please find Ethel May DON (nee LOCKE) - WW1 widow.

[LockeLad]

I am trying to trace the later history of my aunt, Ethel May Don (nee Locke), who was raised in Kingweston, Somerset, daughter of George Locke(1873-1949) and Lucy Ann Penny (1882-1955).
Born 1900, she was married in 1918 in Weymouth, Dorset, England to James Lever Don, born Oct 1894 in Randwick, New South Wales, Australia. James was an Australian soldier, a sergent in 2nd div. sig.c. and I have his attestation papers. He signed up in 18/8/1914 and was killed in france, possibly 7/6/1918. Widowed, Ethel emigrated to Australia in November 1926 on the SS Bendigo together with her 5(?) year old son, Gordon McDonald Don, presumably to visit her husband's family. I have a copy of the passenger listing.

She was accompanied by her unmarried sister, Beatrice Maud Locke. On the same boat was Harold Heslop Underhill whom Beatrice later married in Australia and whose descendents I have made contact with.

However what happened subsequently to Ethel and her son Gordon is not known although they almost certainly remained in Australia and she may have married a man called Johnson. Help please to locate them.

[wivenhoe]

I think this man survived the war and returned to Sydney in 1918. There is a death entry in NSW BDM records for death of James Lever Don at Wollongong 1962, son of Amy and James.

[jorose]

Indeed National Recordsearch ( http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/recordsearch/index.aspx ) shows a Gordon McDonald Don's WWII files with next of kin Ethel Johnson - b. NSW, enlisted QLD.  His birth date is such that he couldn't be the son of a man who died in WWI.  Also James Lever Don's full file; it doesn't appear to me that he died; he is listed as being discharged in 1918 due to medical unfitness (he had been previously injured).
As I can't see Gordon's birth in England, it's possible that she went to Australia soon after the marriage, and later returned to England to visit family, along with her son.

http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/
 show records 1929/1930/1931 of a divorce, Ethel May Don (formerly Locke) against James Lever Don, for desertion.

[~MERLIN~]

Gordon MacDonald DON appears on the Electoral Rolls to 1954 living in Northern Queensland. So, that matches with his Army reference on the NAA that he was in QLD.

An Ethel May JOHNSON also appears on the Electoral Rolls to 1954 living in Northern QLD areas also.

[LockeLad]

Thank you all for your research which has shed much light on my aunt's life! Your findings fit in with one family story which contracticted another source. There is a story that Ethel did indeed come back to England from Australia and try to persuade her brother, Stanley, to go to Australia with her. He declined as he was courting a local girl whom he later married. But sister Beatrice agreed to accompany Ethel.

The existence of Ethel's son, Gordon McDonald Don, was unknown to me until I saw the passenger listing going out to Australia in 1926. It did'nt quite fit the supposed death of his father in WW1 with his age on the 1926 boat journey given as 5 - but now it makes sense.

I am impressed by the ready availability of so many Australian records.

One remaining thing about Beatrice Maud Barbara Locke (born 1902) who married Harold Heslop Underwood. I believe that they married 19 Mar 1924 but don't know where. Can you see if there is a record in Australia please?

Many Thanks again,

LockeLad

[krisesjoint]

Hi LockeLad,

If an unmarried Beatrice accompanied her sister to Australia in 1926, she could not have married Harold Underwood in 1924.

They appear to be married by 1930 and appear at Wandoo Wandong Station Obley NSW Harold is a groom and Beatrice a Cook

By 1936 they are in Queensland living at Kybong Via Gympie where Harold is a Dairy Hand and Beatrice Home Duties. They remain in Queensland.

No sign of the marriage in NSW or Queensland or England that I can see.

Maybe this is why

There is a Harold Heslep UNDERWOOD marries in Canada in 1915 aged 37

Harold Heslop UNDERWOOD aged 37 bachelor b Oldham England, a soldier, C/E, father Percy Heslop UNDERWOOD mother Helena Waldron COOPER He was a resident of London Ontario.

He married Lulu FISHER aged 21 spinster b Mount Bridges Ontario, Presbyterian, father Benjamin FISHER, mother Agnes CUDNEY. She was a resident of London Ontario.

The marriage took place at St Thomas Presbyterian Elgin on the 2 Oct 1915 witnesses Matthew WHYTE of St Thomas and Kathleen NORSWORTHY of St Thomas

Looks like age is wrong. He appears in 1901 UK census with his named parents at 23 Lumley Road Shegness Lincolnshire aged 12 b Oldham Lancashire (at school) Dad Percy is a carpenter (parents full names as provided at marriage are listed in the census so certainly the same chap.) RG13/3078 Folio 29 Page 3

also Harold Heslop UNDERWOOD arrives in Southampton 8 Sep 1926 aboard the EMPRESS OF FRANCE He is aged 38 a butcher travelling from Canada

Cheers Kris 

[krisesjoint]

20 Sep 1913 aboard the CANADA from Southampton to Quebec Canada

UNDERWOOD Harold 25 Horse Breaker - intended permanent residence in Canada

Harold is also found listed from Southampton to Saint John Nb Canada aboard the MINNEDOSA 19 Feb 1923 although it is crossed out

UNDERWOOD Harry H 34, a volcaniser, country of last permanent residence British Possessions, intended permanent residence in Canada. Address in UK Saville House Stegness

looks like he cancelled and actually travelled aboard the MELITA which departed from Liverpool 2 March 1923

UNDERWOOD Harold was aged 34, a volcaniser, Country of last permanent residence British Possessions. Intended permanent residence in Canada. Address in UK Saville House Stegness Lincolnshire

I do note his 1926 immigration aboard the BENDIGO departing London 11 Nov to Melbourne he lists the UK address as Saville House Stegness also but country of last permanent residence England, occ Farming aged 35. He seems to be alone. Perhaps he met the girls on the ship. Looks like he had only been in the UK a couple of months.

Cheers Kris 

[krisesjoint]

and here we have Ethel travelling to Canada in 1918

Ethel May DON travelled from london to Canada aboard the MAURETANIA arriving NY 23 Aug 1918 as a tourist

She was married aged 22 could read and write was british last resided London. nearest Relative in UK Mother - Mrs G LOCKE Orchard View King Weston Somersetshire

Cheers Kris 

[raveon]

re James Lever Don's War record
1 He received a Gold Medal, issued by the King of Serbia.
     There are also a couple of letters from his mother, querying his rank.  Official conclusion - he had been Sergeant early in war, but was returned to sapper and then rose to Corporal.
2.  He returned to Australia, suffering neurasthenia ( =? battle fatigue or worse ) on the HMAT Essex, leaving England on the 1/8/1918.  However, he had been  transferred to 2nd Div signals from the 1st Division .
3. He appears to have been discharged as UNFIT for further service on 15/10/1918.
4. On 20/2/1918, he appears to have been at Weymouth ( you may see the significance of this, as I do not)
5.  One thing I do not understand.  On Page 5 of the Digital images ( record I viewed ) there appears to be a notation, dated 20.10.'19 and  hand-written " Emb = embarked? Melb = Melbourne and the word Karroo ( HMAT Karroo had been used, but does not appear to have been in Commonwealth control at this time???).  This could suggest that he was receiving medical treatment ongoing  -  one might have to remember?? that Australia did not have its capital city at this time, government operated out of Melbourne and war services might also have been there.


raveon