Helensburgh to Manchuria

[miw]

Hi, I am looking for guidance and help to trace the whereabouts of Daniel Wheldon, born 16th February, 1886 in Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire - Father : Duncan Wheldon Mother : Wilhemina Smith. He married Christina Matheson McIntosh at Moukden, Manchuria on 1st June, 1915. They had 5 children born in China between 1916 and 1926. He appears to have been employed as Master of Works at the Scottish Presbyterian Mission in Moukden and then was an Engineer with A P Co, The Marriage and Births appear on the Consular Returns and I would love to know what happened to this family who were cousins of my father. I will be most grateful for any help and advice.

[Montrose Budie]

Consular records can be frustrating as they weren’t compulsory; so don’t always show every event.

In this case, however, all 5 births, and the marriage are shown in the indexes.

In such a situation the UK passenger lists can be helpful, - BT26, incoming,1890-1960, on-line at http://www.findmypast.com.uk ; and BT27, outgoing, 1878-1960, on-line at http://www.ancestry.co.uk .

This family appear several times, - it was common for someone working abroad to be given a period of home leave of several months every few years.

In the first records, the whole family appear, but thereafter, just the parents with Iain, and then just Daniel and Christina.

In all cases but the last BT26/27record, an address in Helensburgh is referred to.

The last incoming record, in 1945, gives their intended destination as “38 Lower Breakish, via Kyle [of Lochalsh?], I. of Skye". Daniel and Christina, on their own, are on a ship from Sydney, and showing country of last residence as China. VJ Day wasn't until 15th August 1946, so how they got from China to Sydney must be an interesting tale.

Despite this, no death records appear for them in the Scottish records, and there are no marriage or death records for the kids in Scotland.

That is because Daniel died in Bridport in Dorset <after 1960>. It’s clearly Daniel as the date of birth is shown as 16Feb1886.

Christina died in Weymouth <after 1960>.

The names and details of the informants could be interesting, - the certificates can be ordered from GRO in England.

Of the kids, 2nd Lt Duncan M WHELDON was killed in 1943 serving with the Royal Artillery. He died on 03/06/1943, aged 22, this being an exact age match, and is commemorated on Column 3 of the Singapore Memorial.

He served with 966 Bty., 16 Defence Regt., Service No: 186366, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records shows that he was the son of Daniel and Christina Wheldon, of Eype [sic - but see http://www.eype-dorset.co.uk/], Dorsetshire. (So what were Daniel and Christina doing heading for Skye in 1945?).

See also http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_det ... 500&mode=1

(This extract from the Singapore order of battle, -

Fortress Commands

Singapore Fortress – Major General F. Keith Simmons
Fixed Defences – Brigadier A.D. Curtis
7th Coast Regt (Mount Faber Fire Command)
9th Coast Regt (Changi Fire Command)
Mobile Artillery – 16th Defence Regiment Royal Artillery – 966 (18-pdr guns) Battery R.A.; 967 (2-pdr A/T) & 968 (18-pdr guns) batteries HKSRA (Hong Kong & Singapore Royal Artillery))

Iain died in the County of Dorset <after 1960>, having been married twice.

Anne HG married Francis FARMAN some time between 1936 and 1940, in Shanghai.

No trace thereafter, but there is <post 1960> record in Ipswich for the death of a Francis Albert FARMAN.

mb

[Montrose Budie]

I forgot to add that another research techique in this type of situation is to search forward from the siblings to see what info descendants might have. Except there's nothing in the Scottish records.

John died <after 1960>, this being certain, as by that time the mother's maiden surname is shown in the index.

He was married to Jessie Donaldson ROBERTSON.

mb

[AndrewP]

The last incoming record, in 1945, gives their intended destination as “38 Lower Breakish, via Kyle [of Lochalsh?], I. of Skye".

Hi miw,

Kyle, I. of Skye was more likely Kyleakin. Lower Breakish [Brecais Iosal] is about 3 miles west of Kyleakin [Caol Acain], almost at Broadford [An t-Ath Leathann]. In these days there was no Skye Bridge, and Kyle of Lochalsh [Caol Loch Ailse] was a short ferry journey away on the mainland.

See http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=16 ... 24770&lm=0

All the best,

AndrewP

[Montrose Budie]

Hi miw

Just a thought.

The fighting against the Japanese invasion of Singapore lasted from 8-15 February 1942, so that Duncan must have been been a PoW when he died in June 1943.

mb

[Currie]

Nice work mb.

A search for births at FreeBMD in the District of Bridport (to 1958) with mother’s name Wheldon will only give one result.

There’s a notice in the London Times, Tuesday, May 20, 1947, of a birth three days earlier to the abovementioned Rhoda. Husband James is at the Chartered Bank, Kuala Lumpur.

Alan

[garibaldired]

Iain died in the County of Dorset in 2003

Here's the report:
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/archiv ... wrong_way/

Best wishes,
Meg

[Montrose Budie]

Nice work mb.

A search for births at FreeBMD in the District of Bridport (to 1958) with mother’s name Wheldon will only give one result.

There’s a notice in the London Times, Tuesday, May 20, 1947, of a birth three days earlier to the abovementioned Rhoda. Husband James is at the Chartered Bank, Kuala Lumpur.

Alan

Hi Alan

Well spotted. Any clue on James's surname ?

Ain't it just amazing the info that's out there !

mb

[Montrose Budie]

Iain died in the County of Dorset in 2003

Here's the report:
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/archiv ... wrong_way/

Best wishes,
Meg

Hi Meg

Awfy sad ! ..........

mb

[Montrose Budie]

OK, all we need now is a track of Raymina S K WHELDON.

Can anyone find her ?!

mb