INDIA: Looking for info on the family of William Cotton French of 3rd Gurkhas

[Worlygigger]

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.

[miriamkinga]

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.

[miriamkinga]

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.

[ShaunJ]

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.

[ShaunJ]

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.

[Worlygigger]

Thanks for that very welcome information - I've got much more to be going on with now!

[ShaunJ]

There's a death registration for Doreen Evelyn French aged 65 in Ipswich in 1972.

[ShaunJ]

"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"

[trish1120]

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