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

[~MERLIN~]

One other interesting note  :  while Harry Underwood is buried in Esk cemetery, he apparently is very hard to find on Queensland's online index - in fact, you would say he is not listed.

Harold is clearly listed in the QLD BDM index as per Kris's post #12, as he died in Dec 1955 his registration would not have reached the registy office until the new year which is nothing unusual.

UNDERWOOD Harold Heslop   1956/470
Father: Percy Heslop
Mother: Helena Waldron Cooper

[mareemck]

I have just discovered James Don is on my husband's tree. Two sisters migrated to Australia from Scotland. My husband is descended from one (Mary Barr nee Simpson) and James Lever Don is descended from the other (Margaret Don nee Simpson). I too found his WWI papers online also what I think is his death in Wollongong, NSW in 1962. I did not have any UK information other than he married (WWI papers). I was intending to follow up his death records and if they are of interest to you I will send information.
Maree McKinley

[tropicalj]

information deleted as it was allready supplied
whoooooooops sorry

Jenn

[Aussie1947]

Hi,

Library and Archives Canada have a copy of the WW1 Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force attestation papers (front and back) for a Harold Heslop Underwood born in Oldham.

400847 Harold joined on Dec 9th 1914 and I see that RSM (Regimental Seargent Major) has been hand written at the top of the form which may indicate that they made him a Warrant Officer on enlistment because of his 8 years service in the Royal Horse Guards!

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=620501&interval=20&&PHPSESSID=05t0dneh16e9e752bikh7arie2

Regards

Gerry

[Aussie1947]

Hi again,

Further to Harold,

The 1891 UK census has a Harold H Underwood (3) son born Oldham Lancashire with his mother Helena W Underwood (23) married and sister Maude W Underwood (1) but no father on the census.  They were living at 15 Stanley St Leicester.

Harold's census YoB 1888 is a little bit out compared to his WW1 attestation papers 9th June 1883 but I think he is the same man. 

His mother Helena off the census matches his death notice details.

Harold's NoK on his WW1 attestation papers was Mrs E Underwood of Saville House Skegness Lincolnshire

Regards

Gerry
 

[evelyn from aus]

Hi all,

Gordon don is my half uncle.  He lived in canon hill for many years and has moved to Cairns. My sister might know his current adress.  He visited me last when i was 16 in wollongong.  He has oodles of kids by many marriages.

James lever don is my grandfather and was stationed at randwick australia in the army.  He couldn't cope with being a high rank, so was a naughty boy and got demoted a few times on purpose.  We have copies of his demotions and all his war medals. 

James Lever don bought a house in Wollongong Australia in a town called primbee and died there. 

james lever don's children- Gordon don and daughter Inez Telechea /don by another marriage.  james didn't give his surname to my mother, but is listed as father- tho many of the facts of the birth certificate are incorrect.

James lever don was first married and then ran away with my grandmother to hide from the govt as he was sure the govt would put him in jail for bigamy as divorce was illegal in those days- ( mum mother told me this)

My grandmother and james lever don --  ran into the bush to hide from the govt and ran a chicken farm in darra qld before buying a house in the same street as my mother. 

always considered to have war neurosis as he was a 'crazy' guy fighting all issues of the law, but now we know it wasn't war neurosis but heriditary

[tropicalj]

Hello  there Evelyn

Welcome to rootschat

I hope I  don't come across as a knowall  but  divorce was not illegal  back  then,  it was just harder to obtain  than it is nowdays.

Bigamy  was most certainly agaisnst  the law as it still is!!!

kind thoughts Jenn

[evelyn from aus]

Hi jen,

just telling u what i have been told by my mum

he may have not known at the time-- why else would they go into hiding??

ev

[tropicalj]

I  have no idea  but  just maybe  because he knew he had married illegally and if  found out for  it could have been jailed!

Unfortunately  we have all encountered  family stories  that  often have an element of  truth in  them  but are not totally correct.  Especially in stories handed down from generation  to generation,  with  facts getting lost or embelished in some way or another.

You  will  find plenty of  reference to divorces in  newspaper and in NSW  Divroces  are online  at The SRO ( State Records Office)  upt to 1930


and as allready detailed  the newspaper of the day caries  the story of his wife divorcing him for desertion

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/16672221?searchTerm=DON James lever&searchLimits=
Jenn