Genealogy Chat

I have been following the story with interest and I have read all the posts... Brilliant piece of detective work.. Great Story.... Thankyou to all for making it such a pleasure to read and follow... Hopefully the Archives will make a story board out of the letter's and pictures for everyone to see.. Well Done Mo

THANK YOU!!!!!!! Althena, Carole, everyone, cant say much more as tears streaming down my face Julie

Hi All Am really shattered this morning after such a late night and then I couldn't sleep, going over and over the amazing conversation I had with Mr Boley. Such a gentleman... I forgot to add that he actually thanked me for taking the time and effort in trying to find him and then to call him - so that made it feel all the more worthwhile. It was quite strange, but I felt as though I was talking to a long lost member of my own family LOL. Yes, it does bring tears to your eyes - it certainly touched the hearts of many people. Yes, it was wonderful to know that at least part of the story has a happy ending - that he has obviously managed to make a good life for himself and his family, despite the traumas in his younger years. 'Heinz and Herta' - they are definitely two names I shall never forget! I think I will keep those pages from the newspaper amongst my treasured family files with a note about my conversation and the immense support from so many people on this website. Personally, I won't be pursuing with any further searches for possible missing relatives of Herta's - Heinz seemed to know the whole story and said they had 'all perished' and didn't know of any friends of Herta's apart from Cilla Ullman. For me, Heinz was the one person I felt compelled to find. I think maybe the letters and photos should now stay somewhere safe, somewhere they will not perish in years to come - and the archives seem a fitting enough place. It's not for us to decide though, so best leave it to the powers that be LOL. That's all from me...back to the ancestral stuff now LOL. Well done everyone!

Have been reading this with interest - I'm glad Heinz knew that Herta that passed on, would hate for him to have spent his whole live thinking he had said something that offended her. Also glad he married and had a family - so many others didn't (my great great aunt never married - I was always told, when she was alive, that she was still waiting for her sweetheart who didn't return from the war)

Athena, I think you are right - the story should end here. Well done once again everyone - no doubt one day there'll be another mystery to solve and everyone can work happily together again. Snowdrops

To everyone on here. Thanks for letting us be part of a great community. I am amazed at the help and interest that people have in finding information not just for Herta but for everyone who asks for help. This story has left a warm feeling in my heart. Thank you Julie

Great Ending and Brilliant Work. I suppose I'll have to get back to my Ag. Labs. and Coal Miners now........well at least all this has shortened the waiting time for my certs to come. Jean

Well done Athena.......I think you were SOoooo brave to make that call, but I knew you woudn't have offered to do it, if you had felt you might muck it up!!!! Merry

Will any one be sending the newspaper article to Heinz?

To Athena, Carol and everyone involved. I just want to echo all that has already been written. Well done to you all....!! Linda

Blubbing away here.... Its all been said now, you are all wonderful. Let us hope that Herta will now rest in peace. Olde Crone

Once again ad nauseum, I have to say, when are we going to form our own little commune of caring people - Im up for it and Glen's kennel is nearly completed. As long as we are all by the sea please.

Just wanted to echo what Merry said, well done for making that call Athena, knew you would make a good job of it though, from the 'chats' we have had I knew you would approach it in the right way.....well done you xx

Just wanted to thank you all for a great thread. So good it had a happy ending. We must never forget the evil that men can do, so reminders (even 60 years on), that each person is a special individual, need to be brought into our every day lives. This whole story illustrates that the good that strangers can do for each other is more powerful if we chose to make it so. Well done all, Karen.

Fabulous!! Well done all. Just a thought but perhaps it would be a good idea to send a follow up letter - that way you could include the original article and also give him the address of the Lambeth Archives in case he changes his mind. Victoria

Hi All just one wee thought maybe a letter to Heinz to follow up on the telephone conversation might be nice as I'm sure he would have only taken in so much info Once again smashing story well done Athena and Carol Norah

I see Victoria great minds think alike don't know how I missed your thread it was'nt there when I looked not copying you lol Norah

Just thought you all might like to know that having spoken to the reporter from SLP today several times he is definitely doing a third follow-up story on this for Tuesday. I gave him as much info as I could and just now he rang Mr Boley for himself. I suppose to let him know it wasn't just a crank caller haha! Anyway, he said more or less the same as me, that he's a very nice man, just very surprised at the fact he's been written about in the newspaper, but fine about it all the same. The SLP will be sending him copies of all the articles so that he can get a better understanding of everything and why so many people showed such an interest in finding him. Apparently, Henry came over to England in 1944. He must have visited where Herta had lived because he said the house had been demolished by a bomb. So, if that's the case someone must have taken the suitcase to another house. Maybe Cilla if she moved? Well, that's all for the update for now. Will keep you all posted. There is a small bit in today's issue, apparently. I will buy it on my way home and if Carol hasn't updated you all on it by then, I'll give you the low-down. Speak to you all later x

Athena and Carol, I think you are both stars, and what you have done (and everyone else) has made an Old man very happy today, I am sure........just one last thought, but wasn't Cilly Ullman a relative of Herta, she might have been a close one, if Herta was send to stay with her, mightn't she?.....do you think its worth checking this out, and maybe seeing if there are any relations alive living in England?????..........so...... the case can go home.....or is it best to leave things as they are........any thoughts?????......Lilly

Just got in from work and had to come straight on here to read what happened next .... Well done Carole and Athena! As I said last night, I've never even been on this board before. You are all such a lovely, helpful, caring bunch - like on the General Topics board. Won't say any more because it's all been said apart from, 'All's well that ends well.' Hop you have a good sleep tonight and enjoy your weekend! Cheers! Margaret