Lady Yvonne Dorine Holmes

Hi
Here's a link to the Donegal historical society
http://www.donegalhistory.com/
Good luck with your search!
Liberty.

Hello Prue,

Elwyn has very sound advice about obtaining the marriage certificate. You can order the marriage cert online from the General Register Office (GRO) in Southport, England. I'll have more information about ordering the marriage certificate a little later in this reply

You had mentioned Yvonne’s marriage to William D. Holmes as being found in the Chelsea Registration District for the September quarter of 1930, Vol 1c, Page 1175.

If you look at the individual marriage indexes for William and Yvonne at FreeBMD, you’ll see that there are two last names recorded for Yvonne. One is Bracken and one is Rawlinson. One of these names would be her maiden name, likely Rawlinson.

See the individual indexes below transcribed from the FreeBMD website:

Marriage September Quarter 1930

William G. Holmes
Spouse: Yvonne D Bracken
Registration District: Chelsea
Volume: 1a
Page: 1175

AND

William G. Holmes
Spouse: Yvonne D Rawlinson
Registration District: Chelsea
Volume: 1a
Page: 1175

Source: FreeBMD
____

Also see the marriage index from FamilySearch and Find My Past below:

England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005

Event Type: Marriage Registration
Name: William G Holmes
Event Date: 1930
Event Place: Chelsea, London, England
Registration District: Chelsea
Volume: 1A
Affiliate Line Number: 109

Registration Year: 1930
Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep

Spouse Name (available after 1911): Bracken Or Rawlinson

Possible Spouse: Yvonne D Bracken

Citing this Collection
"England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005." Database. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 20 March 2020. From "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006." Database. findmypast. http://www.findmypast.com : 2012. Citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
____

The Chelsea Registration District was in the Great London area, according to information at the ukbmd.org link at: https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/chelsea.html

As Elwyn mentioned, English marriage records traditionally give the names and occupations of the fathers of the groom and bride. You’ll have to order the full marriage record from the GRO to see who Yvonne’s father was. You can order the marriage cert online after you register with the GRO at the HM Passport Office website at: https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/login.asp

A birth, marriage, and death cert from the GRO costs £11.00 if you supply the Volume and Page Number from the index. If you order the marriage record from the GRO, make sure to specify that the marriage of William and Yvonne was recorded in the Chelsea Registration District, Volume 1a, Page 1175 for the September quarter of 1930. Without the volume and page number the cost of the marriage cert will be £14.00. You can pay for the marriage certificate with a credit card.

Knowing that Yvonne’s maiden name was likely Rawlinson, I looked for her first marriage to a fellow named Bracken at the FreeBMD website and found it. I’ve transcribed the marriage indexes which you see below, and which show the marriage of Yvonne D. Rawlinson and George P.A. Bracken was recorded in the Fulham Registration District in the March quarter of 1923. Their marriage can be found in Volume 1a, Page 606 of the GRO marriage registers:

Marriage March Quarter 1923

George P A Bracken
Spouse: Rawlinson
Registration District: Fulham
Volume: 1a
Page: 606

AND

Yvonne D Rawlinson
Spouse: Bracken
Registration District: Fulham
Volume: 1a
Page: 606

Source: Free BMD
____

Fulham was one of the districts in the Greater London area according to information at the ukbmd.org link at: https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/fulham.html

I didn’t know if George Bracken had died sometime between 1923 and 1930, or if he and Yvonne were divorced. I looked for George Bracken’s death index at the FreeBMD website, to see if he died between 1923 and the time Yvonne remarried in 1930. I didn’t find his death index, but I uncovered what may be his second marriage at FreeBMD, which shows the marriage of George P A Bracken and Grace E. Raynham/Rayanham was recorded in the Lambeth Registration District in the December quarter of 1934. See the indexes below:

Marriage December Quarter 1934

George P A Bracken
Spouse: Rayanham
Registration District: Lambeth
Volume: 1d
Page: 723

AND

Grace E Raynham
Spouse: Bracken
Registration District: Lambeth
Volume: 1d
Page: 723
____

The Lambeth Registration District covered portions of London: https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/lambeth.html

I next looked for Yvonne’s Donegal birth record at the free irishgenealogy.ie website. The irishgenealogy.ie website was mentioned by Roger in his reply. In this case I looked for the birth of a Yvonne Rawlinson and also a Dorine Rawlinson, but did not find it. I expanded the search to include the years 1900 to 1905. I didn’t find the births for any children named Yvonne Rawlinson or Dorine Rawlinson in the Inishowen Registration District or any other Registration District in Donegal, or in any of the other 31 counties in Ireland.

I didn’t uncover the births for any Rawlinsons at all in Donegal between 1900 and 1905.

I had noticed in Yvonne’s 1947 Petition for U.S. Naturalization, filed in Phoenix, Arizona, that she had written she was born on January 31, 1902 in “Buncranna, Northern Ireland.” You probably already have a copy of the petition, but in case you do not, I’ve attached the petition to this reply. I located the petition at Ancestry.com.

The country of Northern Ireland didn’t exist in 1902 when Yvonne was born, as all 32 counties were then under British rule.

Ironically, Banba’s Crown, Inishowen Peninsula, Donegal, is the most northerly portion of the 32 counties, though it is not in Northern Ireland, but in the Republic of Ireland. See: https://www.irelandhighlights.com/info/malin-head/

Back at the irishgenealogy.ie website I looked for any Rawlinson marriages recorded in the Inishowen Registration District, Donegal, as well as other Donegal registration Districts, but did not find one.

After the searches that Roger and I did for Yvonne’s birth record, it is a possibility that her birth was not reported to the Inishowen registrar by one of her parents or perhaps a relative who was present at the birth.

To cover another eventuality, I also looked for Yvonne’s birth index at the FreeBMD site but didn’t locate a birth for her recorded in England or Wales.

I then wanted to see if there were any residents named Rawlinson in County Donegal recorded in the 1911 census of Ireland. I also looked for Rawlinsons in the border counties of Londonderry, Tyrone, Fermanagh, and the northern portion of County Sligo.

The census comes from the National Archives of Ireland link at: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/

I didn’t find any Rawlinsons in County Donegal or in the counties that border County Donegal.

In his reply Elwyn had mentioned the 1939 Register. The full name for this record from a collection at ancestry.com is the “1939 England and Wales Register.”

I found Yvonne D. Holmes in the 1939 England and Wales Register at ancestry.com, which not only transcribed the register, but has also provided an image of the register that I’ve attached to this reply. Her husband William G. Holmes is not in residence with her.

The transcription and copy of the register show that Yvonne was living at the Queen’s Head Hotel in Morpeth, Northumberland, England. She is shown to be married with a date of birth of 31 January 1901, which is off by one year from her date of birth of 31 January 1902 recorded in the naturalization petition she filed in Arizona in 1947. Her occupation in the register is “Unpaid Domestic Duties.”

The transcription is below:

1939 England and Wales Register

Name: Yvonne D Holmes
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Married
Birth Date: 31 Jan 1901
Residence Year: 1939
Address: Queen's Head Hotel
Residence Place: Morpeth, Northumberland, England
Occupation: Unpaid Domestic Duties
Line Number: 30
Schedule Number: 239
Sub Schedule Number: 17
Enumeration District: GCMB
Borough: Morpeth
Registration district: 564/1

Source: Ancestry.com
____

The entry for Yvonne D. Holmes in the attachment for the 1939 England and Wales Register is number 17 under the Queen’s Head Hotel.

The Queen’s Head still exists. It’s full location in Northumberland is, Town Foot, Rothbury, Morpeth.

Also see the Queen’s Head website: https://ourlocal.pub/pubs/the-queens-head-rothbury/

For a Google Map and Street View of the Queen’s Head, go to: https://is.gd/yHbfYD and https://is.gd/tPPE8n

From a collection at ancestry.com called, “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014,” I learned that Yvonne died in May of 1975. The index gives her date of birth as 31 Jan 1902. She had applied for a Social Security Number “Before 1951,” in New Mexico. Her last residence was Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona. Phoenix would be the place where Yvonne died. See the index below:

U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014

Name: Yvonne Holmes
Social Security Number: 525-64-8318
Birth Date: 31 Jan 1902
Issue Year: Before 1951
Issue State: New Mexico
Last Residence: 85001, Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, USA
Death Date: May 1975

Source Citation
Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File

Source Information
Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2014
____

According to the findagrave.com website, Yvonne and her husband, William George Holmes are buried in the Saint Andrews Columbarium, Nogales, Santa Cruz County, Arizona. See the Find A Grave submission for Yvonne at: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194476726/yvonne-dorine-holmes

The Find A Grave submission for LTG (Lieutenant General) William George Holmes shows he died on 16 January 1969 at the age of 76 in Tumacacori, Santa Cruz County, Arizona. His date of birth was 20 August 1892. See: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194476669/william-george-holmes

I didn’t find that George and Yvonne had any children.

Knowing that Yvonne Holmes died in Arizona in May 1975, her death record may tell you the names of her father and mother, that is, if the informant listed on the death certificate knew who her parents were.

The Arizona Department of Health Services has partnered with the firm VitalChek Network to process birth and death certificates. See: https://is.gd/DWnmHl

The certificate fee is $20. The processing charge per order is $12.95.

The VitalChek website where you can order Arizona Death certificates can be found at: https://www.vitalchek.com/vital-records/arizona

With Best Wishes,

Dave Boylan

ATTACHMENTS

Yvonne Dorine Holmes Naturalization Petition
1939 England and Wales Register

SOURCES

Reply from IrelandXO Volunteer Elwyn, dated Wednesday 1st September 2021
FreeBMD
FamilySearch
General Register Office/HM Passport Office, UK
ukbmd.org
Ancestry.com
irishgenealogy.ie
irelandhighlights.com
Reply from IrelandXO Volunteer Roger McDonnell, dated Wednesday 1st September 2021
National Archives of Ireland 1901 and 1911 census
1939 England and Wales Register
Queen’s Head website: https://ourlocal.pub/pubs/the-queens-head-rothbury/
Google Maps
Google Street Views
U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Find A Grave
Arizona Department of Health Services: https://is.gd/DWnmHl
VitalChek: https://www.vitalchek.com/vital-records/arizona

Hi 

 

Just a final contact maybe the Donegal County Archives based in Lifford County Donegal   nbrennan@donegalcoco.ie  as they may have additional archive collections that may be of interest.  They are especially strong for the 1920s period.

 

regards

Bernadette

IrelandXO Volunteer Partner

Tower Museum Derry

 

Hello Everyone

Gosh thank you so, so much for all the information and work you have put into this for me.

I am in the process of ordering both marriage certificates, and Yvonnes death Certificate from Arizona. Hopefully I will be able to also obtain a copy of her Will would might also give me some extra information.

The exciting news is, that I have found their obituatiries in the Arizona Republic newspaper, which only thows more questions into the mix.

Yvonne's obituary states her name to be Princess Yvonne Doine de Bourbon, connected to French Royalty. Williams obituary states his wifes name to be Yvonne Dorrine de Bourbon, daughter of Prince George de Bourbon of France.

After Sir Williams death and cremationshe states his ashes were to be sent to England where memorial services would be held at Westminster Abbey! On her death it's stated they had lived in India, Malta, Egypt, Greece and England and had entertained Winstone Churchill and Lawrence of Arabia.

Now I'm not saying she had a great imagination (well I kind of am) but it is possible they did live in these places given his war career, and yes given she mentions Sir Malcolm Trustram Eve as a contact on her immigration card is also possible given her husband appears to have served under him during both wars. My question is, why would they leave England/Europe and chose to live in Arizona, right on the border of Mexico with virtually no infrastructure. This retired Lieutenat General ended up running the Beer Depot in Phoenix. It's such a bizzare story I have to continue searching.

Anyway, thank you all once again for your help. I am new to this ancestory thing so your assistance is greatly appreciated.

I have attached copies of both for you to take a look at.

Best Wishes

Prue Graham (New Zealand)

Hello Prue,

Many thanks for writing back and for the obit attachments. I noticed that Yvonne's obit didn't mention Buncrana or the surname Rawlinson.

It will be very interesting to see the first name of her father recorded the two marriage records and if Yvonne's death record will mention the names of her parents. If we had the names of her parents, including her mother's maiden name, we could do a more thorough search for her.

After receiving your reply I did a cursory search for Yvonne's supposed father, Prince George de Bourbon of France, but found no such person in the Bourbon line, though it's possible I missed locating information about him. See the Bourbon line up to the present day at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourbon_family_tree

Also, I'd like to make a correction from my previous response where I mentioned Yvonne's 1947 Petition for Naturalization. Her petition is actually dated 19 October 1953. This information comes from the reverse side of the petition, which I missed finding at Ancestry.com because the reverse side was not indexed. I only found it through additional research after sending the reply to you.

The reverse side of the petition shows, under the heading, "Affidavit of Witnesses," that the witnesses as to her character were Herbert O. Marryweather, a rancher of Tumacacori, Arizona, and Leo H. Griffith, a businessman residing at 5921 Indian School Road, Phoenix, Arizona. The Affidavit of Witnesses is one attachment.

Also on the reverse side toward the bottom of the petition, is the Oath of Allegiance that Yvonne took, where she signed the document on the aforementioned date of 19 October 1953. The Oath of Allegiance is on a second attachment.

Yvonne and her husband's connection to Tumacacori, Arizona may have been through the rancher, Herbert O. Marryweather. For more information about Tumacacori, Arizona, see the Wikipedia article at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumacacori,_Arizona

I am looking forward to any new information you may find in Yvonne’s marriage records filed in England, and in her Arizona death record.

Thank you again for writing Prue,

Dave

Hi Prue et al,

I was hoping to find more about my great aunt Yvonne Dorine de Bourbon / Rawlinson / Bracken / Holmes in the new release of the 1921 census, but no luck. However, I did find your discussion on irelandxo and I am fascinated that you are also looking for her! A fascinating character - maybe, we can pin her down!

Yvonne married my Grandmother’s brother (WGHolmes) in 1930. On their marriage certificate, Elizabeth Holmes was a witness, though that could have been his mother or sister. I never knew of WGH until I started looking up family, as my Grandmother never spoke to / of him in my lifetime – I believe due to disapproval of this marriage.

It would appear that Yvonne may have married 3 times.

On her marriage cert in 1923 (Fulham, London) to Bracken (second marriage for both of them – Major George Philip Alexander Bracken, Army dentist, m Dorithy Maud Barkly 1918 and m Grace Esther Raynham 1934), she is described as Yvonne Dorine Rawlinson (widow), daughter of Prince Georges Jaime de Bourbon. She is also stated being aged 27 (on 15 Feb 1923). This marriage ended in divorce in 1930, with WGH named as co-respondent!

She married WGH on 24 July 1930 in Chelsea, London. The certificate states “Yvonne Dorine Bracken, previously Rawlinson, formerly de Bourbon”, and gives her father as Georges Jaime de Bourbon. Her age = 34.

Both these suggest that she was born in 1896. In later documents she is getting younger!
September 1939 UK Register - 31st Jan 1901 - “Unpaid Domestic Duties” = housewife! At the time, her husband was a Major General commanding the 42nd East Lancs division training for war (just declared).
US state documents – 31st Jan1902 Buncrana, Ireland

I can find no trace of Mr Rawlinson - Yvonne's "first husband". He could have married and died in WW1.

I tend to agree with Elwyn’s comment that Yvonne could have made up her past, but I still think that it’s worth looking for George Jaime de Bourbon and a Mr Rawlinson possibly in Ireland - and Yvonne born ~1896 (could even be earlier!).

re: Sir Malcolm Trustam Eve: He was born 1894 and was 2 years younger than WGH. Both served in the Royal Welch Fusiliers during WW1 – MTE making Captain, but WGH was acting LtCol from 1916 commanding 1RWF (1st Battalion), when he was just 24! I assume that they were friends.

re USA – I have this from “They Lived in Tubac” by Elizabeth R. Brownell

"After World War II, they came to New Mexico where they tried to run a Black Angus ranch. Exploited by promoters who sought to capitalise on their backgrounds, they failed at the ranch, then attempted unsuccessfully to run a liquor store in Phoenix. Here a beer case fell on the General’s foot which brought on gangrene and resulted in the amputation of his leg. After some time in Tumacacori and Amado, they spent several years in a small house in Tubac, where the Sir George resumed painting. Lady Holmes explained their descent into poverty: “British aristocrats have few working skills beyond sitting on our bottoms.”

I don't know what the pension for a career army Lt General would be (or whether payable in US?), but possibly not a great deal.
They had no children and it appears that they died in poverty - maybe lost money in the ranch.

I have quite a lot on the background of WGH if interested and a tree published on Ancestry - but Yvonne is somethoing of a mystery!

Regards - Nick Burgess

Hello to Nick and Elwyn and anyone else taking an interest.

Firstly to respond to Nicks message.

We appear to be related! My Great Grandfather was Daniel Mearns Holmes, brother of Wiliam Read Holmes and Elizabeth Barber Holmes.

Now that's out of the way......

I agree, age wise on certain records indicates Yvonnes's birth year was 1896/97 which makes her about 5 years older than indicated on later documentation..

Yes Rawlinson may have died in WW1 or thereafter but in her last interview in Arizona she stated she had been married twice and that WGH was the love of her life. So yes, maybe Rawlinson is her birth name.

As suggested by Elwyn I emailed realcasadiborbone.it but they did not respond. I note the different spelling of di borbone not de bourbon.

Sir Malcolm Trustrum Eve was no doubtedly a friend and military collegue of WGH and was used as a contact in the UK given she obviously didn't have contact with he own supposed father.

Yes, your reference to 'They lived in Tuba' is correct.

I tried ordering her death certificate from Arizona, however you have to prove you are family or a registered/qualified geneologist. I am neither so despite several emails I got nothing.

As far as I know WGH was not married before, but I will check. He is noted as the co-respondent on the divorce records between her and George Philip Alexander Bracken.

She obviously circulated in very high Military Circles. Where did she meet George Bracken. He was born in Ireland is this the connection?

In the Tattler article I have on my ancestry page, she is noted as being the previous Mademoiselle De Bourbon, making a French connection, all be it slim.

On 10th Oct 1937 border crossing when they sailed into New York she states her race as French, born in Buncrana Ireland and can speak German! He is shown as of Scottish race born in London England and can speak French.

Her first (or 2nd) marriage to George Philip Alexander Bracken. He was a Captain in the Royal Military Army Corp (RMAC) and was aged 41, she aged 27 which at time of marriage in 1923 makes her birth year 1896. He was born Blacklion County Cavan, Ireland 14 Jan 1882. This marriage ended in divorce in 1929 after she obviuosly had an affair with WGH as per divorce records National Archives, Kew.

She was known as Dee (as per Newspaper Article 29 Aug 1973) and was suppoedly was a Lady in Waiting for Queen Elizabeth (the Queen mother) for 2 years.

They were supposedly invited to Winston Shurchills funeral by Elizabeth and Philip.

Marriage Cert to WGH shows her name to be Yvonne DORIYE Bracken, not Yvonne Dorine Bracken.

Her mother is never mentioned in any article, so I guess we can make some assumptions there. Perhaps her father was descended from Royalty or Nobility of some sort. After the French Revolution there was a mass migration of French nobility to Great Britain (1789-1815). Perhaps some decendents stayed and the family verbal history passed down that she was descended from Royalty. Perhaps we should be looking for a father by the name of George James Rawlinson, or maybe George James Rawlinson was her first husband she converted into a Prince?? I have tried searching Feench records but as I don't speak or read French it was a wasted exercise. Can anyone else help with this because I think we can all agree, she was not born in Buncrana unless she was illegitimate, birth not registered, or registered as Rawlinson somewhere else like England maybe. Who knows..... 

In any event I do hope we can track her heritage down. Wouldn't it make the most romantic rom com movie. Maybe she did get taken in by My Fair Lady just like Elwyn suggested.

If anyone wants to take a look at my Holmes Family Tree you can find it on ancestry.com My username is Proodlegee. I have all sorts of documentaion, photo's and records for both Yvonne and WGH. It is a public tree.

I tried finding your tree Nick but nothing came up (I'm new to this)

Thanks everyone for your help.

Regards

Prue Graham

New Zealand