Our British Branch

 The British Branch of our Family!

It started with a wedding.  At least for me it did.

My uncle, a doctor, lived in Vienna but married a British girl.  Actually she was not a girl at all, but very much a LADY.  She was a fashion designer born in Paris and spoke French.  Her name even sounded grand.  "Anne Daw."  So British!  If you met her you would immediately know.   Peter and Anne were crazily in love.

Here is their wedding in Vienna, 1958.  That's me on the far right.  I'm 9.

Anne Daw and Peter Böhm, Vienna, October 3, 1958.

Children: Johanna, Kitty, Albert "Berti" Kordesch

I was born in Vienna but by 1958 my family had already emigrated to the USA and we were living in Lakewood, Ohio.  So we all flew back to Vienna for the big wedding.  It was my first airplane ride.

Pan American World Airways, Idlewild Airport circa 1958

Anne Daw and Peter Böhm had three boys, Nikolaus, Georg and Benny, who are probably reading this.  Peter passed away in 1969.  (See my previous Blog. )  More wedding photos are HERE.

Ten years after her husband Peter Böhm passed away in 1969, Anne married Hans Schmeiser.  They lived together in Sankt Stefan, Austria until Anne passed away in 2017.  Every year Anne sent us the BEST Christmas cards!  She made them herself.

Well, Anne's father Sydney Ernest Henry Daw, CMG, CBE, was a diplomat.  They moved around from Berlin to Paris, to London, to Vienna, and more.  That's why Anne Daw was born in Paris.

Career: Sydney Daw Worked with the Allied Control Commission in Berlin until 1933; was in France until 1938; and in Pinner, Middlesex, England until 1945. He worked with the English Embassy in Vienna from 1946-1958. He lived his last years in London. CMG and CBE (Commander of the Order of St. Michel and St. George and Commander of the British Empire).

Sydney Daw and Corrine "Daphne" Wahlstad at the wedding of their daughter Anne,
Ambassador's Residence, Vienna, 1958

Sydney Daw (Anne's father) was a diplomat at the British Embassy in Vienna.  Sydney's parents were both British, Mr. Ernest George Tertius Daw (1862-1934) and Kate Rivett (1863-1935).  They both lived to age 72‏, in England.

British Embassy in Vienna

Sydney's wife Corrine "Daphne" was Norwegian.  But she was born in Alameda, Oakland, California (1895).

Corrine's father was Per "Peter" Pedersen Valstad/Wahlstad, Born 1865 in Oslo, Norway. Died in 1945.  

Corrine's mother was Albertine "Bertha" Emilie Mørk, born 1865 in Halden, Norway and died Sep. 17 1955 (at age 89) in Tucson, Arizona (see below).   Bertha came to Seattle, Washington at age 15 as an au pair.  She travelled with her sister Martha and was followed there by her husband to be.  It is likely they were already engaged before they left Norway.  They married on August 21, 1888 in Seattle.  Interestingly, they were Plymouth Brethren.  This is a non-conformist evangelical Christian movement from Dublin.  

Here is a chart of Anne Daw's parents and grandparents from Myheritage.com.

Here is a timeline for Anne Daw's mother Daphne who was born in Alameda, Oakland, California.





Here is Anne's grandmother Bertha's death certificate, including her address 1115 East Helen St. Tucson, and cause of death.

1115 East Helen St, Tucson AZ [Google Maps]

Berth's daughter Corrine "Daphne" and Sydney Daw were married in Berlin (1925) and had four kids, Peter, Katherine "Karen," my aunt Anne Daw, and Christopher Daw.  Corrine (Daphne) worked in the American Embassy in Berlin, Germany.  In 1964 she moved to live with her daughter, Karen, in East Sussex, England.

Corrine's daughter Karen Simmons (born Daw) was a painter and author in London.  Her books are available on Amazon and her paintings are for sale Here.

Karen Simmons
Near London Circa 1970

Here are some of Karen Simmons' paintings.

Corrine's timeline continues below.   Corrine passed away in 1985 in Waldron, East Sussex, England.

Karen Daw married Stanley Simmons in Vienna, 1951.  Here is their wedding photo. (Thanks to Tim!)

Stanley Simmons and Karen Daw Wedding
Vienna, Austria, June 9, 1951

Stanley Simmons near London circa 1970

Karen and Stanley had 4 kids,  Rupert, Tim, Rosanne and Oliver.

Below is Stanley Simmons's timeline.   He was born in Uckfield, England.  He served in WWII and received the Military Cross.

 

With Rupert, Tim, Rosanne and Oliver our family tree continues to grow!

Rupert Simmons, UK,  July 24 2015

Tim Simmons July 4 2018 With Shirley Kelley Simmons
South Carolina

Rosanne and Chris Browne in Tuscany September 2018

Ollie Simmons
UK, 2018

Corrine and Sydney Daw's fourth child was Christopher Daw.  He lived in Northern Wales and worked as a TV technician.  In 1964 he married Patricia Rogers.  They had one child, Helen.  Christopher passed away in 2018 in Wales, UK.


Here is a map of Wales, UK, in case you need it.

If you want to share any family historical photos, please send them to me!

Al