Genealogy Chat

Athena - On behalf of hundreds of people who have been reading this thread, thank you! It took a lot of courage to make that call and I'm so glad that it all worked out so successfully. Congratulations! Tim

What a wonderful ending to the story! Congratulations to all involved! You're a great bunch! Margaret

Couldn't sleep and so came to see if anything had happened. That is so good I am so glad he was happy to hear about her letters and that it all has a good outcome and nothing was a shock to him. Well done everyone. Love a happy ending Germaine x

great end to an amazing story - well done!!

I've been ducking back to computer every five minutes for an update. It's easy in Aus because it's morning. Now I'm in tears, all happy though. Thanks for letting us know.

Sorry for the lateness with this guys but I didn't get home till about 12.15, then I rang that number and the woman who answered said could I call back as she was on the other phone LOL. I rang back half hour later and asked for Karen or Howard - both of them were out - so she asked if she could help...she was very pleasant and I explained briefly the things I said I would and before I could go much further she excitedly said 'You MUST speak to my husband - he was HEINZ but is now called Henry!!' I asked her if she was sure I should speak to him and she insisted saying he would be very interested... So - I had a lovely chat with Henry, as he is now called. Yes, it definitely was him - he spoke Herta's surname before I could tell him! He asked me lots of questions about the newspaper article and said how amazing it all was - especially as I managed to find him from living in London. (I explained I didn't do very much, really, just looked on the US White Pages directory). I told him that I belonged to a website called Genes Reunited and that many members had read the newspaper article and found it fascinating and had been very busy trying to trace any living relatives or friends of Herta to let them know about the suitcase that had been found with the letters and photos. I didn't mention anything about her death. Then he told me 'Herta was killed in the war you know.' So, that was a relief to know that he was aware of the tragedy. He even remembered the name of the woman she was living with. He said as far as he is aware, she had no remaining family after the war. They all perished, he said. Anyway, I gave him details of where the suitcase is being stored and he wrote it down but he said that he thinks he will leave the papers in the good hands of these people and he is happy with that (he was quite amazed they had survived so long). He thanked me several times for my call and I said what a pleasure it was speaking to him and that I would now let all the other researchers on Genes Reunited know the outcome. He was extremely pleasant to speak to and I feel happy that I called him. Carol - if you are going to be in touch with SLP or LA you might want to let them know of this outcome as they might want to add a note in their follow-up that Heinz has been notified of the suitcase find but is happy to let his letters remain at the Lambeth Archives. Also, Carol, it might be a good idea to remove his phone number from this thread - would hate for him to be bothered by more phone calls, especially as it's come to a conclusion now and he was such a lovely man I would hate for him to be pestered by crank calls. So, that's about it - I am going to bed now - it's been a long and exciting day. Catch you all on here tomorrow on the forums. I think maybe this thread is a little too long now (it took ages to load tonight) so if anyone wants to ask me anything feel free to PM me. Regards to all - Athena x ps - No self-glory here whatsoever, I might add (!) - just someone who has a genuine interest in helping others (which I do just about all day every day so it's nothing out of the ordinary) - and I didn't see the point of asking Lambeth Archives to do the calling when I am perfectly capable of doing it myself. It would have made no difference whatsoever who had called him - a stranger is a stranger, after all - and the name 'Lambeth Archives' would not have meant much to someone living in America (which it didn't until I explained who they were and what they did). Plus I was not calling as an individual. I told him I was calling ON BEHALF of many family researchers on Genes Reunited (LOL, although I had to explain what that was) and that my aim was merely to let him know about Lambeth Archives having the material if he was interested. Oh yes, if it was self-glory I was after, I would be using my real name on here instead of a silly nickname, LOL LOL!

I have seen this after reading about it on Gen topics and feel some effort should be made to contact the gentleman in question through his family as soon as possible. My mum used to tell me about her first fiance who died of tb during the war, and after she died I found a couple of photos of him - don't know if my dad knew she had them. He knew about him because Mum still had her first engagement ring which she was intending to give to me, but it had to be sold when I was small cos Mum and Dad didn't have a lot of money to spare and had no choice. Because my parents met and married within a couple of months, Mum had no engagement ring from Dad. I have lots of personal letters from various people who have passed through my life, and I like reading through them very occasionally. I plan to put them in a box with a note on explaining what they are and if my son, or any children he has in the future, chooses to read them after my death, he can - if not, they can just be burned. Many people have lives like jigsaw puzzles and their families only have some of the pieces so I think it would be nice for somebody to take possession of the letters and things, especially if someone from Herta's family could be traced via this gentleman. Good luck with the call, I can't wait to hear the outcome. Liz

Buggar buggar buggar 830 am here in China and have to go to work I have a few old letters from my grandfather to my grandmother the rest were lost. My Nans dead now but I know she would have liked them back. They give me insite to the past and their lives while he was away at war. They also help with furthering my search on my tree. If this guys family are interested in the same it will help them as well. Gypsyjoe

its 1.15am here now

Hello, I understand Patrick's feelings regarding the contacting of Heinz. Particularly as he has had such a similar situation with his father. I think ringing is the best option, whether it be by a GR member or other body. A phone call will ensure that a family member is home with him when he finds out. A letter may be openned when the others are at work etc. It is hard with an 86 year old. He may indeed be frail, near death and it may be too much for him. Or he may be a very active, alert and healthy person. My husband's Nana does more than I do, travels worldwide etc. That's why I think having family near him at the time will be good. A phone call has another benefit too. He is old and he may die soon. A few weeks may be too long. My mum keeps putting things off and has had 2 relatives die before she made contact as she took too long about it. If Heinz doesn't know what happened it may put him at ease to have solved the puzzle. He may also be happy to talk about Herta. After all it would be a bit hard to talk about one love to your next or your children. I'm in Australia and am not sure of the tiime difference. When is it midnight over there? It is 10am Toni

Guess we'll find out soon! sunset in the states is between 8 (LA) and 8:30 (NY) tonight so still a bit of time to go, it's only just 8pm

I have been following this story from the start and I do so hope this has a happy ending. Well done to all of you for putting in the time and the effort in locating what hopefully is Heinz Boley, I am trying to stay awake in case an update comes in, but I can stay awake no more. Going to bed with fingers crossed. Luv Michelle :-)

Hi Pippa, I dont know, i know when david baddiel did WDYTUA he tried ringing some relatives that were jewish and they didnt anwer their fones. will have to wait, and i cant!! shabbat starts on friday night until saturday night, just looked it up

I can't wait up any longer to find out more. If it is Shabbat I thought Jews were not allowed to do any work including switching on light switches so would that include not answering the phone? Assuming of course that they are practising Jews. Good Luck, Pippa

I echo what Sue has just said and will be popping back in the morning to see what has happened. Good Luck everyone Germaine x

All I can say is that I have been following this story with interest, I can see everybodies point of view, but i think contact is the only way to get this story forward. He might not be the right man, but if he is he has a right to know, and i am sure his children, the people who know him best, will be able to make the right decision. I wish you good luck with the phone call, and will be awaiting further posts on the outcome. Well Done everyone who has helped in the search, this is really amasing. Sue

What a facinating saga this is. Heard about it from the General Topics section, so had to come and read about it. Won't be able to stay up until a report about the phone call comes in, 'cos I'm on a different time scale too, but I will be looking in some time tomorrow. I don't know many of the 'key' people on here and you certainly don't know me, but you seem to have this carefully planned and I'm sure if he is the right man, no harm will be done. Good luck with whatever tactic you decide upon and I'll keep my fingers crossed that it's the right man. Margaret

Well, at a wild guess Patrick, 'May I speak to Karen or Howard Boley please?'

I see the well thought out plan is not to speak to him, but to speak to a family member. What are you going to say if he answers the phone ?

Points taken OC & Heather I would just hate to see anyone hurt because of peeps on here - it isn't our right to interfere in strangers lives however well meaning that interference is! Having said that, I wish you all the luck in the world and really hope it has a happy outcome and that Hertas belongings are finally with the people who they belong to. Debby