War Years
Doreen’s first marriage was to Joanis Vlachopoulos, a thirty-two-year-old able Seaman serving with the Merchant Navy. The marriage took place in South Wales on 31/1/1941 where the couple were living at the time; Doreen in Barry and Joanis in Cardiff. An interesting fact is that the nineteen-year-old Doreen is named as Rachael Dominy on the marriage certificate, information kindly supplied by long-standing friend of Doreen’s, Patricia Crowther. It also appears that Joanis was unable to sign his name (illiteracy was not all that uncommon during the war)
Tragically, less than six months later, Joanis went missing, presumed dead. We are not sure how Doreen coped with this huge loss but she was not alone – there were families losing loved-ones every day during World War II. However we do know that, as the War progressed, Doreen continued to work as a secretary in Wales.
On 29/5/1944 Doreen wed Casimiro Valiente – the name which would stay with her for the rest of her life. They were married at St Pancras Registry Office, and now Doreen’s name and nationality were amended by virtue of marriage. She was now a Spanish national.
You can view Doreen’s Certificate of Registration (Aliens Order 1920) and view pages from the Passport
