WW2 Child Evacuation Mystery
Discussion
No idea how to begin getting to the bottom of this - can PH help?
Going through my late Grandmother's things I came across her old passports. The one from the 1940's interested me as I knew that her and my father had lived in Canada between 1940 and 1942. Dad had gone to school there and had very happy memories of life in Montreal.
He was an only child, so I was more than a little surprised to discover the addition of another child on the passport. This occurred at Glasgow the day before the ship that took them to Canada departed. James Hepburn, with a birthday of 11th August 1926 is added. Sure enough, the next day, the passenger manifest of the ship (Duchess of Atholl departing 25th June 1940 for Quebec and Montreal) shows my Grandmother, Father and James Hepburn travelling under the same ticket.
So far a bit odd and something never alluded to by my late father. But then it gets stranger. The manifest has the typed surname "Hepburn" crossed out in pencil and the name "Rae" written above it. Looking at the Canadian immigration entries, my Grandmother and Father appear, no James Hepburn, but there is a James Rae listed as entering the country.
I know about the Canada Guest Children during WW2 ( https://ingeniumcanada.org/channel/articles/digita...) and that there were private arrangements made alongside the Official CORB children. Was it common practise for non-family children to be put on other's passports? What could have brought about the name change? Surely the Passport office would have needed documentation to add James Hepburn and wouldn't make a surname mistake?
Any ideas?
Going through my late Grandmother's things I came across her old passports. The one from the 1940's interested me as I knew that her and my father had lived in Canada between 1940 and 1942. Dad had gone to school there and had very happy memories of life in Montreal.
He was an only child, so I was more than a little surprised to discover the addition of another child on the passport. This occurred at Glasgow the day before the ship that took them to Canada departed. James Hepburn, with a birthday of 11th August 1926 is added. Sure enough, the next day, the passenger manifest of the ship (Duchess of Atholl departing 25th June 1940 for Quebec and Montreal) shows my Grandmother, Father and James Hepburn travelling under the same ticket.
So far a bit odd and something never alluded to by my late father. But then it gets stranger. The manifest has the typed surname "Hepburn" crossed out in pencil and the name "Rae" written above it. Looking at the Canadian immigration entries, my Grandmother and Father appear, no James Hepburn, but there is a James Rae listed as entering the country.
I know about the Canada Guest Children during WW2 ( https://ingeniumcanada.org/channel/articles/digita...) and that there were private arrangements made alongside the Official CORB children. Was it common practise for non-family children to be put on other's passports? What could have brought about the name change? Surely the Passport office would have needed documentation to add James Hepburn and wouldn't make a surname mistake?
Any ideas?
I wonder if he lived in the same street as your Dad and your Grandmother volunteered to look after him on the voyage, hence same ticket ?
On the name - maybe passport was in his fathers name but he was no longer around and Rae was the mothers name ? or maybe she remarried ? maybe he didn't answer to Hepburn but did to Rae so someone changed the manifest ?
On the name - maybe passport was in his fathers name but he was no longer around and Rae was the mothers name ? or maybe she remarried ? maybe he didn't answer to Hepburn but did to Rae so someone changed the manifest ?
Someone has done a complete Thesis on the subject - https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=...
It doesn't directly answer the question of identity or the curious passport details, but it does set the scene and confirm that the specific Duchess Of Atholl voyage was organised by CORB and had a substantial number of private children being evacuated. CORB children don't appear to have needed passports, but that was perhaps different for private evacuees.
It would indeed make sense for a name change on board to match with any receiving family - so Hepburn to Rae. The thesis references Library and Archives records that might include some details. But equally might not.
There was a "Mr. W. A. F. Hepburn, O.B.E., M.C., LL.D., Director of Education for Ayrshire" on the Scottish Children's Overseas Reception Board. Possibly his son?
It doesn't directly answer the question of identity or the curious passport details, but it does set the scene and confirm that the specific Duchess Of Atholl voyage was organised by CORB and had a substantial number of private children being evacuated. CORB children don't appear to have needed passports, but that was perhaps different for private evacuees.
It would indeed make sense for a name change on board to match with any receiving family - so Hepburn to Rae. The thesis references Library and Archives records that might include some details. But equally might not.
There was a "Mr. W. A. F. Hepburn, O.B.E., M.C., LL.D., Director of Education for Ayrshire" on the Scottish Children's Overseas Reception Board. Possibly his son?
It would have been an easy answer, especially as he had Quebec links, but apparently he was unmarried. Perhaps a nephew?
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/171566796/will...
The things that lead you astray during lockdown....
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/171566796/will...
The things that lead you astray during lockdown....
Crafty_ said:
I wonder if he lived in the same street as your Dad and your Grandmother volunteered to look after him on the voyage, hence same ticket ?
On the name - maybe passport was in his fathers name but he was no longer around and Rae was the mothers name ? or maybe she remarried ? maybe he didn't answer to Hepburn but did to Rae so someone changed the manifest ?
Should be able to explore this via the census of the time I would have thought. Would be able to find if the lads name was listed at a property in his dads street? On the name - maybe passport was in his fathers name but he was no longer around and Rae was the mothers name ? or maybe she remarried ? maybe he didn't answer to Hepburn but did to Rae so someone changed the manifest ?
NuckyThompson said:
Should be able to explore this via the census of the time I would have thought. Would be able to find if the lads name was listed at a property in his dads street?
It’ll be another 10 years before the 1931 census is available unfortunately. Family lived in the countryside too. NuckyThompson said:
Should be able to explore this via the census of the time I would have thought. Would be able to find if the lads name was listed at a property in his dads street?
Unfortunately only the 1911 census is available at the moment. The 1921 census is due to be released early next year (the 100 years rule).You may find something on the 1939 register, but again details are redacted for anyone who may be alive, ie under 100 years old, unless confirmed as deceased.
Good luck
Edited by CanAm on Monday 15th February 15:11
Bingo, I think. Newspaper clippings suggest son of local Church Minister. Doesn't answer the Rae question, but I think facilitating easy handover to receiving family is the obvious answer.
Passed away in 2005.
Didn't realise you could put another families child onto a passport (old). A bit scary for all involved looking back at the torpedoing of the Volendam and the sinking of the Benares a few months later.
Passed away in 2005.
Didn't realise you could put another families child onto a passport (old). A bit scary for all involved looking back at the torpedoing of the Volendam and the sinking of the Benares a few months later.
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