I can't find my gt aunt in South Africa Help needed please.

**idlecat** · 09-03-2011 04:30 PM

My Great Aunt was born Doris Ward in Leicester in 1906. She married Herbert Haynes in 1927 and then so my mother said, she packed up all her things, left her husband and went to South Africa. This I assumed would be after her marriage. I have found an arrival in Southampton from South Africa on 25th June 1937 and then a departure to South Africa on 20th August the same year. ( giving the same correct address in Leicester)
I always understood that my mother never saw her again but I found a photograph marked 1936 of her with my mother and her 2 young brothers and sisters. Maybe this was during her visit. She worked as a clothing designer for Jaeger , so it may have been a business trip.
I can find no record of her first trip when she left home.
My mother also said that she had a daughter Donna in South Africa and she thought that she was named after her father ( Donald)?
My sister also recollects another name, Ramsay or Ramsey maybe this was his name. My means of researching in South Africa are not good and I haven't much experience with the sea passage records.
I wondered whether anyone could give me a little help or point me in the right direction please, I would dearly love to make a connection with Donna, I think we are her only close living family.

**elaine** · 09-03-2011 07:02 PM

Had to look twice when I saw Doris but not my great aunt, assuming you have the marriage

Marriages Jun 1927
HAYNES Herbert Ward Leicester 7a/659
WARD Doris Haynes Leicester 7a/659

Could you post the passenger list, have lots of bits for Leicester and the address maybe useful

**idlecat** · 10-03-2011 07:10 AM

Many thanks Elaine, yes I see you are interested in the Leicester Wards, mine are a family which came to Leicester from Derby around 1800 and formerly a village in Yorkshire called Handsworth Woodhouse where I trace them back to around 1720. My Great Aunt belonged to a very complicated branch of the family ( you wouldn't want to go there ) the complication was caused by Michael Mooney who may or may not be her father . I am researching the female line in my family so it's a lot more difficult that just doing the "family name".
Aunt Doll's address was Brierly St Leicester which was off Belgrave gate in the St Marks area, my family lived in the next street, Willow Street.
I heard from my sister again, she is positive that Doris married a man called Ramsay in South Africa.though I can find no sign of a divorce . Would I be right in thinking that she would have to use her British passport to travel and that would have her former ( real) name on it?

**Elsabels** · 10-03-2011 07:27 AM

Hello idelcat

Try the RSA site Ancestry24.com

**Elsabels** · 10-03-2011 07:33 AM

Confirmed a UK marriage

Doris WARD = Herbert HAYNES q2 1927 Leicester 6a 759

**elaine** · 10-03-2011 08:33 AM

I can't read the attachment! Says page not found

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