The wandering Lasts

[Forfarian]

Denis Walter Harrison Last was born in India on 28 October 1897, parents Walter Last of the Indian Civil Service and Kate, surname unknown. I have his baptism record.

In 1901 he was living with his Indian-born mother and baby sister Cecily with his paternal grandparents, and in 1911 he was a pupil in the Royal Naval College at Osborne on the Isle of Wight. I have both census records. (Cecily was also in a boarding school, and their mother, now a widow, was visiting friends, both in England.)

He embarked on a career in the Royal Navy. I have numerous references to him from the London Gazette and the Navy List. However he was transferred to the retired list in 1922, and resigned altogether in 1934, having become a pacifist, according to a web site called 'Up Periscope'.

In 1931 he married in Scotland, his wife being Marion Mitchell Allan, born 1902, who is related to me. I have reams of information about her family including all relevant births, baptisms, marriages and census, and deaths for all except Marion.

In 1939 he was living with his wife, mother and three children in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, described as a BBC talk officer, whatever that is. I have no idea what, if anything in particular, he did during the Second World War, because the next sighting of Denis and Marion is their departure in 1956 for Bombay, with the stated intention of residing permanently in Australia.

It seems they didn't actually stay in Australia, because the final sighting I have is notices in a Santa Fe, New Mexico, newspaper, in 1970 and 1971 informing the world that his widow is executrix of his estate, but I have not found a death of either Denis or Marion.

Their daughter became engaged to a South African in 1953, but I have not found a marriage record. One of their two sons married in London and I think must still be alive, unless he too went globetrotting and died somewhere abroad. I have no idea what became of the other son.

Can anyone help to fill in the gaps, and in particular find death or burial records for both Denis and Marion? And what was his mother's maiden surname?

[MaureeninNY]

Just answering your final question...
Kate Fforde
Walter Arthur W Last
married Sept Qtr 1896 Windsor Berks.

Maureen

[Forfarian]

Thank you.

[willsy]

Found Marion's death

London, England, Death Notices from The Times, 1982-1988
Name:    Marion Mitchell (Allan) Last
Death Date:    24 Jul 1986
Published Date:    28 Jul 1986

Death reg
Marion Mitchell Last
Death Age:    84
Birth Date:    26 Mar 1902
Registration Date:    Jul 1986
Registration district:    Camden 14/1648

[Forfarian]

Thank you, and well done I had tried both of those sources without success.

[willsy]

Is this the South African connection?

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVDJ-6W1V

[willsy]

There's a photo of the couple here

22 February 1954 - Birmingham Daily Post - Birmingham, West Midlands

gentleman in question worked for the BBC

[Forfarian]

Thank you. I will see if I can access the Birmingham Post.

I have now found his English Probate which was granted two years after his death in Santa Fe, New Mexico on 19 August 1970.