Marjory Saint GILES [7482]

  General Notes:

Memories of her Mother
Rosamond Stewart
2008.
Marjory was educated at primary level by her father, so she would not need to spend nine years away at school in England, as her sister Rosamond had in her school years.
Later at school in Wimbledon she boarded with the family of Dr Powell-Evans and their four sons who, with the Giles cousins and her two grandfathers were good companions for her. There was also, at some stage, Grace Scott, Robert Pickett's second wife. Her early adult life was spent with her parents in various places in China until she married my father in 1934. Life in the British Legations was good, a life of indulgence, the women not needing to go out to work, and helpful servants who did everything. Their daily activities were varied, giving dinner parties, playing croquet, bowls, tennis, play acting.
Once Marjory married she lived in Teintsin. In 1941, when I was one year old, the Japanese came to conquer China, and the women and children had to be evacuated to different countries. We went to Bombay, India, with the Pickfords, as Pete was in the Hong Kong and Shanghai bank. When the war finished we all travelled to England and stayed with relatives and tried to settle. My brother Richard was born in Devon in January 1947. The family then returned to Shanghai, and were there until July 1949 when war came again to us, Mao-Tse Tung came to the Yangtze river at Shanghai fighting against the Nationalists. This time it was decided, after British naval ships were damaged in the fighting, to take the last British ship out of Shanghai to Hong Kong, then on to Macau to await a ship to Adelaide Australia. The family stayed in Adelaide with Ivors sister (Nancy) who was having a baby, Marjory, who had never done housework before looked after 9 people on her own - some feat! They then took the S.S. Oronsay to Freemantle, and settled in Albany, tired of moving around the world. Sadly she was widowed in October 1955. As we grew up she moved to Perth. Marjory lived at Applecross, Freemantle, and Forest Dale where she helped Richard with his family and with his beekeeping. Sadly she had to go to a nursing home in 2000 after breaking her leg which was the end of her independence and walking. After seven years of care she died in January 2007.
Mother was an inspiration to everyone, all through her interesting life.

Cuth or Cuthbert also Margy were nicknames for Marjory. The nickname origionated from a popular song during the War (WW1) called "Hop it Cuthbert" which seemed suitable for a young child always under peoples feet at that time.

  Other Records

1. Marjory Saint Giles.
Marjory with her father Lancelot, Changsha Hunan China with winter supply of cerials (sic), winter in Changsha, Marjory as a young woman, Marjory (left) with her sister Rosamond.

Marjory married Ivor Edwin HOUSE [7484] [MRIN: 2496], son of Capt Albert Edward HOUSE [9038] and Susan Ellen GOODFELLOW [9042], on 22 Sep 1934. (Ivor Edwin HOUSE [7484] was born on 12 Mar 1907 in Devonport Plymouth CON and died on 25 Oct 1955 in Albany Western Australia.). The cause of his death was Pulmonary embolus, as a result of medical negligence by an alcoholic doctor.