AFR-CONGO-L Archives

From: manaia alofa <>
Subject: [CONGO] Lily or Lilian Mabel WESTON
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2007 20:07:08 -0700 (PDT)

"Sue Rowe" <> wrote:

Hello

My English grandmother (now deceased) ran away to the
Belgian Congo from England, probably 1910 -1915. She
would have been 15 - 20 yrs old.

She went with a much older man - name unknown - who
was apparently involved in a rubber plantation. (The
family story says he was a Manager or Owner, but this
is not known.)

After a few years the man died, and grandmother
attempted to return to England. However it was now
wartime, (so after 1914) and the ship she boarded was
fired upon. I believe that although the ship was badly
damaged most aboard escaped safely. I believe the ship
was close to land.

It is thought that grandmother was then interned in
Portugal until the war was over.

I have no further information. I once saw a newspaper
cutting showing a photo of the ship on fire, but don't
know the ship's name or any dates. (I personally think
it possible that the fire was simply an accident. I
cannot recall what the newspaper article said. It was
an English newspaper.)

Grandmother never talked about her time in the Congo
except to insist that she was the only - or the first
- 'white woman' to live wherever it was that she
lived.

If anyone can inspire me as to how to research
further, please help. I would like to verify the
story.

Grandmother's name was Lily or Lilian Mabel WESTON.
(Unfortunately I don't know the man's surname, which
she probably used instead of her own.)

Can anyone help?

Sue Rowe - Darwin, Australia

+++++++

Re-post.

Regards,
--Manaia
[List-Admin]




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This thread:

• [CONGO] Lily or Lilian Mabel WESTON by manaia alofa <>