Impression sketch
for War Marriage Mishap -
by Jamie.
i
Sanderson versus Sanderson,
Had involve a Mr Graham in case
Of wronged marriage - the woman
At the centre had given her address;
Clarges Street, Mayfair in London.
The woman Vivian Hesse Graham,
Had made Acquaintance of Lieutenant
Edward Lloyd Sanderson - a young
Man of an upstanding Yorkshire family.
In June 1915 stationed at Thetford.
During home leave Edward Sanderson
Met Vivian, then quickly developing
Fondness for the young lady -
leading
Them to stay at a Norwich Hotel,
In name of Mrs and Mrs Sanderson.
The couple later stayed at Caterham,
In Kent - Edward believed her name
To be Lavender Vivian Souray -
within
A short time he asked her to marry
Him; but his parents quizzed her past.
ii
There followed a letter from his
Father asked Edward to end all
Relations with Sourly - yet Edward
Was too much in love to obey,
Or consider his parents wishes.
Vivian and Edward's Summer of
Love resulted in a letter to the father,
About the anonymous document
He had received - Lavender Souray
Told him of her utter innocence.
They mysteriously denied any ability
To authorise elements of their proof -
Lavender reiterated her surprise
Of their son, being so much in love
With her - advising he be given
time.
iii
Time for his affections to abate -
to state their closeness could not
Harm him and how he would surely
Be broken hearted to leave her so
Soon - she asked pardon of errors.
Lavender admitted how a marriage
With their son Lloydie, could not
Happen - giving her suitor a
surprise,
She admitted her marriage to a man
Hugh Graham, serving in Dardanelles.
Able Seaman Hugh Merton Graham,
Had been wounded, serving in Gallipoli,
Had been wounded, serving in Gallipoli,
29 August 1915 - yet it was not
until
20 September his next of kin became
Informed, seeing his name in papers.
By date of early September, Vivian
Told Edward an admiralty telegram
Stated her husband as dead - with
Belief Edward asked her to Norwich
Where they were to be married.
iV
In a condition of their marriage
Vivian would keep her own name -
So she signed register as Souray.
The day was 23 September, the
Lieutenant was 27 and Vivian 21.
In learning of the wedding
Edward's
Parents were dismayed, having looked
Into the brides past, thad discovered
She had lived under various names -
Leading a wandering manner of life.
All was not as it should seem -
Finally matters came to a head,
Before Mr Justice Bargrave Deane.
Edwards’s wife admitted to him
Her name; Yvonne Vivian Souray.
Her profession had been as actress
On a London stage - the hearing
Then heard how her first husband,
Had in fact recovered of wounds,
Back on duty by 4 October 1915.
Corroboration for the fact of Graham
Living, came from his sister and a
letter
From him, dated 17 January 1916 -
George Bostock of Royal Navy Record
Office, confirmed the man was alive.
V
Then Lieutenant Sanderson petitioned
For their marriage to be annulled,
As a result of facts - the plea of
Vivian
Sanderson being, she was induced
To go though their marriage
ceremony.
The officer's parents having learned
Of the wedding taking place, became
Distraught - when their son heard
The proof of their enquiries, Edward
Requested the nullity on 4 December.
Miss Souray first married Mr Graham,
20 January then 23 September 1915
Married Mr Sanderson, while her
first
Husband was still living - Mr
Justice
Pronounced decree nisi and nullity:
Both parties met in total
agreement.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1916. Girl's
Two Marriages - Singular Nullity Suit. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 12 March 1916. P.5.
Col.4-5. Available at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12183691/Daily-Telegraph-March-8-1916.html
[Accessed: 12 March 2016].
Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 12 March 2016).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone
#worldwaroneremembered #WW1HomeFront
