Catherine Geekie Young SMITH (née PURVES) [1910-1987]

According to my records:  Her full name was Catherine Geekie Young SMITH (nee Purves). (Unusual second name in the predigital age). She was born on 28th Aug 1910. I only noticed from Gwulo daily wartime diary (Eric McNider diary)  that she married Dean Abbott Smith 24/12/1909 - 27/07/1960 on 12th Jan 1942 at QMH. She was a Nursing Sister and I assume therefore based at QMH. He was a doctor in Colonial Medical Service and I believe was awarded the OBE for his services in Stanley Internment Camp. This was gazetted in Jan 1946.  She returned to the UK on Empress of Australia and their marriage was registered in Q4 1945 in Marylebone and I assume the divorce was likewise registered although I saw no record of that.  On the ship's manifest, she gave an address in Dundee. She was aged 35 on liberation.  Dean Abbott Smith died in Surrey, England aged 50 years in July 1960. They were billeted in Block 4 (EMQ) Room 25A and I don't see any others sharing so I presume a small room.

Thanks Philip, your records are comprehensive as always!

Catherine Smith was my mother.  I was born in 1949 after Catherine and Dean returned from Hong Kong and settled, temporarily, in the UK before working in Gambia and then Khartoum.

There are a number of inaccuracies in the above text, should you require copies of documents to substantiate these facts I can provide them.  

1)  Violet Amy Smith (nee Smith) was married to Dean Abbott Smith in ?1935 or 1936, they had a son born in 1937 in Hong Kong, but were subsequently divorced and Violet left Hong Kong before war broke out heading for Australia and afterwards Swaziland with their son.  She later married Douglass Cowin and they ultimately retired to Canada.

2)  Catherine Geekie Young Purves did marry Dean Abbott Smith on 12th January 1942 as your notes show and they were interned in Stanley Camp together, there is no note of re-billeting as they were never divorced.  On their return to the UK their marriage was registered in 1945 in Marylebone (also as your notes say). 

3)  However the Hong Kong divorce notice you found must refer to Violet Amy as Catherine and Dean remained happily married until his death in 1960, spending time in Gambia and Khartoum (as your notes).

4)  Catherine did, indeed, return alone to the UK on the Empress of Australia,  Dean was flown home as he needed medical attention for the wounds sustained in the bombing of Hong Kong before they were interened in Stanley Camp.

Catherine never re-married and she died in the UK on 6th August 1987.

I hope this helps fill a few gaps and corrects some misunderstandings.

Thank you for that elucidation I have edited out of my note the reference to a divorce.  Philip