Arthur David Cormac (1907 - 1970)

Born 2 Mar 1907 in Durban, Natal Province

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 22 Jul 1970 at age 63 in Cato Ridge, Natal, South Africa

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Pam Cormac Smith [send private message] and Lauren Cormac [send private message]

Biography

Arthur David Cormac is genealogies verbind aan Suid Afrika /is genealogically connected to South Africa

Baptism

According to the baptism registers of the Wesleyan Methodist Circuit in Durban, Natal, Arthur David Cormac was born on the 2nd of March 1907. He was baptized on 31 March 1907, son of Robert and Sarah Jane Cormac of Durban, by AF Cook. ^[1]

Arthur David Cormac Baptised at Durban by AF Cook on 31 Mar 1907, born 2 Mar 1907. Parents: Robert and Sarah Jane Cormac of Durban.

Childhood

Arthur was born and raised in Durban, and grew up as one of the middle children (with at least nine siblings), of Scottish immigrant parents. Being the son of a porter at Natal Government Railways it wasn't surprising that Arthur followed family tradition and occupied his adult years with engines, as did many of his siblings. Older brother George became an engineer, George would in later years supervise Arthur's eldest son, Len during Len's apprenticeship at Lion Matches in Durban.^[2]

Tragedy struck the family when on 28^th Feb 1911 younger brother Alfred Collin died aged 10 mths from cardiac failure and convulsions.^[3]

When Arthur was only nine years old his father, Robert died at their home aged 55 on 28 Feb 1916.^[4] A year later his mother remarried. ^[5]

Arthur, Alex and Pat at Toti.

Older brother, Alex also became an engineer. Sadly his time was cut short when he passed away in 1926 aged 23 after he committed suicide.^[6] Arthur would have been 19 at the time, which leads me to believe that this photo was taken not long before that fateful day.

Marriage

Arthur married 25 year old spinster Edna Victoria May Edwards on 12 Jan 1935 at St Mary's Church, Durban, Natal, South Africa after banns were read and by their own consent, without ANC^[7]. Arthur was a 28yr old South African born lorry driver residing at 598 North Coast Road, Greenwood Park. His bride was also South African born and was resident of 2 Mitchell Road, Durban. The ceremony was performed by the minister Walter Webb and had been witnessed by D Gambler, EJ Edwards, and JA Edwards.

Children

1. Leonard Arthur 1936
2. Richard Malcolm John 1938
3. James 1939
4. Edmund 1940
5. Colin 1948

World War II

unknown Arthur David Cormac served in the South African Army in World War II
Service started: unknown
Unit(s): unknown Division
Service ended: 1945

Service Number: 2652 ^[8][9][10]

Rank: Rifleman ^[8] Private ^[9]

Regiment: South African Union Defence Force ^[8][9]

Arthur was a prisoner of war in Italy^[8] and Germany,^[9][10] family stories say at Tulbach.

Arthur David Cormac sometime during the war

Post card from Egypt

After the War

In June 1941 Arthur was in Scotland, visiting family. His wife, Edna and their son, Jimmy remained at home, whilst Len and Richard were away at school in Malvern.^[11]

On 21 Feb 1942, probably while Arthur was away at war, his mother died at Addington Hospital in Durban after battling with breast cancer for many years. She was 69 years old. ^[12]

In 1963 Arthur and Edna purchased a small farm in Cato Ridge where they raised some cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens. The farm was just under 50 acres in size. A short time later the couple purchased a second neighbouring farm of similar size. The family no longer owns the original property, however descendants still reside on the latter farm today.^[2]

Death

Arthur died from coronary thrombosis at Feralloys, Cato Ridge, where he was employed as a lorry driver; aged 63 years on 22 Jul 1970,^[13] leaving a grieving widow to run the family farm in Cato Ridge.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ "South Africa, Methodist Parish Registers, 1822-1996", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2MK8-HLL : 10 March 2020), Arthur David Cormac, 1907.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} As told to Pam Cormac Smith by Len Cormac, son of Arthur David Cormac, in Aug 2013
3. ↑ "South Africa, Natal Province, Civil Deaths, 1863-1955," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG6G-53X3 : 23 January 2019), Alfred Cormac, 28 Feb 1911; Death, Natal, South Africa, The National Archives of South Africa (NARS), Pretoria; FHL microfilm 2,099,352.
4. ↑ "South Africa, Pietermaritzburg Estate Files 1846-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLRL-ZVFY : 17 March 2018), Robert Cormac, 1916; citing Probate, Pietermaritzburg Archives (Formerly Natal State Archives), South Africa.
5. ↑ "South Africa, Natal Province, Civil Marriages, 1845-1955," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KDCR-KBQ : 10 March 2018), Henry Thompson and Sarah Jane Cormac, 12 Feb 1917; citing Greenwood Park, Durban, Natal, South Africa; 00601; National Archives and Records Service of South Africa, Pretoria; 1,795,576.
6. ↑ "South Africa, Natal Province, Civil Deaths, 1863-1955," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:8YBJ-DVMM : 29 August 2020), Hugh Alexander Cormac, 27 Jan 1926; Death, Durban, Inanda, Natal, South Africa, The National Archives of South Africa (NARS), Pretoria; FHL microfilm .
7. ↑ "South Africa, Natal Province, Civil Marriages, 1845-1955," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KDZM-C89 : 10 March 2018), Arthur David Cormac and Edna Victoria May Edwards, 12 Jan 1935; citing Durban, Natal, South Africa; 00736; National Archives and Records Service of South Africa, Pretoria; 1,938,479.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3} findmypast.com; Prisoners Of War 1715-1945; Archive reference WO 392/21; Transcript
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3} Findmypast.com; World War 2 Allies Collection; Transcript.; Archive reference WO 392/5
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Findmypast.com; Prisoners Of War 1715-1945; Transcript.; Archive reference WO 392/15
11. ↑ Letter in possession of Len's widow;Leonard's Letter dated 9 June 1941; seen and photographed by Pam Cormac Smith in Aug 2013
12. ↑ "South Africa, Natal Province, Civil Deaths, 1863-1955," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ZXVG-D3W2 : 21 May 2020), Sarah Jane Campbell, Cormac, 21 Feb 1942; Death, Durban, Ellisras, Transvaal, South Africa, The National Archives of South Africa (NARS), Pretoria; FHL microfilm .
13. ↑ Death certificate in possession of Len's widow; seen by Pam Cormac Smith in Aug 2013