Where is Alma Matthews and how does she fit into our Matthews family tree?

[wivenhoe]

I will continue with Ivy MATTHEWS being a person of interest because events in her life during WW1 might see her placing her children in care.

VIC BDM   marriage
2973/1912 MATTHEWS  Ivy Emily   marr.  SHEPHERD, Claude Augt


Claude Augustus SHEPHERD #6577 left left Melbourne 2 Dec 1916. I think the army is still waiting for him to return. His enlistment file runs to 121 pages.

Marj Erma  born 1914, and Raymond Walter born 1916 would be his children.

Ellen Amy  born 1918, and Raymond John born 1919 would not be his children.

Ivy SHEPHERD is not receiving her husband's allowance because he has gone missing, and the Army has refused her request for financial assistance.

At April 1918...image 117 of 121....Ivy SHEPHERD has three children.....

I think that Ivy has had two children while her husband is away. Husband Claude has deserted the Army and his wife, and Ivy places her children in care.

And when Ivy SHEPHERD dies there is someone around with good knowledge about her origins.
 

[majm]

Page 117 of the file is a heart rendering letter from Ivy.  It is 18th April.  She has THREE children, no funds, no knowledge of where Claude was.

Oops, duplicating .  Sorry, no red warning.

JM

[majm]

I will continue with Ivy MATTHEWS being a person of interest because events in her life during WW1 might see her placing her children in care.

VIC BDM   marriage
2973/1912 MATTHEWS  Ivy Emily   marr.  SHEPHERD, Claude Augt

 4 4
Claude Augustus SHEPHERD #6577 left left Melbourne 2 Dec 1916. I think the army is still waiting for him to return. His enlistment file runs to 121 pages.

Marj Erma  born 1914, and Raymond Walter born 1916 would be his children.

Ellen Amy  born 1918, and Raymond John born 1919 would not be his children.

Ivy SHEPHERD is not receiving her husband's allowance because he has gone missing, and the Army has refused her request for financial assistance.

At April 1918...image 117 of 121....Ivy SHEPHERD has three children.....

I think that Ivy has had two children while her husband is away. Husband Claude has deserted the Army and his wife, and Ivy places her children in care.

And when Ivy SHEPHERD dies there is someone around with good knowledge about her origins.

And

Page 117 of the file is a heart rendering letter from Ivy.  It is 18th April.  She has THREE children, no funds, no knowledge of where Claude was.

Oops, duplicating .  Sorry, no red warning.

JM

Letter is not April 1918.  It is April 18,  but NO year recorded.  Ivy has written in it 1919 or 1920.  Most likely 1919.  She refers to Claude's last letter dated October 1918.

JM

[cando]

Three children mentioned in her death notice.

The Age   Thursday  24th October 1968
SHEPHERD
On October 23, at her home, 38 Grantham Street, West Brunswick, Ivy Emily, beloved wife of the late Claude, beloved mother of Claude (deceased), Marjorie (Mrs. Simmons), and Raymond, fond mother-in-law of Dinah and loved grandmother of Marjorie, Bob, Brian, Raymond, Barbara and James and great-grandmother of Anthony, Gregory, Sharon, Deborah, Micaelle, Liza, Rodney, Cheryl, Gary, Gregory, Susanne, Debra and Karen.
Sleeping peacefully
In God’s care.

Matching births
SHEPHERD Claude Alex
Father Claude Augustus  Mother Ivy Emily MATTHEWS
At Carlton  1912  Reg#27553

SHEPHERD Marj Erma
Father Claude Augustus  Mother Ivy Emily MATTHEWS
At South Melbourne  1914  Reg#14725

SHEPHERD Raymond Walter
Father Claude Augustus  Mother Ivy Emily MATTHEWS
At South Melbourne  1916  Re#31580

[cando]

ROME Ellen Amy
Father George  Mother Ivy MATTHEWS
At Carlton  1918  Reg#1368

MATTHEWS John Walter
Father Not named Mother  Emma Ivy MATTHEWS
At Carlton  1919  Reg#17512

I don't see a birth for a Raymond John in 1919. 

Birth Cert attached for Ellen Amy ROME born 17 Jan 1918 at Carlton.

[majm]

Well found Cando.

ROME ... moves easily to Rose as her third middle name.

JM.

[cando]

For the OP's records

The Age 4 Nov 1916
BIRTHS
SHEPHERD – On the 29th October, at 280 Grant street, South Melbourne, to the wife of Private Claude Augustus Shepherd (A.I.F., abroad) – a son (Raymond Walter).  Both well

[judb]

Interesting article linked below tells of the history of 15 Drummond St, Carlton, Rosedale House,  where Ellen Amy ROME was born according to her birth certificate.  The 'authorised agent' who was the informant, M Donelly, is mentioned in the article as the Matron of Rosedale House, at the time of this birth. (Last paragraph of the article)

http://www.cchg.asn.au/nursebasser.pdf

Judith

Edit to add: 
There are some newspaper birth notices which might imply that Rosedale House was not necessarily for those in poor circumstances.

[wivenhoe]

Article about Ivy SHEPHERD...

Truth 7 Dec 1918 p7
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/130174529?
...Ivy SHEPHERD married woman living in Union Street.....managed a stall in Victorian Markets for her father......husband is an ANZAC......informed her father........