Ewart Gladstone Thomas (1895 - 1977)

Born 1 Nov 1895 in Bere Regis, Dorset, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Hilda Margaret (Brooks) Thomas — married 28 Nov 1946 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Died 15 Aug 1977 at age 81 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Vicky Majewski [send private message]

Biography

Ewart Gladstone Thomas was born on 1 November 1895 in Bere Regis, Dorset, England. His parents were William Thomas and Sarah Beer.^[1]

The 1901 England Census shows Ewart, age 5, living with his parents at Corfe Castle in Dorset.^[2] His father, William, is listed as a journeyman saddler. Also in the household are five siblings: Millicent (age 12), Mabel (age 11), Stella (age 9), Robert J (age 6), and Gwendoline (age 3).

The 1911 England Census lists Ewart Gladstone Thomas, age 15, working as a "market gardner's lad".^[3] His household consists of his parents and five siblings: Stella (age 19), Robert (age 16), Gwendoline (age 13), Edna (age 9), Constance (age 6).

Ewart served in the British Army (Dorsetshire Regiment) during World War I^[4] and received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.^[5]

While working as a telegraphist in Kasvin (Qazvin), Persia, he married his first wife, Christina Petrovinh Bunderrenko, on 16 May 1920.^[6][7] Travel records show the two of them sailing to Adelaide, South Australia on 25 March 1924 aboard the "Hobson's Bay".^[8]

In Australia, Ewart worked as a tram driver.^[9] The 1943 electoral rolls shows him living at 4 Harris Street in the suburb of Glenelg, Adelaide.^[10] That same year, he and Christina divorced.^[11] Three years later, he married Hilda Margaret Brooks.^[12][13]

In 1950, Ewart and Hilda Thomas were listed as members of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Burnside, South Australia.^[14] They frequently accompanied Hilda's sister, Rose (Brooks) Hawthorne, on travel teaching trips.^[15]

Hilda died in 1969. Ewart followed eight years later, on 15 August 1977^[16], at the age of 81. They are buried together in Centennial Park Cemetery, Pasadena, South Australia.^[17][18]

Research Notes

It's unclear exactly when he became associated with the Baha'i Faith; whether he learned about it from Hilda Brooks or was already a Baha'i when they met. I would love to know more about his life, especially his time in the Middle East during the 1920s, as it sounds like a fascinating story! - Freeth-52 02:09, 18 May 2020 (UTC)

It's also unclear whether or not he and Christina had any children together. Christina appears to have moved to New South Wales during the 1940s. More research is needed. - Freeth-52 02:09, 18 May 2020 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2F3Y-151 : 1 October 2014), Ewart Gladstone Thomas, 1895; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Wareham, Dorset, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
2. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XS49-YNQ : 21 May 2019), Ewart G Thomas in household of William Thomas, Corfe Castle, Dorset, England, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Corfe Castle subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
3. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7KP-XPV : 21 July 2019), Ewart Gladstone Thomas in household of William Thomas, Corfe Castle, Dorset, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
4. ↑ "British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920", database with images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 May 2020), Ewart G. Thomas, Private, Dorsetshire Regiment no. 3195, 201394. Army Medal Office. WWI Medal Index Cards. In the care of The Western Front Association website.
5. ↑ "UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920", database with images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 May 2020), Ewart Gladstone Thomas, Private, Company WO 329, Dorsetshire Regiment. Medals awarded: British War Medal and Victory Medal. The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; War Office and Air Ministry: Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War. WO329; Ref: 1289
6. ↑ "UK, Foreign and Overseas Registers of British Subjects, 1628-1969", database with images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed on 18 May 2020), Ewart Gladstone Thomas and Christina Petroinh Bunderrenko, Marriage, 16 Mar 1920, Mesopotamia, Iraq. Note: Marriage solemized in Kasvin, Persia. The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; General Register Office: Foreign Registers and Returns; Class: RG 33; Piece: 136
7. ↑ "Great Britain Marriages, 1797-1988", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HGXZ-61N2 : 4 February 2020), Christina Petrovinh Bunderrenko in entry for Ewart Gladstone Thomas, 1920.
8. ↑ "UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960", database with images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 May 2020), Mr. Ewart G. Thomas (age 27) and Mrs. Christina Thomas (age 24). Departure date: 25 Mar 1924. Departure Place: London, England. Destination Port: Adelaide, Australia. Ship: Hobson's Bay. Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Outwards Passenger Lists. BT27. Records of the Commercial, Companies, Labour, Railways and Statistics Departments. Records of the Board of Trade and of successor and related bodies. The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, England.
9. ↑ "FURNITURE VAN AND TRAM IN COLLISION", The Adelaide Chronicle (Adelaide, South Australia), 3 Apr 1941. p. 18. Accessed on 18 May 2020. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92405938
10. ↑ "Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980", database with images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 May 2020), Ewart Gladstone Thomas, 4 Harris Street, Glenelg, Barker, South Australia. Occupation: Motorman. Australian Electoral Commission. [Electoral roll].
11. ↑ "Divorces", The Adelaide Chronicle, 27 May 1943. p. 21. Accessed on 18 May 2020. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92370051
12. ↑ Engagements. The Advertiser (Adelaide, South Australia), 12 Jun 1946. p. 4. Accessed on 8 May 2020. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/35699316
13. ↑ “News From Australia.” Baha'i News, May 1947. https://bahai.works/Baha'i_News/Issue_195/Text.
14. ↑ Effendi, Shoghi. Messages to the Antipodes (Australasia). Mona Vale: Baha'i Publications Australia. Accessed 18 May 2020. https://bahai-library.com/shoghieffendi_messages_antipodes.
15. ↑ "Rose Hawthorne 1882-1988". In The Baha'i World. 914-16. Vol. XX. Haifa: The Universal House of Justice, 1998. Accessed 8 May 2020. https://bahai.works/Bah%C3%A1%E2%80%99%C3%AD_World/Volume_20/In_Memoriam
16. ↑ South Australia Newspaper Death Notices. (Genealogy SA, https://www.genealogysa.org.au/index.php : accessed 18 May 2020), database entry for Thomas, Ewart Gladstone (Publication Year: 1977)
17. ↑ Burial Record (Centennial Park Cemetery, Pasadena, https://www.centennialpark.org/memorial-search/ : accessed 24 Feb 2021) database entry for Thomas, Ewart Gladstone (Interment Type: Burial, Interment Date: 16 Aug 1977, Location: General C, Path 9, Grave 680, Last Abode: St. Peters).
18. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 18 May 2020), memorial page for Ewart Gladstone Thomas (unknown–unknown), Find A Grave: Memorial #153307660, citing Centennial Park Cemetery, Pasadena, Mitcham City, South Australia, Australia ; Maintained by jlong (contributor 48741020) .