Dorothy Louise Ivall (1917-44)

Dorothy Louise Ivall was the youngest of the five children of Henry Thomas and Edith Augusta Ivall. She was born on March 25, 1917 in Kingston, Surrey. Dorothy is descended from David Ivall (1795-1850), who was a brother of my ancestor Thomas Ivall (1781-1835).

The 1921 census shows Henry (aged 46, a newsagent and confectioner) and Edith (39) with their children Marjorie (14, assisting father), Patricia (13), Percy (8) and Dorothy Ivall (4) living in 7 rooms at 172 Falcon Road, which was a shop near Clapham Junction train station.

Henry and his family moved to 87 Gatton Rd, Wandsworth in 1926. Electoral registers show them there until 1938. Henry, his wife Edith and their children Marjorie, Henry, Percy and Dorothy were listed at the address that year.

Henry moved to 426 Southcroft Road, Streatham in 1938. The 1939 Register gives the occupants of this address as Henry (a night porter at offices), his wife Edith and their children Marjorie (under her married surname of Gardiner, a hire purchase clerk), Henry (a fitter's mate, electrical), Percy (a cashier clerk typist for a timber company) and Dorothy (a hire purchase clerk).

Dorothy died on February 9, 1944 at Queen Mary Hospital. Her death certificate says that she was a spinster, living at 426 Southcroft Road, a refrigerator maker’s secretary, daughter of Henry Thomas Ivall who was an office caretaker. The cause of death was “nephrectomy for hydronephrosis.” Nephrectomy is a surgical procedure to remove all or part of a kidney. Hydronephrosis is a condition where one or both kidneys become stretched and swollen as the result of a build-up of urine inside them. It can affect people of any age. Perhaps Dorothy would have survived with current medical treatment ?

The February 28, 1944 Streatham News contained the following item

FUNERAL OF MISS IVALL

Floral Tributes from Home Guard

THE passing of Miss Dorothy Louise Ivall (aged 26), youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ivall, Southcroft Road, Streatham, came as a severe blow, not only to her parents and family, but to members of the 31st Battalion Streatham Home Guard with which she had been associated since its inception. She will also be sadly missed at the Electrolux Service Department, Clapham, where she was secretary.

The Home Guard was strongly represented at the funeral at Streatham Cemetery, Garratt Lane, last week, and among the large number of floral tributes were wreaths from the 31st Battalion, the Women's Auxiliary (31st Battalion), the officers, N.C.O.s, men and women's auxiliary of A Company of the Streatham and Battersea Battalion. Wreaths were also sent by M. and Mrs. Ivall (parents) and Molly, Roger, Alice and Percy; Mr. and Mrs. Marks and Christopher; Mrs. W. Smith (aunt); Mrs. Apps (aunt) and family; Mr. and Mrs. P. Ivall (aunt and uncle) and family; Mr. and Mrs. F. Champ (aunt and uncle); Mr. K. Ivall (nephew); Messrs. Sanson and S. Sherlock (Electrolux Service Dept.); the Electrolux Directors of Luton; a Director of Cubitt Town Timber, Ltd.; Sgt. Harry Burge, R.S.N.S.; Mr, and Mrs, Stratt; Cecila and Jim; Cecilia (a colleague); Mr. and Mrs. Dempkin; Vera and Harrold; Mr. F. Simmons; and Mr and Mrs. Pinney and son. Owing to his illness in hospital, Mr. Ivall (father) was unable to attend, but the mother, although an invalid, was present.

(Mr. and Mrs. Marks and Christopher is Dorothy’s sister Patricia, her husband Harold Marks and their son Christopher. Mr. and Mrs. P. Ivall (aunt and uncle) is Dorothy’s father’s brother Percy and his wife Alice.  Mr. K. Ivall (nephew) is Kenneth Alexander Ivall, son of Dorothy’s sister Marjorie).

Dorothy was buried in Streatham Cemetery in grave number 1168, class G, block 12. Dorothy’s mother Edith, died in March 1944 aged 62 and was buried in the same grave. Administration of Dorothy’s estate (£533) was granted to her father Henry.

Henry died in 1956 aged 82. He was buried on 17 October 1956 in the same plot as his wife and his daughter Dorothy. The grave is grassed over and has no stonework on it.