Robert Harry Darling

Darling Research

Robert Harry Darling, Circa 1932

“Harry” was born on 18 August 1907 and was the second of two children of Rufus Harry and Hannah [Anna] (McAlister) Darling.  It appears that Rufus and Anna separated shortly after Harry’s birth.  In any event, in 1910, Robert was living with his mother and sister, Elizabeth Grace Darling, at 2219 Ward Street, Pittsburgh, PA, with Robert & Emma Hennig and their three children.

Anna died in 1913 when Harry was only five years old, and his father was absent, so his grandmother, Margaret McAllister, took the two children in to raise them.  In August 1915, it was necessary for Margaret to return to Cumberland County, England, to settle a family estate issue. However, the family story is that Margaret was determined to see Rufus’ children civilized by an extended stay in her home country.  She and the two children traveled aboard the SS New York, which was an American Line ship. Transatlantic passage was very dangerous in those days; it was only three years after the Titanic’s ill-fated maiden voyage.  World War I had already begun in Europe, and German U-Boats were on the prowl. The sinking of the RMS Lusitania occurred three months before this journey so there was a great concern for their safety.  The three travelers remained in England for over a year, so Harry and Elizabeth attended school while there were there.  They returned safely to the States in December of 1916, intending to live in the Brookline neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

Any hopes Harry & Elizabeth may have had of reuniting with their father were dashed when, in June of 1917, their father, Rufus, died. Elizabeth’s (Betty’s) memories of her father were vague at best. He was away on “business” most of the time but remembered lots of presents when he returned.

In September 1938, Harry and Mae Reno were married by a minister by the name of Charles Smith. This union produced three children, *Girl 2, born in 1939; Robert Harry, born in 1940; and *Girl 3, born in 1941.  Family history says that sometime during this period, he fathered a child with a nightclub singer and had a child named “*Girl 4.”  No information has been discovered at this time.

It appears that Harry and Mae were divorced in 1942, so Harry became eligible for the draft. He enlisted in the Navy on 23 November 1943. He did not see combat, only serving at the Naval Hospital in San Diego.  He was discharged on 8 September 1944, before VE and VJ days.  It is understood that he was discharged due to a mental breakdown; however, his discharge papers indicated that his discharge was honorable and that he was eligible for reenlistment.  His physical description at discharge was 6’0″, 155lbs, Blue eyes, brown hair, ruddy complexion, and a birthmark on his upper left breast.