Dorothy Elizabeth Freemantle

Dorothy was born on the 31st March 1915 in Hut 54, at Rosyth, Dunfermline,  Scotland. Her parents were James Francis Freemantle, born 6th January 1875 in Milverton, Somerset and Mabel Hatcliffe. They were married in the Register Office in Bristol on the 30th May 1903, and had at least seven children, two of whom were born in Avonmouth, Gloucestershire one in Newport, Monmouthshire and four in Rosyth, on the Firth of Forth at the naval dockyard encampment. Three of these children died of influenza during a period of 10 days in October and November 1918, and another died in April 1922.

Dorothy married a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot, Sandford Bruce Fleming in Westminster, London on 4th January 1946, some four months after the end of the second world war. Dorothy has stated her age as being 27 years, although she was aged 31 at the time. She was living at 4 Groom Place, London, and her father James Francis Fremantle, who was deceased, is described as of independent means. (In the 1911 census, when he was living in Newport, Monmouthshire, his occupation was given as a railway contractor labourer). Dorothy appears to have been economical with the truth. Sandford Bruce Fleming is recorded as being 22 years old, a bachelor, in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a student Flying officer. He was staying at The Albany, in Piccadilly, London when married, and his father was Alexander Greig Fleming, a chemical engineer. This marriage did not last, and Sandford Bruce Fleming was reported in 1957 as being a test pilot for the Canadian plane manufacturers, Canadair

Dorothy subsequently married John Donaldson-Hudson on the 22nd September 1947 at Caxton Hall, Westminster, and gave birth to their daughter, Sara Elizabeth Ruth Donaldson-Hudson, on the 30th August 1948 at 12 Avenue Road, Hampstead. Sadly her husband, John, died of tuberculosis in the south of France, at Les Apres, Biot, near Cannes on the 4th November 1949.

She lived for a time with her daughter at The Old Hall, Cheswardine before moving permanently to London, where she ran the business of J B Johnstone and Hogg & Sons, Saville Row Tailors, which her late husband had purchased in the 1940's. This business ceased trading in the late 1990's.

She lived for many years at 2 Belgrave Place, Belgravia, London, SW1 from about 1953 until at least 1965.

She married David Keith Seth-Smith  on the 29th February 1972 and after his death in 1976 she continued to live in London, at Flat 3, 70-72 Cadogan Square.

She died on the 6th January 2005 and a memorial service took place at St Anne's Church, Dean Street, Soho, on the 24th January 2005.

Her ashes were interred, partly in her first husband's grave located between the porch and the south aisle of St Swithun's church, Cheswardine, and partly at Cheswardine Hall, on the 31st March 2006.

In her probate record, dated the 11th April 2005, Dorothy left more than £1,600,000, a considerable sum bearing in mind the very poor circumstances in which she was born, her estate being divided between her daughter and granddaughter.

An application form for a visa to visit Brazil has recently come to light.

It is interesting to note here that the date of birth has been given as the 31st March 1918 (not 1915!) and that her mother's name has been given as Charlotte, when in fact it should be Mabel. Was this a mistake or was there a genuine attempt to deceive? She was living at 2 Belgrave Place, London at the time.

More information which is on hand will be added in due course.

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