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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: lilun on Saturday 26 May 12 10:27 BST (UK)

Title: Nellie Grace SMITH
Post by: lilun on Saturday 26 May 12 10:27 BST (UK)
Hi, I'm hoping you can help find any further information on my Great Aunt Nellie Grace Smith born 1897 Croydon Surrey England, parents William Smith and Mary Jane Haddow.
She emigrated to Australia sometime between 1917 - 1925.
She was an army nurse in Boulogne 1917 and I have a photos of her on a beach somewhere in Australia in 1925 and another with her partner, Peter, in 1938. All information we have about him is his first name and that he may of been italian.
I also have a postcard of St John's C of E Cathedral which she states she attended every Sunday from her address: 207, Wharf St, Brisbane, Queensland.
According to what we know she died 18th August 1940. I have located a possible death record for a Helen Grace Smith 1940 and two possible electoral rolls for 1934 but I have been unable to find anything else.
Any help would be appreciated.
Regards
Deb
Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: ~MERLIN~ on Saturday 26 May 12 10:55 BST (UK)
Removed in error  :)
Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: lilun on Saturday 26 May 12 10:56 BST (UK)
Father William Smith - Mother Mary Jane Haddow
Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: ennael on Saturday 26 May 12 11:08 BST (UK)
There is this registration in NSW, a long way from Brisbane.

12072/1940 
SMITH  Helen  Grace
2O YRS Griffith   
Registered at Griffith.

Leanne
Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: lilun on Saturday 26 May 12 11:17 BST (UK)
Hi Leanne,
Does the '20yrs' apply to age? If so it isn't her I'm afraid, she was born in 1897 making her 43/44 when she died
Thanks anyway
Deb
Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: Aussie1947 on Saturday 26 May 12 11:22 BST (UK)

Hi,

207 Wharf st Brisbane was 'Greenmount' boarding house during that era.

Interesting that there was a Nellie Brown, dressmaker residing there in 1922 and 1934, but cant see a Nellie Grace Smith at Greenmount in the 1922 & 1934 electoral rolls.

Regards
Gerry

Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: ennael on Saturday 26 May 12 11:34 BST (UK)
The 20 years could be an indication of age, it may be an indication of how long this Nellie had been in the country, if she was a migrant, it certainly indicates that whomever  registered this death did not know the  family details for this lady.
Someone will be along to explain it better I am sure.
I can see no corresponding death registration in QLD for 1940.
Leanne

Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: ~MERLIN~ on Saturday 26 May 12 11:41 BST (UK)
In 1920 there was an ex WWI soldier from Brisbane applying for his fiancee's passage to Australia:

Ex No 13402 Dvr Robert Harold Jones ACMT - Passage for fiancee Miss Grace Nellie Smith.

http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/using/search/

His service record is online:

http://mappingouranzacs.naa.gov.au/details-permalink.aspx?barcode_no=1821883




Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: lilun on Saturday 26 May 12 15:11 BST (UK)
Thanks to you all for your interesting replies.

Gerry - she could possibly have been boarding there but under her partners name maybe?

Leanne - I don't know if her partner Peter would have known her parents names, he knew her sisters, Edith and Dorothy, as I have the letter he wrote them in July 1942. He mentions she died 18th August and we figured slow mail being wartime she died 1940, so it possibly could be 1940/41.

Merlin - The passage could possibly be her but I'm struggling to find the relationship between the soldier and her, as far as we know she never married
Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: ~MERLIN~ on Saturday 26 May 12 15:31 BST (UK)
The application for passage is highly likely to be hers but without seeing a copy of the file we don't know if it was granted or not & she could have come at her own expense. Passages were granted for overseas wartime wives but she was not one.

Robert Harold JONES married another lady 1925 in Brisbane QLD anyway, so perhaps she arrived too late or they called off their engagement at sometime.




Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: jorose on Saturday 26 May 12 15:43 BST (UK)
A search on "207 Wharf Street" on Trove (http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/ ) shows that Grace Valos, the wife of Peter Valos, of that address, died in August 1940.  On Queensland BMD her death is indexed with father noted as "Smith".
Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: ~MERLIN~ on Saturday 26 May 12 15:56 BST (UK)
Death:

VALOS Grace d. 18/08/1940 Brisbane #B49022
Father's Name: SMITH   
Mother's Name: -
Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: ~MERLIN~ on Saturday 26 May 12 16:02 BST (UK)
Burial:

VALOS Grace age 40yrs   
Burial: 19/08/1940    
Lutwyche Cemetery
Cnr Lutwyche and Kitchener Rds, Kedron, QLD
Part: Monumental    
Portion: GP4    
Section: 37    
Grave: 25

Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: ~MERLIN~ on Saturday 26 May 12 16:05 BST (UK)
Obit:

VALOS Grace
, 207 Wharf Street, City— The Relatives and Friends of Mr. P. Valos, Wharf Street, City, and Mr. J. Valos, are respectfully lnformed that the remains of their dearly loved Wife, and Sister-in-law, Grace Valos, will be Interred in Lutwyche Cemetery.
The cortege Is appointed to leave the Parlour, 400 Wickham Street, Valley, This (Monday) Afternoon, at 2.30 o'clock, arriving Cemetery, 2.55. Arrangements by GUARDIAN FUNERAL SERVICES— B3090, B4773.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/40929053
Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: ~MERLIN~ on Saturday 26 May 12 16:12 BST (UK)
BEREAVEMENT NOTICES - Return Thanks:

MR. PETER VALOS, of 207 Wharf Street, Brisbane, wishes to THANK all kind Relatives and friends for their floral tributes and expressions of sympathy shown in his recent sad bereavement. Please accept this as my personal thanks.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/40929745
Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: lilun on Saturday 26 May 12 16:13 BST (UK)
 :o :o :o :o

Oh my goodness!!! I think I'm going to have to read and re-read this several times!! You've found her! and found soooo much about her too...and him!!! Unbelievable! I am truly gobsmacked!!
She has been the only sibling we have not been able to trace anything about. My Mum, her niece, will be absolutely thrilled   :)
Cannot thank you enough - many many thanks!
Regards
Deb
Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: Aussie1947 on Sunday 27 May 12 00:00 BST (UK)
Deb,

I could take a photo of the grave site if you want it.

Regards
Gerry
Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: Aussie1947 on Sunday 27 May 12 00:43 BST (UK)

Hi,

A possibility.

1931 NSW Sands Directory has a P. Valos, fruiterer and G. Valos, Fish Shop, both in Casino.

Gerry
Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: sue21757 on Sunday 27 May 12 02:11 BST (UK)
It seems the surname was Vlahos there a few mentions of PEter and his brother James on trove
Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: ~MERLIN~ on Sunday 27 May 12 02:56 BST (UK)
The surname is Greek & mostly appears as VLAHOS or VALOS in AUS.

The original spelling in Greece was know to be VLACHOS.

I know many by the name in VIC & most the families are descended from shepherds & farmers in the hills of Greece  :)
Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: Dundee on Sunday 27 May 12 03:16 BST (UK)
1936/1937  Electoral Roll

Peter VALOS, Greek Club, Charlotte Street, Cook
Grace VALOS, 207 Wharf Street, Brisbane, Home Duties

1943
Peter VALOS, Greek Club, Charlotte Street, Cook

Wharf Street has changed a bit since the 1930's  ;D  The Hellenic (Greek) Club was at 46 Charlotte Street and is now a Police station.

Debra  :)
Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: lilun on Sunday 27 May 12 09:44 BST (UK)
Many thanks again for all your replies.

Gerry - a photo would be greatly appreciated  :)

sue21757 - interesting reading

Merlin - the name spelling brings up more information which I'll have to look into.

Debra - thank you for electoral rolls they tie alot together

I spoke with Mum last night. She told me they definitely were married, (I didn't know!) as to when is still a mystery :-\
Mum was unsure as to why Nellie Grace emigrated, possibly sense of adventure after serving in France, but also possibly ties in with the passenger list Merlin found - will be looking into it further as they both appeared to serve in France the same year

Many thanks to you all
Regards
Deb
Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: Aussie1947 on Sunday 27 May 12 10:46 BST (UK)
1939 Electoral Roll
Grace Valos, 207 Wharf St, Brisbane, home duties.
Peter Valos, Greek Club Charlotte St, Brisbane, Cook.

1943
Peter Vlahos, Corones Hotel, Charleville, chef.

1949
Peter Vlahos, High St Boonah, Cafe Proprietor.

Gerry
Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: ~MERLIN~ on Sunday 27 May 12 11:27 BST (UK)
Possibly James VLAHOS - (Demetrius VLAHOS) applying for Naturalisation in 1948:

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/49636661
Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: ~MERLIN~ on Sunday 27 May 12 11:56 BST (UK)
Site well worth reading & investigating further.

VOLOS/VALOS Bros - Peter VLAHOS of the village of Exanthia on Lefkadia in the Ionian Islands:

http://freepages.misc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~aliens/chapter_10.htm#Casino%20%E2%80%93%201920s/30s

Title: Re: Nellie Grace Smith
Post by: ~MERLIN~ on Sunday 27 May 12 12:10 BST (UK)
Naturalisation for a VLAHOS P at NAA:

http://naa.gov.au/collection/using/search/
Title: Re: Nellie Grace SMITH
Post by: lilun on Monday 28 May 12 11:12 BST (UK)
All interesting + well worth reading
Thanks to you all
Regards
Deb
Title: Re: Nellie Grace SMITH
Post by: Aussie1947 on Wednesday 30 May 12 07:12 BST (UK)
Deb,

I have visited the Lutwyche Cemetery and located Grave 25, Row 37 in GP 4 but unfortunately there is no inscription for Grace, in fact there is nothing at all, just a plot.

Either side have MIs for burials in August 1940 but there is nothing for Grace.

Gerry

Title: Re: Nellie Grace SMITH
Post by: lilun on Wednesday 30 May 12 08:47 BST (UK)
Hi,
I had a feeling there wouldn't be.
Thank you muchly for taking the time to go Gerry
I have been unable to find any record of their marriage either, any help with this would be appreciated, no worries if not
Regards
Deb
Title: Re: Nellie Grace SMITH
Post by: kennett on Wednesday 30 May 12 14:51 BST (UK)
The name Vlahos actually suggests that at some point in the nearer or more distant past,  his ancestry was ethnic Romanian rather than ethnic Greek.