Maurice Reginald Lee-Thomas: Personal History

Maurice had started his personal history by tape recording.  The recordings were left along with the Family History that was saved and passed on to his children.  The recording was made in 1979, he died in 1983, and the tapes were transcribed in 2006.  It was 23 years from the time of his death until this recording was transcribed.  It was quite an experience for me to transcribe this tape and hear the voice which I hadn't heard in 23 years. It is amazing that these recordings were still in good condition after so many years.  Here is a link to the transcription. 

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10071252/LIFE%20HISTORY%20OF%20MARUICE%20REGINALD%20LEE.doc

Marriage of Maurice Reginald Lee-Thomas

Maurice Reginald Lee-Thomas married Florence Christensen on 30 June 1933.  They were married in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  They were married by Heber J. Grant who was President of the Church at that time.  Notice that Heber J. Grant's signature is on the marriage certificate and the marriage license.  In this link there is also a copy of a hand written invitation to their wedding reception.  It would be 99% sure that this was my mother's (Florence Christensen's) handwriting.  The place of the reception was at 529 Seventh Street.  This was the home of Florence and her parents.  It was also the place where Maurice and Florence lived after their marriage.  The link below will take you to this marriage information. 


http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10071252/Marriage%20Maurice%20Lee-Thomas.pdf

Henry Lee-Thomas: Complete Military Record

The complete military record of Henry Lee-Thomas can be viewed at the Australia National Archive website:
http://www.naa.gov.au/.  Here are the steps:

naa.gov.au > name search > record search > basic search > Henry Lee Thomas > from 1913 - 1918 > view digital copy.  I just did this a few minutes ago and there are 114 pages.  It seems that there are many duplicates. I did not go through all of the pages, but will when there is more time.

The Australia relative (M. Field) from my previous post reminded me of this.  Thanks!!

Interesting Things Happen

Last Sunday, my daughter-in-law received a Facebook post from a previous neighbor concerning a visit the neighbor was having with a Thredgold Australia relative.  Immediately, I heard about this post and started some detective work.  Within a short period of time, I had found out who was visiting who.  This detective work put me in touch with a relative I met two years ago, C.S. Thredgold, who knew exactly what was going on.  Via e-mail,   I told her about this Blog.    Now another relative from Australia  (who I didn't know about before, M Field) has reached me via this blog because of my communication with C.S.      What a small world the Internet has made.  This all happened within just a few days.  Interesting things do happen with Family History.

Maurice Reginald Lee-Thomas Sails to America

Maurice left for America on 26 April 1930.  He set sail by himself.  His other family membes had come a while before him.  He left many behind in Australia who he would never see again.  It's hard to imagine, but the call to America must have been over-riding of the desire to stay in Australia with the loved ones there.  "Courage" is the word I would use to describe this.  He was only 17 years old.  Here is the link to his Identification Check with the Matson Navigation Company to sail on the ship, "Sierra."

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10071252/Lee-Thomas%2C%20Maurice%20-%20Matson%20Navigation%20Company.pdf

Maurice Reginald Lee-Thomas

All of the pertinent information about Thomas Henry Lee that I have is now posted.

 So now let's turn our hearts to my father, Maurice Reginald Lee-Thomas (b. 6 May 1913).  He  was the only son born to Thomas Henry Lee (Henry Lee-Thomas) and Ruby Thredgold.  Ruby went on to have five other children by a second marriage. Therefore, he has five half brothers and sisters. Maurice was called, "Grandps Fluffy" by his eight grandchildren and how his great grandchildren also refer to him as such.  The nick name came about because Maurice often referred to his wife (Florence Christensen ) as "Fluffy."  "Grandma and Grandpa Fluffy" became their grandparent terms. 

Maurice was born near Melbourne, Australia; lived most of his childhood near Adelaide, and immigrated to America in 1930.  He became a citizen of the United States on 24 March 1937.  The link below will take you to a copy of his birth certificate and citizenship certificate.  There is also a copy of an article appearing in the newspaper, "Ogden Standard Examiner" announcing his citizenship. 
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10071252/Lee-Thomas%2C%20Maurice%20-%20Birth%20%26%20Naturalization%20Records.pdf

Thomas Henry Lee Photo

A real "treasure" is what I would say about this photo.  This is Thomas Henry Lee (known as Henry Lee-Thomas at the time of this photo) with his wife Ruby Ellen Thredgold.  The youngster in the middle of the picture is Maurice Reginald Lee-Thomas.  Maurice is my father and the only child of Henry.  A military uniform is on Henry so this could has been taken before he left with the Australian Army or possibly he was home on a leave.    A framed copy of this is in my office where I see it each time I go there.  I'm not sure if my copy is the original, but it is in the frame that I inherited from Maurice.