Miss Muriel Muschamp, 1900-1924

Muriel Emma Lucy Muschamp was born March 21, 1900 in Geneva, Switzerland. Her father, Percy Allen Huntercombe Muschamp was an Englishman and her mother, Marie Marguerite was Swiss French. In 1907 the Muschamps moved to a small town near Zurich when her father took over as headmaster at the Institut de Stäfa.

In 1916 the Muschamp family relocated to England. Five years later Muriel secured a position as governess for the youngest daughter of the Comptons, a large upper-middle class family living at Pailton House. It did not take long for her to become an integral part of the household even producing many plays and recitals starring the entire Compton family.

On September 22, 1921 she became engaged to Dicky Hammerton a friend of her eldest brother George. They were engaged for three years before Muriel began to feel restless.

In May she met Cuthbert Boyd Bowman (nicknamed "Boodh" by Muriel) at a small dinner party. She said of the meeting in her diary:

"I am in rather a devilish mood -- I feel I want to start an intrigue with Bowman."

Boodh and Muriel begin dating even though she was still engaged to Dicky. After months of carrying on two full relationships, Muriel made a decision: if Boodh got the "Japan job" she would marry him.

"Since yesterday I feel that if Boodh really is going to Japan in about a month, I'll go with him and burn my boats. God knows whether I shall regret it -- I don't feel happiness can ever be built on other people's sorrows" [1924 diary].

When Boodh secured a teaching position at the Koto Gakko in Matsue, Japan, she broke off her engagement with Dicky.

"Oh fool, fool, unhappy fool that I am -- tears are surging in my eyes and my heart is heavy with sadness. How can I, How can I ever hope to be happy while through me Dicky has suffered -- suffered to see the body he loved best given to another, his love, his great astounding love scorned and counted as nothing..." [1924 diary].

On March 25, 1924 Muriel married Boodh in a small service at her family's parrish in Leicester. A few days later Mr. and Mrs. Boyd Bowman boarded a ship bound for Japan.

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