Doris Myfanwy (Thomas) Underwood (1907 - 1989)

Born 27 Mar 1907 in Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales

Ancestors

Wife of Richard Underwood — married 18 May 1940 in Singapore

Descendants

Died 1989 at about age 81 in Blackpool, Lancashire, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Richard Underwood [send private message]

Biography

Doris Myfanwy Thomas was born in Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales, on 27 March 1907. She was baptised on 30 October 1907 at Wrexham parish church.

Her parents were David Thomas (1875-1948) and Lillian (Clutton) Thomas (1882-1952) who married in Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales on 31 Dec 1902

Paternal grandparents were David Thomas (abt.1850-1923) and Catherine (Jones) Thomas (abt.1856-1930) who married at some time between th 1871 and 1881 UK Census.

Maternal grandparents were William Clutton (1854-1907) and Ann (Bagguley) Clutton (1855-1922) who married at Nantwich, Cheshire, England on 20 June 1880.

On the 1911 UK Census she was described as aged 4 living with her parents and sibling at Wern Cottage, Llandulas, Abergele, Denbighshire, Wales.

On the 1921 UK Census she was aged 14yrs and 6mths living with her parents and a nephew at 11 Beech Mount, Llandrillo Yn Rhos, Denbighshire, Wales.

On a 1931 Electoral Register she is listed with her parents and sister living at 16 King Street, Salford, Lancashire, England.

In the 1930s she left home and spent a lot of time travelling, mainly working as a governess (nanny).

In 1935 she was described as a 28 year old governess (nanny) to Christopher William Godfrey Seymour, the son of Alfred Wallace Seymour, and she accompanied the Seymour family to Trinidad when Alfred Wallace Seymour was appointed Colonial Secretary (Deputy Governor) of Trinidad and Tobago. They sailed on the Ariguani out of Avonmouth on 26 March 1935.

In 1937 She was described as a 32 year old nurse and governess to 5 year old Delvine Eyre Vines, the daughter of Squadron Leader Duncan Stratford Eyre Vines the Aviation Manager of the Asian Petroleum Company based in Singapore and the Commander of the Singapore Strait Settlement Air Force. She accompanied Delvine and her mother, Hillary Vines, from England to Singapore. They sailed on the Boringia out of Southampton on 08 Nov 1937.

In 1938 she traveled from Singapore to Llanddulas, Denbighshire, Wales for her sister's wedding.

In 1939 she was described as a 33 year old governess to 7 year old Delvine Eyre Vines, when she again accompanied Delvine and her mother from England to Singapore. They sailed on the Jutlandia out of Hull on 26 September 1939.

In March 1940 she was still in Singapore when Squadron Leader and Mrs Vines had a son, Timothy Cambell Eyre Vines, and she remained employed as a governess and nurse of both Delvine Eyre Vines and Timothy Cambell Eyre Vines.

On 18 May 1940 she married Richard Underwood (1914-1965) at Singapore. Richard was a Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant, and his best man was Sgt. E. Smith (Signals). Doris was given away by Sqadron Leader D. S. E. Vines and her matron of honour was Mrs. Vines.

In October 1941 her first son was born in Singapore, Christopher, after Christopher Seymour.

On 08 December 1941 Japan declared war and bombed Singapore, and landed troops in Malaya 450 miles north of Singapore 40 minutes earlier than the raids on Pearl Harbour. Japanese troops advanced down the Eastern side of Malaya towards Singapore. Soon afterwards, Troops also landed in Thailand and Japanese troops advanced down the Western side of Malaya towards Singapore.

On 30 January 1942 Doris Underwood and her son escaped on the SS Duchess of Bedford one of the last ships out of Singapore before the surrender to the Japanese on 15 February 1942. Singapore harbour was being bombed as the ship set sail, with several bombs only just missing the ship.

On 02 April 1942 Doris arrived back in Liverpool on the SS Duchess of Bedford. She spent the next year not knowing if her husband was alive or dead, before eventually being told by the Red Cross that he was a prisoner of war in the hands of the Japanese.

In December 1945 Having eventually settled in Colwyn Bay, Denbighshire, Wales, she was living at Llys Eirias, Groes Road, Colwyn Bay, on the return of her husband after his release from captivity.

In 1947 their second son was born at Colwyn Bay.

In December 1956, because of changes to her husband’s jobs, Doris and family moved from Colwyn Bay to Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England.

In January 1958, due to another change of employment by her husband, they moved from Wolverhampton to Colchester, Essex, England.

Whilst living in Colchester Doris was an active member of the Royal Women’s Voluntary Service (RWVS) engaged in voluntary work for them, and also did voluntary work at Severals Hospital, Colchester, and for various other local charities.

In 1965 her husband died, after which Doris’s own health deteriorated. Whilst her husband had been the Town Sergeant in Colchester they had been living in Colchester Town Hall in a flat provided with his job, but after her husband’s death she had to move out. By this time both son’s had left home and she moved into a one bedroom flat (4 Handy Fisher Court, The Commons, Prettygate, Colchester, Essex) and as her health continued to deteriorate she later moved to a flat attached to a sheltered housing scheme in the same area of Colchester.

She suffered for some time with coronary heart disease (Ischaemic Heart Disease) caused by atherosclerosis, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, resulting in several regular spells in hospital.

Because of her failing health she she moved to a care home in Blackpool, close to where one of her sons and his family were then living.

She died in 1989 after a short stay in hospital.

1907 UK GRO Birth Index^[1]
Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales
Quarter 2, vol 11b, page 257,
Doris Myfanwy Thomas
Mother: Clutton

1910 Baptism^[2] Baptism Register, Wrexham Parish Church,
Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales.
Page 127, Entry 1015,
Baptism Date: 30 Oct 1910
Doris Myfanwy Thomas
Father: David Thomas - Policeman
Mother: Lilian Thomas
68 Smithfield Road, Wrexham.

1911 UK Census^[3]
Wern Cottages, Llanddulas, Abergele,
Denbighshire, Wales.

• David Thomas, Head, 35, married, Police Constable, Denbighshire Constabulary, born Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire.
  
• Lilian Thomas, Wife, 29, married 8 years, 2 children, both living, born: Wrexham, Denbighshire.
  
• Lilian Thomas, Daughter, 7, school, born Manchiel, Denbighshire.
  
• Doris Thomas, Daughter, 4, school, born Wrexham, Denbighshire.

1921 UK Census^[4]
11 Beech Mount, Colwyn Bay,
Denbighshire, Wales,

• David Tomas, Head, Aged 45yrs 7mths, Married, Born Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire. Police Sergeant, Denbigh County Council, Working at Colwyn Bay.
  
• Lilian Thomas, Wife, Aged 39yrs 1mth, Married, born Wrexham, Denbighshire. Household Duties.
  
• Doris Thomas, Daughter, Aged 14yrs 3mths, Single, born Wrexham, Denbighshire. Assisting Mother Home Duties.
  
• William Edward Thomas, Nephew, Aged 21yrs 3mths, Single, born Wrexham, Denbighshire. Stoker, Royal Navy.

1931 UK Electoral Register^[5]
16 King Street, Salford,
Lancashire, England.

• David Thomas,
  
• Doris Myfanwy Thomas,
  
• Lilian Thomas,
  
• Lillian Winifred Thomas.

1935 Passenger List to Trinidad. ^[6]
Ship: ‘Ariguani‘, Owners: Elders & Fyffes Ltd.,
Sailing from: Avonmouth, Bristol, England.
Departure Date: 26 March 1935.
Bound for Bridgtown, Barbados. Port of Spain, Trinidad. Kingston, Jamaica.

• Alfred Wallace Seymour, aged 53, Colonial Secretary. Destination: trinidad
  
• Ruby Rosa Charlotte Seymour, aged 42, wife. Destination: trinidad
  
• Christopher William Godfrey Seymour, aged 6, son. Destination: trinidad
  
• Doris Thomas, aged 28, Governess. Destination: trinidad
  

1937 Passenger List to Singapore^[7]
Ship: ‘Boringia‘, Owners: East Asiatic Co. Ltd.,
Sailing from: Southampton, England.
Departure Date: 08 nov 1937.
Bound for: Bangkok and Straits Settlements

• Hilary Mary Vines, 33 years. Last UK address: 179 Queens Gate, London S.W.7., Bound for Singapore.
  
• Delvine Eyre Vines, 5 years. Last UK address: 179 Queens Gate, London S.W.7., Bound for Singapore.
  
• Doris Myfanwy Thomas, 32 years, Nurse and Governess. Last UK address: 179 Queens Gate, London S.W.7., Bound for Singapore.

1938 Alderley and Wilmslow Advertiser^[8]
23 Dec 1938, page 3.
Just as Miss Lilian Winifred Thomas, of Badafon, Llanddulas, North Wales, was about to leave home on Saturday to be married at St. Cynbryd's Parish Church, Llanddulas, her sister, Miss Doris Myfanwy Thomas, arrived from Singapore after a dash across half the world to be present at the wedding.

1939 Passenger List to Singapore^[9]
Ship: ‘Jutlandia‘, Owners: East Asiatic Co. Ltd.,
Sailing from: Hull, England.
Departure Date: 26 September 1939.
Bound for Straits and Bangkok.

• Hilary Mary Vines, 35 years. Last UK address: Hunts Barn, Mayfield, Sussex. Bound for Singapore.
  
• Delvine Eyre Vines, 7 years. Last UK address: Hunts Barn, Mayfield, Sussex. Bound for Singapore.
  
• Doris MyfanwyThomas, 33 years, Governess. Last UK address: Hunts Barn, Mayfield, Sussex. Bound for Singapore.

18 May 1940 Marriage^[10]
UK Marriage index,
Overseas Marriages
Army Returns 1836 to 1940
Singapore 1940, page 349
Richard Underwood
Doris Myfanwy Thomas

19 May 1940 - The Straits Times (Singapore)^[11]
19 May 1940, Page 11.
B.Q.M.S. Richard Underwood, attached to Headquarters Force Emu, was married to Miss Doris Thomas yesterday at the Missions to Seamen Chapel, Singapore.
The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. P. H. Underwood of Matlock, Derbyshire, and the bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. Thomas of Colwyn Bay, North Wales.
The bride, wearing a navy blue and white printed crepe frock with a white hat and navy and white shoes, carried a bouquet of white gladioli. she was given away by Sq.Ldr. D. S. E. Vines.
Miss Deluine Vines was the bridesmaid and she wore a frock of flowered silk.
Mrs. D. S. E. Vines was matron of honour and Sgt. E. Smith (Signals) was best man.

1940 Marriage Certificate. ^[12]
Command 2nd Echelon Malaya at Singapore.
18th May 1940 at Singapore SS.
Richard Underwood (English), aged 27, Batchelor, CQMS West Yorkshire Regiment Soldier. Tyersall Park Camp Singapore.
Father: Percival Harry Underwood, retired.
Doris Myfanwy Thomas (Welsh), aged 33, Spinster, Holland Road, Singapore.
Father: David Thomas, retired.
Married in the St Andrews Cathederal according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England by A. V. Wardle in the presence of A. Smith, Sgt. Royal Signals and D. Vines, R.A.F.

1940 North Wales Weekly News^[13]
23 May 1940, Page 7
MARRIED AT SINGAPORE
The marriage took place on Saturday at Singapore of Miss Doris Myfanwy Thomas, younger daughter of ex-Police Sergeant D Thomas and Mrs. Thomas of Colwyn Bay (formerly of Llanddulas) to Company Quartermaster Sergeant Richard Underwood, son of Mr. and Mrs. P. H. Underwood, of Matlock, Derbyshire. C.Q.M.S. Underwood is attached to the Indian Army. The bride is well-known in the town although she has been nearly eight years abroad. She met her husband in Singapore.

8 December 1941 - The Straits Times (Singapore)^[14]
8 December 1941, Page 7.
Japan declared war on Great Britain and the United States as from dawn today. Before the declaration Japanese air attacks were carried out on Singapore Island and Honolulu and elsewhere. They were repulsed with small arms fire and aircraft attacks. Some troops landed and were reported early to-day infiltrating towards Kota Bahru aerodrome. Air raid sirens sounded in Singapore shortly after 4 a.m. An Air attack on the island developed immediately.

1942 North Wales Weekly News^[15]
09 Apr 1942, Page 8.
FROM SINGAPORE
YOUNG MOTHER'S EVENTFUL JOURNEY
On Good Friday Mrs. Doris Underwood, wife of C/Q.M.S. R. Underwood, and her five month old baby son, arrived at Colwyn Bay from Singapore, where she had been living with her husband. Mrs. Underwood left Singapore at the end of January at a few hours notice, her baggage consisted of what she carried in her hands.
There were 900 women and children on the ship which was bombed as it left the harbour. The enemy had dropped pamphlets saying they were going to sink the vessel. During the voyage four babies were born and there were four infant deaths. The women had an anxious time, but they all gave great praise to the officers and crew for their attention and kindness.
Mrs. Underwood is the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Thomas, Devon House, Greenfield Road, Colwyn Bay, who were delighted to welcome their daughter after weeks of anxious enquiries. C.Q.M.S. R. Underwood was a member of the Singapore garrison, and up to the present no tidings have been received about him.
Mrs. Underwood wishes to thank everybody for their kind enquiries and prayers, also the local Red Cross ladies for their prompt attention to her need as she landed here with nothing but the clothes she was wearing. She has gone to the country to recuperate after her strenuous journey.

1948 Welsh Gazette - Death of her Father^[16]
26 February 1948, Page 8
ABERYSTWYTH - DEATH
The death occurred at Colwyn Bay on February 13, of ex-Police Sergeant David Thomas, at the age of 72. He was the eldest son of the late Mr. and Mrs David Thomas, Gogerddan Cottages, Aberystwyth. He served with the S.W. Borderers in the Boer War, and with the R.W.F. in the Great War. He had been stationed at Wrexham, Llandulas and Colwyn Bay. The funeral took place at Colwyn Bay on Tuesday of last week. The chief mourners were: Mrs C. Thomas, widow; Mr. and Mrs Hughes, Mr. and Mrs. Underwood, daughters; Mr. Evan Thomas, Aberystwyth, Mr. W. Thomas, Treherbert. Mr. J. Thomas, London, Mr. Oswald Thomas, Portmadoc, brothers; and Mr. R. T. Williams, Bow Street, cousin. Miss J. Thomas, sister, was unable to be present.

1989 UK Death Index^[17]
Blackpool & Fylde,
Quarter 3, Folio 40. Page 832.
Doris Myfanwy Underwood
Born: 27 March 1907

Research Notes

In the 1931 UK Electoral Register she is listed with her parents living at Salford, England. The 1930 UK Electoral Register has the following entry which may, or may not be her. There is insufficient evidence at present:
1930 UK Electoral Register^[18]
Hope Lodge, Radford Street, Salford,
Lancashire, England.
Doris Thomas

1937 Passenger List to Singapore: the surname Vines is incorrectly transposed as Vives on some lists.

1940 Marriage: The marriage certificate states that the wedding took place in St Andrews Cathedral but the local newspaper reported the wedding took place in the Missions to Seamen Chapel. It is likely the Missions to Seamen Chapel was not registered for weddings, and the ‘official‘ wedding with the registrar took place in the Cathedral, but an ‘unofficial‘ wedding and reception then took place at the Missions to Seamen.

Ceylon: Doris worked as a governess in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) at some time, but the exact dates and circumstances are currently unknown.

Sources

1. ↑ 1907 UK GRO Birth index. Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales, Quarter 3, vol 11b, page257.
2. ↑ Baptism Register, Wrexham Parish Church, Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales. Page 127, Entry 1015, Baptism Date: 30 Oct 1910
3. ↑ 1911 UK Census, Wern Cottages, Llanddulas, Abergele, Denbighshire, Wales.
4. ↑ 1921 UK census, 11 Beech Mount, Colwyn Bay, Denbighshire, Wales.
5. ↑ 1931 UK Electoral Register, 16 King Street, Salford, Lancashire, England.
6. ↑ Ship: ‘Ariguani‘, Owners: Elders & Fyffes Ltd., Sailing from: Avonmouth, Bristol, England. Departure Date: 26 March 1935. Bound for Bridgtown, Barbados. Port of Spain, Trinidad. Kingston, Jamaica.
7. ↑ Ship: ‘Boringia‘, Owners: East Asiatic Co. Ltd., Sailing from: Southampton, England. Departure Date: 08 nov 1937. Bound for Bangkok and Straits Settlements.
8. ↑ Alderley and Wilmslow Advertiser, 23 Dec 1938, page 3.
9. ↑ Ship: ‘Jutlandia‘, Owners: East Asiatic Co. Ltd., Sailing from: Hull, England. Departure Date: 26 September 1939. Bound for Straits and Bangkok.
10. ↑ UK Marriage index, Overseas Marriages - Army Returns 1836 to 1940 - Singapore 1940, page 349
11. ↑ The Straits Times, 19 May 1940, Page 11.
12. ↑ Marriage certificate in possession of their son Richard Underwood.
13. ↑ North Wales Weekly News - 23 May 1940, Page 7.
14. ↑ The Straits Times, 8 December 1941, Page 7.
15. ↑ North Wales Weekly News, 09 Apr 1942, Page 8.
16. ↑ Welsh Gazette, 26 February 1948, Page 8
17. ↑ 1989 UK Death Index, Blackpool & Fylde, quarter 3, Folio 40. Page 832.
18. ↑ 193 UK Electoral Register, Hope Lodge, Radford Street, Salford, Lancashire, England.