Donald Stuart ORCHARD (1883-1962)

Donald Stuart Orchard (1883-1962) was the son of Cornelia Orchard who went with her daughters to live in Badsey in about 1905 and became friendly with the Sladden family.

Donald was born in Burma on 8th January 1883, the third of four children of Albert Francis Orchard, an Indian Army Officer, and his wife, Cornelia Caroline Mary.  He was baptized at St Matthew's, Moulmein, Burma, on 24th February 1883.

By 1891, the Orchards and two servants were living in Kensington, London, Albert’s father having retired from the Indian Army.  On leaving school, Donald joined the Gurkha Rifles.

Donald’s father died in 1902 in Kensington.  By 1905, Donald’s mother, Cornelia, had moved to Vine Lodge, High Street, Badsey, so Donald paid occasional visits to the village. 

On the outbreak of the Great War, Donald first fought overseas in November 1914.  Whilst on home leave, he married Dorothy Iris Wood at Southsea in 1915.  In a letter of 24th June 1917 from Mela Brown Constable to her fiancé, Cyril Sladden, who was in Mesopotamia, she indicates that she thought that both Donald and his brother, Albert, were also in Mesopotamia, guarding some oil wells.

After the war was over, a son, Anthony Welfitt, was born at Southsea in 1923.  Anthony died in India during the Second World War in 1944.  Dorothy died at Brixham in 1946.

Donald died in sad circumstances at Salisbury in 1962.  In the index of wills and administrations, it says:  “Donald Stuart Orchard of The Cottage, Antelope Square, Catherine Street, Salisbury, who was last seen alive on 16 March 1962 and whose dead body was found on 20 March 1962.”