Vera May Schwabe (1896 – 1931)

Vera May Schwabe was born on 28 September 1896, the daughter of Louis Gustave Schwabe and Evelyn May.

She married: (1) Arthur Edward Francis Wood on 10 July 1923 at Holy Trinity Church, Sloane-street.

They were divorced in 1928.

She then married: (2) Captain Richard Granville Somerset on 18 January 1929.

Vera committed suicide on 16 July 1931 at 32 Rue Edith Cavell, Brussels, Belgium.

Richard Somerset was born on 15 August 1894 and he died on 20 May 1930.

Vera’s baptism recorded as 20th December 1896 at Weaste, Salford

Vera’s first husband, AEF Wood, was the superintendent of police in Malda, Bengal, India. She must have gone to India with her husband because, a family tale, has her ‘disappearing to the East’.

The Marriage Banns for Arthur Edward Francis Wood and Vera May Schwabe

She was supposed to have been a very gifted piano player and composed pieces of music for the piano, some of which are listed below:

  • Suite in four movements. For the pianoforte. Weekes & Co. (1915)
  • Two Little Sketches. i. The Cuckoo. ii. Church Chimes. For Pianoforte. Opus Music Co. (1914)
  • Two Short Pieces. i. Idyll. ii. An Indian Dance. For Pianoforte. Opus Music Co.(1913)
The Marriage of Arthur and Vera

Vera’s divorce from her first husband was reported in The Times on Saturday, May 26, 1928 .

The Daily Mail, 26th May, 1928

In The London Gazette: Capt. R. G. Somerset, M.C., retires, receiving a gratuity on 17th July 1926.

Richard Granville Somerset
Richard Granville Somerset Probate
Richard’s probate record
Vear Mays Schwabe Somerset probate
Vera’s probate record

The report of Vera’s death by Belgium authorities:

Vera Schwabe Death Report by Belgian Authorities

Some notes on the Wood family:

The Wood family on the 1891 census at the bottom of the page

The Wood family on the 1901 Census

Arthur Edward Francis Wood and family on the 1939 Registry
The First World War medals awarded to 2nd Lieutenant Arthur Edward Francis Wood of the 14th Lancers