Fifth Generation  

24. Mary Gudrun Galeka Equatoria RAFFLE [43254] was born on 03 Jan 1902 on board the "Galeka" on the Equator and died after 1973 in Plettenberg Bay Western Cape South Africa.

General Notes: In a File of Information sent by Chloris Mary [Dees] Peck in December, 2010, the following was included:
Information from U.K. Incoming Passenger Lists 1878-1960 about Mary Tainton BT26/1133/53:

Name: Mary TAINTON Age:35
Port of Departure:Durban, South Africa
Arrival Date:5 April 1937
Port of Arrival:Southampton, England
Ports of VoyageDurban, East London, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town
Ship Name:Dunottar Castle
Shipping Line:Union Castle Mail Steamship Co. Ltd. Official Number: 164637
Proposed Address in England: 72 Addison Gardens, London, England

She lived in Plettenburg Bay, Cape Province, Republic of South Africa in Nov 1973. She is reference number 1596. In some records her maidename is given as Godwin as well as Raffles. I will wait and see if I get proof of which is in fact correct.

In the family she was known as Aunt Equie or Aunt Leeka - she answered to both! These names were taken from her strange middle names which arose from the fact she was born aboard a ship the 'Galeka' at the Equator on her family's emigration to South Africa. Aunt Equie always said it sailed under the Greek flag.
24 August 2004 an e-mail received from Nigel Killeen advised me that according to a booklet in his possession that the 'Galeka' was in fact built in Belfast. She was the sister ship to the 'Gaika' on which one of his relations sailed.

At the time of my grandmother Chloris Ilva Hope Lockington Tainton Browne's death in November 1973 Equie was living in Plettenberg Bay.
Her letter of condolence to the family at the time of Clo's Death reads:
Dear Q, Jess, Sheila and Bob,
You can imagine how sad we were at the news of our beloved Clo's passing on. Our deepest sympathy goes out to you children, you will all miss her. She was a very wonderful person, and to me personally was quite one of the kindest souls I have ever met. From the age of eighteen she was a shining light in my life and never did she ever fail me. I was kindly blessed with a sister-in-law so kind and so outstandingly helpful. Bless her dear heart - may she rest in the peace and happiness she deserves.
Love to all and bless you all, Lovingly Equie
Ralphie dear, thank you so much for ringing us - we did appreciate your kind thoughtfulness. Please excuse the writing and spelling - am hopeless these days.
We are both well, although feeling just a little older. Love to you all.
Hope all goes well with everybody. Equie

Mary married Chesterfield DeLacey Grey TAINTON [43171] [MRIN: 15578], son of Richard Allen Knolden TAINTON [42996] and Amy May Rachel LLOYD [42997]. Chesterfield was born on 18 Jan 1901 in Eastern Cape South Africa and died on 22 Oct 1976 in Bedfordview Transvaal South Africa at age 75.

Children from this marriage were:

+ 25 M    i. John TAINTON [43255] was born on 19 Sep 1928 and died in 2001 at age 73.

+ 26 M    ii. Christopher Robin TAINTON

+ 27 M    iii. David Grey TAINTON