STILLING Family

[lily32]

Hi Sue,
I've just found out that I can't send a PM until I have made 3 posts ... so I'll do that.
Jo

[lily32]

Hi Sue,
This is my third post, so I'll try the PM function again. Hope it works this time.
Jo

[simonp99]

Hello All,

Having been told that my relative Aileen Moira Lawrenson (1907-2001) married Norman Alfred Stilling, and having seen your posts, I thought I’d investigate further by reading his Army Officer’s file (WO 339/54065) at the National Archives in Kew, London, which I've done this afternoon.  It’s the biggest, most complex and out of sequence Army Officer’s file I’ve come across at Kew and I didn’t manage to make complete notes in the time available, but here’s the chronology as best I can do:

11 July 1890 born. The file has this date several times. The Attestation says he was born a British Subject in Prescott, Lancashire, as does the 1911 Census (probably copied from army records as Norman himself is marked absent) but this doesn’t match with the NSW registration (or perhaps it does given his parents globetrotting), or the age 35 given when he arrived in Liverpool from Siberia via Nova Scotia in 1921, or the date of 2 Sep 1887 in Sandy Waddell’s tree (see below). 

1904-1908 Apprentice with Hope & Sloan on the S S Ardmount

11 August 1908 Fort William, Calcutta.  Aged 18 years 1 month enlists as a Private with the Gordon Highlanders.  Height 5 ft 7 ½ ins, Weight 118 lbs, Girth (when expanded) 35 1/4 ins, Complexion Fresh, Eyes Grey, Hair Brown, Religion Presbyterian, Scar one inch – centre of forehead, Medically approved fit for action. Next of Kin (Father) Thos William – Darling House, Sydney NSW; Brother (Elder) – same address

13 January 1916 – Promoted to Commissioned Rank & posted to the 1st West Riding Regiment (Gazette of india No 116 4th Feb 1916)
To Jan 1919 serves in Mesopotamia

10 Feb 1919 Leaves India to join General Knox’s mission to Vladivostok (1st Bt Duke of Wellington’s Regt attached to Signals). 

12 June 1919 Letter from his wife (Himayla Cottage, Mussoorie, India) to the War Office: …” Since he left India I have heard nothing of him, neither have received any allowance for myself and three children. Will you kindly forward the letter to him urgent as I am in need of funds.  Also kindly let me know where he is as I am very anxious.”
17 July 1919 – reply “It will be necessary for you to communicate direct with your husband on the subject of your Children’s Allowance, which is credited to his account and at his disposal”
30 October 1919 Letter to War Office from his wife’s father on behalf of his daughter pleading for payment
£120 was paid and deducted from salary at £30.00 per month.

22 Oct 1919 Letter from Capt N A Stilling, Vladivostok to British Military Mission asking to resign his commission and remain in Russia – intend to go into business with a British firm here.
24 Dec 1919 Letter from War Office giving approval. They pay him £300 discharge.
Remained in Irkusk until 20 Feb 1920
20 March arrived in Vladivostok
26 March 1920 – long memo from Stilling asking to cancel application to resign.
June 1920, payment to Mrs Stilling resumed – Norman still in Siberia- resignation postponed until he returns home.  Dates of birth of Marjorie, Gordon and Doreen supplied
Note August 1920 “It is believed that this officer is a prisoner with, or detained by, the Bolsheviks.”
17 Sept 1920 Letter from Nurse Stilling re her daughter in law
8 Oct 1920 Letter from Stanley W M Stilling  - Where is he? (and where’s the money)

24-26 Sept 1920 Train from Harbin to Peking, returning 3rd – 6th Oct 1920.  Claim for travelling expenses $139.80 “Proceeding to report to Military attaché British Legation Peking re information obtained of Bolshevik military movements in Russia & Siberia & returning to Harbin to await orders from War Office”.
Deciphered telegram from Mr Clive (Peking) 29 Sept 1920 to Director of Military Intelligence, War Office London
Captain N A Stilling West Riding Regiment now in Peking. In Harbin, he was in charge of Red Cross supplies for British Prisoners of War which the Soviet Gov’t refused to admit to Russia..info on Bolshevik deployments… Stilling willing to proceed to Tashkend on secret service work.
Reply from Director of Military Intelligence to the effect “we don’t need him”
Claim for rail travel, cab and porterage from Harbin to Dairen - $30.50
Claim for servant Allowance from 1 Dec 1919 to 14 Jan 1921 at rate of 600 Roubles a month – paid.
War office agree to pay him on the basis of a temp rank of Captain from 1 Nov 1919 to 21 Feb 1921

3 Feb 1921 from Stanley W M  Stilling J.P. Department of /lands, Bridge Street Sydney NSW to the War office appealing for funds on behalf of Mrs Stilling and the 3 children who “left India in June last and are now living with me”

(to be continued...

[simonp99]

..continued from previous post

8 Feb 1921 Norman arrives Liverpool on the Empress of Britain from Siberia via Halifax, Nova Scotia (UK Incoming passenger list)

23 March 1921 another letter from Stanley Stilling to War Office enquiring about Norman.

29 March 1921 Letter from Norman Stilling (at Garlands Hotel, Suffolk Street Pall Mall) to War Office requesting 4 months leave from 21 Feb 1921

13 April 1921 Letter from War Office to Stilling (in Garlands Hotel, Suffolk Street, Pall Mall ordering him posted to the 1st Batallion Duke of Wellington’s regiment in Palestine.

7 july 1921 Stilling  (1st Bt Duke of Wellington’s regiment, Tidworth) writes to request to retire from HM’s regular forces
I ask also, as a special favour, that my retirement be gazetted as early as possible as I have the offer of civilian which must be taken up shortly and I would point out that owing to the exigencies of the service I was prevented from taking up particularly remunerative civilian employment  in Russia when I retired in 1919, and was ordered to proceed on “Special Duty”
Accepted

1922 Electoral Register – address 21 Gloucester Terrace, London W2 (also 1923)
5 May 1926 - Letter from Captain N A Stilling, 25a Westbourne Terrace, London W2 to War Office
As I have now taken up permanent residence in the United Kingdom, I have the honour to request that I be transferred from Class II to Class I of the regular army reserve of officers.

3 May 1928 – Letter notifying War Office of his new address – 7 Lancaster Gate Terrace W2
1930 Electoral Register – same address

30 March 1947 Aileen Moira Livingstone-Stilling, Housewife aged 37(?) with daughter Anne Elizabeth Livingstone-Stilling aged 2 “country of permanent residence Tanganyika” arrive Southampton from Mombassa

22 Feb 1951 death of Norman A Stilling (according to Sandy Waddell’s chart, but I can find no other source for this)

14 Feb 1954  Aileen Moira Stilling, Housewife aged 46 with daughter Anne Elizabeth Stilling aged 9 “country of last permanent residence Tanganyika, country of intended permanent residence England” arrive Southampton from Mombassa

8 Apr 2001 Aileen Moira Stilling death registered Sutton, Surrey

Norman and Moira’s place in the Little family tree can be seen on Sandy Waddell’s tree here (they’re over on the left hand side  http://www.ornaverum.org/reference/pdf/family-trees/littles-et-al.pdf
(Aileen’s gx2 grandparents were my gx4 grandparents)

So my assumption is that he moved to Africa in the 1930s and died there

regards

Simon
London UK

[Chucky_60]

Hi Simon
I have just read your post on Norman Alfred Livingston Stilling, my great grandfather. I have been researching my tree for about 12 months now and would very much like to talk with you more about our family association. I look forward to hearing back soon.
Cheers, Brett

[simonp99]

UK Outward Passenger Lists
Departed from London 18 Sep 1930 on the Llandovery Castle
Name: Captain N Stilling
Last address in the UK: Lancaster Gate Terrace
Port Contracted to Land: Capetown
Age 45

[katydidit]

Hi Brett, Simon, Sue and others. I have written a biography of Thomas William Stilling. I am happy to share information, or a copy of the bio. (It's a booklet, 50 pages A4)
Thomas had a complicated life including having 12 children with 4 women and living in several countries. I live in Sydney. Please send me a PM. Katy.

[Chucky_60]

Hi Katy

Thank you so much for the message, Thomas is my great great grandfather. What you have said pretty much matches what I have been able to find out but would love to see the biography. For some reason I can't send you a private message, but I will keep trying. Thanks heaps Brett

[katydidit]

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