I am interested in a Hong Kong resident and evacuee and her husband who were friends of my parents, and who settled in Blackheath, NSW. They ran a guesthouse there from around 1950 to possibly 1970, and I remember them as a child and my early teens. I have here developed a general outline of the family (mostly from this site) but some bits do not fit, or I have it wrong.
Her married name was Sheila Feltwell and her maiden name presumably was Whitley. As I understand it, she was the youngest child of five, but I wonder if she was adopted, as she was “Eurasian”. In Australia around 1952-1955 her mother lived in a flat at the Blackheath guesthouse, and I remember her as a little Chinese lady with her hair in a bun, who gave me postage stamps from Hong Kong.
This is what I summarised on the family:
Father: Charles Whitley, civil servant in India, in HK from early 1920’s, Juror List in 1927 as “auctioneer”, buried in HK on 9 January, 1932. [grave: 16Cii/08/06]
Mother: Hannah Mary A Whitley, buried Blackheath, NSW on 12 February, 1956. No information on her, but in a 1940 HK funeral “Mrs H Whitley and family” left a wreath.
Brother: Charles Thomas Cheyne Whitley, born India 1903, died early and buried with father Charles in HK 25 April, 1925 (age 22) [grave: 16Cii/08/06]
Sister: Margaret (Peggy) Louise Davies (nee Whitley), born India 1907, killed when US bomb hit Stanley Camp January 1945 (age 38). She came from HK to London in April 1935, and in November, 1935 returned to HK to work as “instructress”. She married Sgt Geraint George Davies (1913-1995) who was a POW in Japan. She was interned at Stanley Camp.
Brother: Thomas Sydney Douglas Whitley, born 15 March, 1909 in India, died 20 March, 1985 in UK (age 76). He was a civil service clerk and first appointment was April, 1928. He was a signalman in HKVDC and was interned in Shamshuipo Camp before being transported to Japan as a POW .
Brother: Norman Beardmore McQueen Whitley, born 16 April, 1914 in India, died in Bath, Somerset on 8 November, 2004 (age 90). He went from UK to India in 1937 age 23. He was a civil servant in HK, and was interned at Stanley Camp.
Sheila married an English naval officer RNVR probably around 1946, Sub-Lieutenant Joseph Arthur William Feltwell (born 1912, Freebridge Lynn, Norfolk). He was posted to the base HMS Tamar, January to July, 1946, then from July to October, 1946 to the depot ship HMS Bonaventure.
The only reference to Sheila I can find (in Gwulo: Old Hong Kong) is a comment by Anniemagg (11/09/2019) daughter of Thomas Whitley, that “Sheila Feltwell with their mother Hannah Whitley” were evacuated to Australia. The mother that I remember in early 1950’s at Blackheath was Chinese, or at least Eurasian. Is this the mother of the other siblings (Charles, Margaret, Thomas and Norman?) who were all born in India??
Joseph and Sheila Rosemary Feltwell ran the guesthouse (Kubba Roonga) at Blackheath from at least 1950 to 1970’s. An interesting fact was that they only took Australian citizenship in September, 1982, with a Blackheath address, but not the guesthouse. Also of interest, is a grave at the Blackheath Cemetery, NSW, with the inscription “In loving memory of Hannah M A Whitley, died 12 February, 1956, and her daughter, Sheila Feltwell, died 19 September, 2011”. I have not yet found a grave for Joseph Feltwell (born 1912). My brother had last met Joe and Sheila around 1989-1990 at Blackheath.
For some rough estimates, if Sheila was born 1921, she could have been married at 25 (1946) and died at 90 (2011). If Hannah was born say, 1884, she would have died at 72 (1956), and potentially had the children Charles at 19, Margaret at 23, Thomas at 25, Norman at 30, and Sheila at 37 ?? All somewhat hypothetical.
The other aspect is of evacuees to Australia who were of mixed race, around 1946. Restricted, but possibly as married to an English naval officer with English names enabled this, plus with mother. I have no information on when they went to Australia or how. Any comments or guidance greatly appreciated.
cheers Malcolm
Comments
Sheila Rosemary Whitley 1910 - 2011
Principal India Births and Christenings
Scheila (sic) Rosemary Whitley born 4 August 1910 christening 8 July 1910 Bengal India Father Charles Whitley Mother Mary Hannah Agnes
Charles Whitley was a 35 year old widower when he married Mary Hannah Agnes MacQueen in 1906 so any children born earlier than 1906 had a different mother from Mary Hannah Agnes MacQueen
UK and Ireland, Incomig
UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists 1878-1960
Sheila Whitley (age 21 years) travelled with her mother Hannah Whitley (age 59 years) from Brisbane, Australia to London, England arriving on 20th May 1932 on Tourist Class on the ship 'Straithaird' of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company Ltd (Offical No. 162670)
Sheila Whitley, age 21 years, with address in UK as '102 Perry Hill, Catford S.E. 6', with occupation as 'Student', with country of last permanent residece as 'China' and with country of intended future permanent residence as 'Other part of the British Empire'
Hannah Whitley, age 59 years, with address in UK as '102 Perry Hill, Catford, S.E. 6'. with occupation as 'Hoem Duties', with country of last permanent residene as 'China' and with country of intended future permanent residence as 'Otehr part of the British Empire'
UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists 1890-1960
Sheila Whitley (age 23 years) travelled with her mother Hanna Whitley (age 63 years) from Dover, England to Hong Kong, China departing on 10th August 1933 on the ship 'Trier' of the Norddeutscher Lloyd
Sheila Whitley, 23 years, with address in UK as '102 Perry Hill, Catford S.E. 6', no occupation documented, with country of permanent residence as 'China'. County of last permanent residence was 'Foreign'
Hanna Whitley, 63 years, with address in UK as '102 Perry Hill, Catford S.E. 6', no occupation documented, with country of permanent resience as 'China'. Country of last permanent residence was 'Foreign'
UK and Ireland, Incomig Passenger Lists 1878-1960
Sheila Whitley (age 28 years) travelled with her mother Hannah Whitley (age 65 years) from Bombay, India to London, England via Port Said and Marseilles arriving 3rd April 1939 on Tourist Class on the ship 'Strathmore' of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company Ltd. (Official No. 164521)
Sheila Whitley, 28 years, with address in UK as 'Manor Park E.12', occupation as 'Teacher', country of permanent residence as 'Hong Kong'
Hannah Whitley, 65 years, with address in UK as 'Manor Park E.12', occupation as 'H.D.', country of permanent resdicene as 'Hong Kong'
Both intend to settle in England
UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists 1890-1960
Sheila Whitley (age 29 years) travelled with her mother Hannah Whitley (age 66 years) from London, England to Hong Kong, China departing on 3rd November 1939 on Second Class on the ship 'Narkunda'' of the Peninsula and Oriental Steam Navigation Company Ltd (Offical No. 142496)
Sheila Whitley, age 29 years, with address in UK as 'Whitlow, Bournemouth Rd, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh' with no occupation documented, country of permanent residence as 'H. Kong'
Hannah Whitley, age 66 years, with address in UK as 'Whitlow, Bournemouth Rd, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh' with no occupation documented, country of permanent resdience as 'H. Kong'
UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists 1890-1960
Sheila Rosemary Whitley (age 33 years) travelled with her mother Hannah Mary Agnes Whitley (age 68 years) from Liverpool, England to Singapore departing 22nd August 1946 on the ship 'Britannic' of the Cunard White Star Ltd (Official No. 162316)
Sheila Rosemary Whitley, age 33 years, with address in UK as '77, Woolstone Road, Forest Hill, S.E. 23', with occupation as 'Teaching', with country of last permanent residence as 'England' and country of intended future permanent reisdence as 'Hong Kong'
Hannah Mary Agnes Whitley, 68 years, with address in UK as '77, Woolstone Road, Forest Hill, S.E. 23', with occupation as 'Housewife', with country of last permanent residence as 'England' and country of intended future permanent residence as 'Hong Kong'
Find A Grave
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/196841353/sheila-feltwell
She is buried in Lot 7316, Blackheath Cemetery, Great Western Highway, Blackheath, Blue Moutains City, New South Wales, 2785 Australia
Australia Electoral Rolls
Australia Electoral Rolls 1903-1980
1949, 1954, 1958, 1963, 1968
Joseph Arthur William Feltwell, proprietor, Kubbaroonga, Blackheath, Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia
Sheila Rosemary Feltwell, proprietress, Kubbaroonga, Blackheath, Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia
1972
Joseph Arthur William Feltwell, proprietor, Kubbaroonga, Blackheath 2785, Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia
Sheila Rosemary Feltwell, proprietress, Kubbaroonga, Blackheath 2785, Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia
1977, 1980
Joseph Arthur William Feltwell, The Chalet, brentwood Ave, Blackheath 2785, Katoomba, Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia
Sheila Rosemary Feltwell, The Chalet, brentwood Ave, Blackheath 2785, Katoomba, Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia
She passed the Matriculation
She passed the Matriculation Exam for the Hong Kong University (here her name was spelt 'Sheily'). The newspaper report also confirmed she did study at the Central British School.
Source: Hong Kong Daily Press, page 7, 1st January 1926