Going off on a tangent

[alliekiwi.livejournal.com]

I was vaguely thinking about the Marlows and their naval heritage this morning, and what other relatives Nicola et al might have had in the navy. So I went and had a look at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site to see what UK Marlows had died in WW2 in service with the navy.

Having a look at the list of names, it made me wonder... do we know if Captain Marlow was an only child? I was wondering if there could have been other members of the family who helped inspire Nicola's love for the service - even if we haven't heard of them previously. *grin*

It might be fun to write a story about Nicola remembering 'Aunt Iris' for example:

Name: MARLOW, IRIS
Initials: I
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Chief Wren
Regiment/Service: Women's Royal Naval Service
Age: 38
Date of Death: 08/02/1942
Service No: 1250

Or 'Cousin Ronald':

Name: MARLOW, RONALD JOSEPH
Initials: R J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Ordinary Seaman
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. Wellesley
Age: 19
Date of Death: 16/01/1942
Service No: P/JX 311610

*wanders off with head in the clouds of possibilities*

Comments

[sollersuk.livejournal.com]

"Cousin Ronald" was the same age, and died the same year, as someone whose commemorative plaque I see every time I go to Morris dance practice. We practice in the local Scout hut and it was built by his parents in memory of him; I suspect he was an only child. (Wireless telegrapher, incidentally; the sort that tended to stay put when other people were taking to the boats or whatever)

[alliekiwi.livejournal.com]

It's lovely how various people chose different things to commemorate their sons. I wonder if the chap who the Scout Hall was dedicated to was one of Baden Powell's original scouts (a large number of whom met their end in the Great War). I suppose it's possible the hall only laterly came into use as a Scout hall, though.

[robvic.livejournal.com]

ooh good idea. Although I suspect he was an only child as he was so close to Jon - and there's no talk of him being down at Trennels with anyone else when they were boys...

Other Naval Marlows

[stripydinosaur.livejournal.com]

I suppose these aren't strictly Marlows as they are the family of Mrs Marlow, but in 'End of Term' she mentions having four(?) brothers - Giles, Rollo, Piers and I think one other - who died in the first war; I have always thought that there was an interesting story here.....

Re: Other Naval Marlows

[alliekiwi.livejournal.com]

Oooh, good spotting!

Am I remembering correctly that Mrs Marlow's mother remarried so therefore Giles, Piers etc would not have had the surname Orly?

I'm a bit nutty aobut the Great War and even have a children's book about it I'm hoping to get published.

Re: Other Naval Marlows

[stripydinosaur.livejournal.com]

Sounds interesting (I also have written a children's book, though mine is a picture book for tiny ones. It's a good idea to write about the Great War, I always thought that Roald Dahl's 'Going Solo' was brilliant).

Back to the Marlows or the Orlys it would be interesting to know if they were anything like Peter and Giles Marlow (I'm thinking Rowan might be similar to Rollo). Or maybe this is a bit obvious....?

Re: Other Naval Marlows

[(Anonymous)]

Aunt Molly's name is Maunsell, so presumably that was Mme Orly's first husband, maybe all the children belonged to the first
marriage, can't remember if Molly is older or younger than Pam, probably older as Pam married pretty young (18?) and Molly fancied Geoff before he met Pam. Don't think we know where Giles, Piers, Rollo and Terence fit in.

Re: Other Naval Marlows

[colne-dsr.livejournal.com]

Pam Marlow was 18, and younger than Molly. [Ready-Made Family, Chapter 3).