As I continue to delve into the family history, I will be posting updates through the Life Story option. Here is what I have – so far – for Stanley Victor Barlow, my maternal great-grandfather.
Stanley Victor Barlow was born on August 27, 1893, in North Brighton, Victoria, Australia. His father, Thomas, was 44 and his mother, Elizabeth, was 36. He married Olive Martha Veale on November 15, 1915, in Camberwell, Victoria, Australia. They married because Olive had fallen pregnant with their son, David John Barlow. Stanley deserted his wife, Olive, and their son, David some time after 1916 (at best account shortly after his birth). It took Olive about three years to petition for divorce based on abandonment in 1919.
When Stanley left Olive, he appeared to have changed his name to David Stanley STEELE. There is an unconfirmed report that he may have tried to “go missing” after enrolling in the war effort, however, the more likely story is that he returned to be with his true love, Mabel Alsford, whom he supposedly married in 1917 (while still married to Olive). David and Mabel had eleven children.
He died on August 11, 1948, in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, at the age of 54, and was buried in Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia.