age 1, born Rock Ferry on the 1891 Census. The Surname matches the surname on the NASA (RSA) entry for "Doris Besant (born Lenton)" and the PoB of Doris Besant on the '21 Census.
-
Marriage cert (duplicate) on Family Search - John H E Besant married Doris Lenton, 8 Jul 1916
-
http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300ds?20250730154420E207A140&RH=00000002
A Doris Besant, age 31 is on the '21 Census with John Howard Eldridge Besant x 2 (one aged 68, the other 38), at Lydney, Chepstow
Picking up re the 1921 census, living with the family is a Blanche Diana Besant aged 1y 11 mths born Natal, parents both alive.
SS
added, forget her she died as Blanche Diana Cooper 2010 aged 91.
-
http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300ds?20250730154420E207A140&RH=00000002
A Doris Besant, age 31 is on the '21 Census with John Howard Eldridge Besant x 2 (one aged 68, the other 38), at Lydney, Chepstow
Picking up re the 1921 census, living with the family is a Blanche Diana Besant aged 1y 11 mths born Natal, parents both alive.
SS
added, forget her she died as Blanche Diana Cooper 2010 aged 91.
I've been chasing a Blanche since checking the '21 Census. The rules of not referring to possible living persons precludes posting but there's possibly a link to Blanche in the NASA records.
-
Diana was the daughter of R H Giles Bessant
There is an Eliza Giles Bessant in the 1921 census, wife of Robert Henry Bessant, a signalman with the L&SW Railway. Her maiden name was Beckensall. Married in 1891.
Not sure where I am going with this, but I note that one of the daughters of this couple, Ida Lilian, married in 1924 to a George Frederick Price
-
Not sure where I am going with this, but I note that one of the daughters of this couple, Ida Lilian, married in 1924 to a George Frederick Price
..and the Prices lived in Morden in the 1940s (in Poplar Road South) like "R H Giles Bessant" in the 1947 newspaper announcement.
-
Not sure where I am going with this, but I note that one of the daughters of this couple, Ida Lilian, married in 1924 to a George Frederick Price
..and the Prices lived in Morden in the 1940s (in Poplar Road South) like "R H Giles Bessant" in the 1947 newspaper announcement.
George’s father was Frank Sedgewick Price
-
In 1939
A mixed family group
Two sisters, Amy Nichols and Ida Price. (They are née Bessant)
Who is the Robert J. Bessant born 1919 with them?
I can only see this birth
Births Mar 1919 (>99%)
Bessant Robert J C Bowley Wandsworth 1d 835
But failing to find a marriage that works. And where is he in 1921?
*** found marriage Robert Bessant to Florence C Rowley 1918
-
Robert Edward Bessant. Born 1892
Think he is the one who married Florence Rowley/Bowley
He can be seen on many passenger lists always giving one of the previously known addresses in Surrey.
Frustratingly he never has a wife or children with him!
-
Reason why Robert J. is not in the 1921.
London to Rangoon 19 August 1920
Mr R.E. Bessant, Engineer
London to Rangoon 24 March 1921
Bessant, Mrs F. age 29 1st Class, to Rangoon, married 29
Bessant Miss S.M.B. Child 9
Bessant Mas R. J. Child 2.
Returning from Rangoon 1922
McManus Henry going to 675 Wandsworth Rd, Clapham
Florence McManus age 46
Albert McManus age 7
Leonard McManus age 4
Robert Bessant age 2
So they have sent Robert back in company of another family?
Who is S.M.B. Bessant?
1923 - Robert Edward returns from Burma, going to 49 Cavendish Rd, Merton (family address)
and then he goes to Canada for a bit.
No sign of Florence or the mysterious S.M.B
Cannot see them on British Overseas Deaths on FindMyPast or British in India ones. One of which seemed the most likely scenario.
-
Thank you very much for all your excellent research; at least we know that she was born in South Africa but did she have any children with Claude as he is my direct relation and when and where did she die?
Cr
-
Info only, probable deaths
BESSANT, ROBERT JAMES 1919
GRO Reference: DOR Q2/2013 in KENT (564-1Y) Entry Number 508335547 (mother Florence ?)
BESSANT, ROBERT JAMES C 1919
GRO Reference: DOR Q2/2013 in KENT (564-1Y) Entry Number 508335547 (MMN Bowley)
SS
-
No sign of Florence or the mysterious S.M.B
Could Florence have been White, not Bowley?
Robert C (Charles) Bowley married Florence C (Charlotte) White in Wandsworth in 1911
Birth
BOWLEY, SHELIA MONICA MARGARET
Mother's Maiden Surname: WHITE
GRO Reference: 1912 M Quarter in WANDSWORTH Volume 01D Page 1366
WW1 & pension records, etc., that I don't have, for Robert Charles Bowley, he died in 1916
I can see from pensions preview that his widow is Florence Bessent (or Bessant?)
CWGC says
Son of the late Henry William Bowley and Louisa Bowley; husband of the late Florence Bowley.
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2894309/robert-charles-bowley/
-
Catholic marriages
Battersea West, Sacred Heart, 23 December 1911
Robertum Carolum Bowley + Florentiam Charlotte White (filiam Caroli White)
Baptism
28 January 1912, Wandsworth East Hill, St Mary Magdalen
Shelia Monica M Bowley
Born 26 December 1911
Parents Roberti Caroli + Florence C (olim White)
S.M.B.
Maybe B for Bowley?
-
Death in Cornwall, 1992
Sheila Monica M Pool
d-o-b 26 Dec 1911
Burial (Ashes interred) 15 April 1992, Liskeard
Sheila Monica Margaret Pool
Age 80
Image
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GGFT-9X49
Sheila seems to have married first Eric C Brooker in Wandsworth in 1939.
Then Malcolm Pool in 1948 in Surrey.
-
at least we know that she was born in South Africa
I don't think so! I think we can forget about Diana the daughter of Doris and John Howard Eldridge Besant. Nothing really matches up with the marriage announcement.
" ...Diana Sedgwick Price the third daughter of RH Giles Bessant of Morden..."
I think we should focus on Ida, the third daughter of Robert Henry Bessant of Morden. Her mother used Giles as a middle name.
Ida married George Frederick Price whose father's middle name was Sedgwick. SO we have ticks in all these boxes:
- Sedgwick
Price
RH
Giles
Bessant
Morden
Third daughter
Ida travelled to Cape Town in January 1947
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/2997/images/41039_b001607-01007
-
Ida's separation from George Price, 1936:
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/9609559c-11e8-4c0a-9304-88065b7e65e0
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/e501b3dc-37f4-4bcc-9e54-15bde8c24026
One of these describes her as an actress. On her return from South Africa in March 1936 she is described as an export buyer; similarly on her outward journey in 1947.
-
The Official Gazette of the Country and Protectorate of Kenya - searchable issues online.
Found 1 Metherell hit against 7 Feb 1950 issue. Struggling to get results under "Search all issues"?
https://books.google.bs/books?id=GpDE_cEhXxwC&source=gbs_all_issues_r&cad=1&atm_aiy=1950#all_issues_anchor
-
1951 passenger list
Mrs I. L. Metherell
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01tw5/
And 1953
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01tw6/
-
The Official Gazette of the Country and Protectorate of Kenya - searchable issues online.
Found 1 Metherell hit against 7 Feb 1950 issue. Struggling to get results under "Search all issues"?
https://books.google.bs/books?id=GpDE_cEhXxwC&source=gbs_all_issues_r&cad=1&atm_aiy=1950#all_issues_anchor
An advance to Charles Martin Metherell
https://books.google.bs/books?id=J4_jVZrZSBIC&q=Metherell#v=snippet&q=Metherell&f=false
-
Also an entry against 3 July 1951 issue (2nd issue) for C M Metherell.
Note - I can find the items against individual issues (no problem) but wondered why the search facility "All Issues" doesn't return any hits. If it does search "All Issues" why can't I pick up the 2 already identified from checking single issues?
-
Ancestry UK links for those 1951 and 1953 passenger lists, which serve to confirm that "Diana" was Ida Lilian.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/2997/records/145293101
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/2997/records/146185689
-
Deleted - info already found
-
Kenya Gazette, 17 Jun 1952 - page 651
https://books.google.bs/books?id=U6G8RE5bHZoC&q=claude#v=snippet&q=claude&f=false
-
Report of Claude's death
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/23080146-2ddf-439e-88db-5a0fe79677ee
-
Just wanted to say to all who have contributed to this post a big thanks. Not only is it a privilege to be a member of Rootschat (i consider myself part of "the team" of all who search on behalf of others.)This has been a great post to read and I believe answers found. Would I be right in thinking that we have not found Ida's death.
SS
-
No, we haven't found Ida's death
-
Ida Lilian Metherell kept a flat in London until 1953 ( 401 Endsleigh Court, and then 675 Endsleigh Court). After 1953 she disappears from the electoral rolls.
Close to Regents Park (also mentioned in the marriage announcement "....of Morden and Regents Park").
Added: Full text of the 1947 marriage announcement in The Times:
METHERELL: SEDGWICK PRICE.-On Sept. 15. 1947, at Nakuru. Kenya Colony. CLAUDE MARTIN, Lieut.- Commander. R.N V.R.. late H.M.S. Cochrane. only son of the late Mr and Mrs. C. WARREN METIIERELL. of Southsea. to DIANA SEDGwICK PRICE. third daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Giles Bessant. of Morden. Surrey, and Regent's Park, London.
-
I'm a tad confused was she Blanche Diana or Ida Lilian?
Cr
-
I'm a tad confused was she Blanche Diana or Ida Lilian?
I believe we've established that "Diana" was Ida Lilian, the third daughter of Robert Henry Bessant of Morden. Her mother used Giles as a middle name.
Ida married George Frederick Price whose father's middle name was Sedgwick. So we have ticks in all these boxes:
Sedgwick
Price
RH
Giles
Bessant
Morden
Third daughter
Ida travelled to Cape Town in January 1947
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/2997/images/41039_b001607-01007
"Diana" in the Times marriage announcement may be a typo. She was I L Metherell on passenger lists, and Ida Lilian Metherell on London electoral registers up to 1953.
-
According to a family tree on Anc she married George Frederick Price 23 Aug 1924 Mitcham. They separated in April 1936. There are 2 newspaper articles on FindMyPast regarding the separation, so did she marry Claude bigamously or get a quick divorce? If she married in 1924 she must have been born earlier than 1919?
Cr
-
If she married in 1924 she must have been born earlier than 1919?
Ida was born in 1902.
-
Another report on the Price separation, on the front page of the Daily Mirror, 30 April 1936.
Ida tells the reporter that her bus conductor husband comes from a noble family - titled.
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/679b567a-ab46-4d0d-9b5c-78649a8e1d2a
-
I saw that too. She must have married him for his looks. 😀
-
I saw that too. She must have married him for his looks. 😀
Or he had a golden ticket
SS
-
Daily Herald
London, London, England
Thu, 30 Apr 1936
Page 7
https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-herald/178066788/
-
Thank you all for your superb research, Ida being an actress obviously didn't know who she was, playing one part then another, similarly with her names!
Cr
-
Thank you all for your superb research, Ida being an actress obviously didn't know who she was, playing one part then another, similarly with her names!
Cr
It is only in the newspaper article that actress is mentioned. I suspect there might be an element of journalistic licence. The shipping lists and 1939 all indicate a more prosaic occupation. Albeit one which meant she got to travel.