BRITISH GIRL BEGUM

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4633, 8 December 1934, Page 6

BRITISH GIRL BEGUM

WIDOW OF INDIAN RULER. POSSIBLE HEIRESS TO ESTATES. A 25-year-old Devonshire girl be heiress to vast estates in Hyderabad, India. She is the Begum Syed Saadat Ali Khan, whose young husband. the Nawab Syed Saadat Ali Khan, died recently from pneunomia following peritonitis.

The heiress was Miss Gwendoline Reed, daughter of a Torquay farmer. She married the Nawab little moie than a year ago. Recently her five-months-old baby son was to have started with his nurse for India, the Nawab and his wife having planned to follow overland in a week or so.

The young widow waited outside the Mohammedan mosque at Woking,

where the funeral service was being held for her husband. No women are allowed to enter a mosque. Now she will sail for India shortly to visit the State where her husband was to have been ruler. The Begum will not know what part of her husband’s vast property she inherits until she visits Hyderabad, where she will meet her mother-in-law. Her one-time nurse, who has lived with her since babyhood, related the story of her charge’s romance and its tragic ending.

“They were live lovers in a fairy tale. I do not think she ever thought about his world possessions at all,” she said. “When they were married no one realised that he was like a prince in his own country.

“At present her grief has simply stun'ned her. I think she found it tragic not to be able to see the burial service. They were never apart, and throughout Torquay and Paignton were known as an ideally happy couple.

“In fact, I think everyone used to be pleased to see their red and green sports car, by which they were knowm. The baby is the sweetest little fellow, very like his father, with the same melting brown eyes. He is called ‘Johnny’ in England although his real name is Jamb as. He will go with his mother to India. “I do not think the widow will live in India now, but will stay on a long visit. The Newab was known here as “Mr. Khan,” a'nd his friends called him ‘Ali.’”