Holocaust Memorial Day
27th January 2008
This marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.

GRONOW, Viktor
page 894/Fa. 18 Jul 1925 born Kiew Funduklewska 68 No.35584 Sch.R. ( literally, protected prisoner, but really simply prisoner. Sch is often followed by one or two letters, e.g. Sch. P. (Polish prisoner) or Sch. P.J. (Polish Jewish prisoner).
arrived. 02 Sep 1942 to. 25 Apr 1944 Natzw. zck. 11 Aug 1944 Natyw. liberated (at end of war). Dachau.
(Taken from Dachau Concentration Camp Records)

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all you researchers out there.

Another busy year ahead, hopefully going to tie up some major branches this year. At the end of last year the GRUNNOW family was finally slotted into place, after 10 years of research. To all of those that have been in contact over the past year good luck in your researches. To those people who contacted me just before Christmas, I did send replies, so please do get in contact again. Hopefully this year you might like to make more comments on the blog, just click the link. If you would like to advertise your research or post your interests do please get in touch, I'd be only to willing to put it on the Blog pages. If you can think of something you would like to see, let me know that as well.

Best wishes, and a peaceful New year to you all.

Parish records added to Database:

Aberdare Ebenezer, Nebo, Salem Llangyfelach, SS .David & Cyfelach
& Hen-dy-Cwrdd Llangyfelach, Mynyddbach Cong.
& Tabernacle - with members Llangynwyd, St. Cynwyd
Aberdare, St. Elvan Llanharan, SS. Julius & Aaron
Aberdare, St. Fagans Llanmadoc, St. Madoc
Aberdare Chapels Llanrhidian, SS.Rhidian & Illtyd
Aberkenfig, (Tondu), St. John Llantrisant, SS.Illtyd,Gwynno,Dyfodwg
Barry, St. Nicholas Llantwit Fardre, St. Illtyd
Barry. Porthkerry Road, Wesleyan Llantwit Major, St. Illtud
& Cadoxton Wesleyan Methodist Church Loughor, St .Michael
Bettws, St. David Newton Nottage, St. John
Bishopston, St.Teilo Nicholaston, St. Nicholas
Bridgend Tabernacle Independent & Penmaen, St. John Baptist
& Ruhamah Particular Baptist Nolton - Chapel of Ease to Coity
Cadoxton-j-Neath, St. Catwg Oxwich, St. Illtyd
Cardiff, All Saints Oystermouth, All Saints
Cardiff, St Andrews Pennard, St. Mary
Cheriton, St. Cadoc Penrice, St. Andrew
Coity, St. Mary Pentyrch, St .Catwg
Colwinston, St .Michael Peterston-super-Montem, St. Peter
Coychurch, St .Crallo / & Bethlehem Welsh Congl.
Glyncorrwg, St. John Pontypridd St Catherine
Glyntaff, St. Mary Porteynon, St. Cattwg
Ilston, St Illtyd Porthkerry, St .Curig
Llandyfodwg, St. Tyfodwg Rhossili St Mary the Virgin
Llangan, St. Canna Reynoldston, St. George
Llangennith, St. Cennydd St. Brides Major, St. Bridget
Llangeinor, St. Cein St. Brides Minor, St. Bride
Llangiwg, St. Ciwg St. Brides-super-Ely, St.Bride
& Pontardawe Chapel of Ease St. Lythans, St. Bleiddian
Llangyfelach, SS .David & Cyfelach
Llangyfelach, Mynyddbach Cong.
Llangynwyd, St. Cynwyd
Llanharan, SS. Julius & Aaron
Llanmadoc, St. Madoc
Llanrhidian, SS.Rhidian & Illtyd
Llantrisant, SS.Illtyd,Gwynno,Dyfodwg
Llantwit Fardre, St. Illtyd
Llantwit Major, St. Illtud
Loughor, St .Michael
Newton Nottage, St. John
Nicholaston, St. Nicholas
& Penmaen, St. John Baptist
Nolton - Chapel of Ease to Coity
Oxwich, St. Illtyd
Oystermouth, All Saints
Pennard, St. Mary
Penrice, St. Andrew
Pentyrch, St .Catwg
Peterston-super-Montem, St. Peter
& Bethlehem Welsh Congl.
Pontypridd St Catherine
Porteynon, St. Cattwg
Porthkerry, St .Curig
Rhossili St Mary the Virgin
Reynoldston, St. George
St. Brides Major, St. Bridget
St. Brides Minor, St. Bride
St. Brides-super-Ely, St.Bride
St. Lythans, St. Bleiddian
St. Mary Hill, St. Mary
Wenvoe, St. Mary
Ystradyfodwg, St. John Baptist

If I should die, think only this of me:

That there's some corner of a foreign field

that is for ever England. There shall be

In that rich earth a richer dust concealed.Rupert Brooke (1887 - 1915)

Arthur Gronow
1894 -10th July, 1916Private.(17053) 11th Battalion Cheshire Regiment.Loving son of William Gronow & Martha Davies & beloved Husband of Hettie Howells.
Remembrance at Thiepval Memorial, FRANCE.

Charles Gronow
1896 - 12th November, 1916Private.(14164) 5th Battalion South Wales Borderers.
Loving son of William Gronow & Ellen Draddy.
Remembrance at Pozieres British Cemetery. FRANCE.

Arthur Gronow
1886 - 8th February, 1916Gunner.(25795) 63rd Trench Mortar Battery. Royal Field Artillery.Loving son of Evan Gronow & Eliza Rose.
Remembrance at Bethune Town Cemetery. FRANCE.

William Edmund Gronow
1888 - 11th August, 1917
Rifleman. (5027) 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles. (Formerly, 11073 Lancers).Loving son of William Gronow & Rhoda Williams.
Remembrance at Ypres Memorial. BELGIUM.

Arthur Gronnow
1896 - 20th February, 1917Private. (48575) 12th Battalion The King's Liverpool Regiment.Loving son of Robert Gronnow & Sarah Jane Thompson.
Remembrance at Thiepval Memorial, FRANCE.

Sydney Reginald Gronow
1887 - 26th January, 1917Private.(STK/2207) 12th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).Loving son of Enoch Gronow & Alice Ann Bowen.
Remembrance at Loos Memorial. FRANCE.

Charles David Gronow
1893 - 18th April, 1918Temp.2nd Lieut. 55th Company Machine Gun Corps.
Loving son of Enoch Gronow & Alice Ann Bowen.
Remembrance at Lapugnoy Military Cemetery. FRANCE.

Bertram Evan Gronow
1896 - 28th May, 1917
Gunner.(810472) D. Battery. 110th Brigade. Royal Field Artillery.Loving son of Evan Gronow & Eliza Rose.
Remembrance at Westhof Farm Cemetery. BELGIUM.

Richard Stanley Gronow
1893 - 4th July, 1918
Lance Sergeant.(290054) 1st/7th Battalion Welsh Regiment.Loving son of William Gronow & Ellen Draddy & beloved Husband of Winifred Austin.
Remembrance at Bridgend Cemetery. South WALES.

Bert Gronow
1940, 28th May
Lance Corporal.(4072707) 8th Battalion King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster).Son of George William Greenow & Margaret Jones, Husband of Violet Harris
Remembrance at Adinkerke Military Cemetery, BELGIUM.

Kenneth Gronow
1916 - 28th November, 1943Sergeant. (S/159171) Royal Army Service Corps.Loving son of Benjamin Gronow & Ellen Thornton.
Remembrance at Heliopolis War Cemetery. EGYPT.

Kenneth Edward Gronow
1925 - 25th July, 1944
Sergeant. (1890169) (Air Gunner.) 622 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit.Loving son of William Gronow & Beatrice Pavey.
Remembrance at Essey, Les-Nancy Churchyard. FRANCE.

Below is information about a few unsung heroes, if you have any family members you wish to add please contact me.

Robert Gronow
1921 - 1993
RAF Servicing Commando
Loving son of Harold Russell Gronow & Rose Williams & Beloved husband of Edith Broadhurst.

The RAF Servicing Commandos have received scant recognition from those who write about the Second World War RAF history, and yet they made a vital contribution to keeping the front- line aircraft flying at key times and in several theatres of war. On the 22nd January 1942 Lord Louis Mountbatten of Burma, when he was Commodore Combined operations, recommended that a number of Servicing Commandos be created within the R.A.F. In due course 12 units were formed in the United Kingdom, together with a further 3 units in the Middle East Command. They comprised a total of some 2400 Officers, N.C.Os and other ranks, mostly volunteers, and all of them skilled tradesmen capable of working on all types of aircraft to keep them flying under all kinds of conditions. (Medals awarded: The 1939-1945 Star, The France & Germany Star, The Africa Star, The Italy Star, The Defence Medal & The War Medal.)

Edwin Gronow
1881-1940
Private. (6268) 2nd Battalion Welch Regiment
Loving son of William Gronow & Ellen Draddy & Beloved husband of Katie Bronwen Lloyd.

Edwin Gronow joined the Welch Regiment in 1900 in Bridgend. He was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal, with the following 3 State Clasps: Cape Colony: Awarded to troops serving in Cape Colony between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902. Orange Free State: Awarded to troops serving in Orange River Colony any time from 28 February 1900 to 21 May 1902. Transvaal: Awarded to those troops serving the Transvaal at any time between 24 May 1900 and 31 May 1902, who received no other clasp for action in the Transvaal. He was awarded the Kings South Africa Medal, with 2 bars; South Africa 1901: Awarded for service during 1901 towards the required service of 18 months; South Africa 1902: Awarded to those who served during 1902.
Edwin was part of the BEF, and he obtained the 1914 Star campaign medal - also commonly referred to as the Mons Star - was awarded by British authorities to those who served with either the British or Indian Expeditionary Force in France or Belgium between the outbreak of war in August 1914 and 22/23 November 1914. Most recipients of the 1914 Star - 378,000 were issued in total - comprised the so-called 'Old Contemptibles', i.e. members of the pre-war British Army;

Thomas David Gronow MC
1890 – 1977
2nd Lieutenant C. Company 2nd Battalion Border Regiment.
Loving son of Cornelius Gronow & Mary Jane Hughes Beloved husband of Violet Maud Reynolds

Thomas Gronow was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal – “For conspicuous gallantry on the 16th May 1915 at Festubert when he assisted to carry back several wounded men into safety under heavy fire and later when all the regular bomb throwers had been killed, he with great coolness and courage, used bombs to his best ability” London Gazette, 5th August 1915.
He was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry for his actions on the 20 January 1917 – “For conspicuous gallantry in action. He carried out a dangerous daylight reconnaissance of the enemy’s position under heavy fire, and brought back most valuable information” – London Gazette 3rd March 1917. He was awarded a Bar to his MC on the 27th February 1917 –“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in leading an attack against a village. Although his clothing was twice pierced by machine gun bullets, he himself drove back an enemy machine gun team which was holding up the advance”-London gazette 17th April 1917.

In Memoriam

Gaye Tara Gronow

30th September 1957
Trier, Bitburg. West Germany.
24th August 2007

Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

I corresponded many times over the last 7 years with Gaye, who had a passionate interest in her family history and although at the time she was going through a battle with Cancer, she was always very positive and uplifting in her spirit. Although the family originally came from Wales, then settled in Australia and then ultimately to Canada, Gaye was interested in all aspects of her family connections. She will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her. Gaye is survived by her daughter Amber.

New database added for Gronow's appearing in:

British Army WWI Pension Records 1914-1920
This database contains service records of non-commissioned officers and other ranks who were discharged from the Army and claimed disability pensions for service in WWI. These were also men who did not re-enlist in the Army prior to World War II.

These records contain a variety of forms, including:
Attestation forms - the form completed by the individual on enlistment
Medical history forms
Casualty forms
Disability statements
Regimental conduct sheets
Awards
Information available in these records includes:
Name of soldier
Age
Birthplace
Occupation
Marital status
Regimental number
Date of attestation
Physical description.

Information Sought:

Regarding the children of Irving Henry Gronow & his first wife Margaret Staples, between the years 1905-1912, any information treated in the strictest confidence as always.

Recently acquired certificates:

DEATHS
Christiana Gronow June Qtr. 1850 Ellesmere Vol.18 page 59.
John Grunner Dec. Qtr. 1884 Wrexham Vol.11b page 218.
Ann Gronor March Qtr. 1869 Wrexham Vol.11b page 255.
BIRTHS
Adam John Gronow June Qtr. 1894 Cardiff Vol.11a page 328.
Arthur Rees Gronow 1886. Williamstown, Victoria. Australia.
MARRIAGES
Thomas Grunner June Qtr. 1847 Ellesmere Vol.18 page 117.

WANTED

Information about a James Percy Gronow born about the 19th May 1904, Birth registered in the June Qtr. of 1904 Cardiff Vol.11a page 374. His wife is described as a Widow in 1952. What happened to James ? No death registration can be found! Any information treated in the strictest confidence.

from THE HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA , by Futhey and Cope (1881);

Lewis Gronow was one of the early and stanch collaborators of those Chester County patriots who assisted to put the ball in motion which resulted in the independence of these United States. He was one of the county committee which assumed the local government in December, 1774, under the auspices of the Continental Congress; and on March 20, 1775, that committee met at the house of Richard Cheyney, in East Caln. In 1774, Mr Gronow was elected a member of the General assembly for Chester County. He was also a sub-lieutenant of the county - one of the officers having charge of the military organization of the same. On June 17, 1777, an order was drawn in favor of Lewis Gronow, Esq, sub-lieutenant of Chester County, for $4,000, for the purpose of procuring substitutes, blankets, etc. And again, March 30, 1780, Col Robert Smith was appointed lieutenant and Co. Thomas Cheyney, Lewis Gronow, Andrew Boyd, Thomas Levis and Robert Wilson were appointed sub-lieutenants of the county. Lewis Gronow, it is believed, died soon after this, and his personal history , like that of many other good patriots of those days, seems to be nearly lost; but his memory remains in our archives as that of a faithful servant in his country's cause.

2007 commemorates the 200th anniversary of the 1807 Abolition of the Slave Trade Act. This Act outlawed the slave trade throughout the British Empire and made it illegal for British ships to be involved in the trade, marking the beginning of the end for the transatlantic traffic in human beings. In his will Lewis Gronow makes mention of a slave:

The Will of:
GRONOW, LEWIS. Tredyffrin.
November 3, 1782. December 2, 1782.To stepmother Isabella Gronow £70. To my relation William Gronow £60, and to his son Lewis £60, and to his son John "a lame man" £60. To my relation Isaac Davis £60. To Mary Cochran £60. To Jeremiah McVeigh £30. To Phillis, a mulatto wench now living with me, £30. Provides for sister Sarah during life, also all the right, etc. given me by my father's will to a certain tract of land on Cocalamus Creek, Cumberland Co., until her son John Gronow Bull is 21. To said nephew John G. Bull my plantation whereon I live in Tredyffrin, devised to me by my father containing 165 acres when he is 21. To my nieces Mary and Isabella Bull plantation purchased of James Davis in Tredyffrin including 32 acres of located land when 18. To William, son of Joshua Evans of Willistown, the lott in Philadelphia and liberty land belonging. Also Mr. Reeds map of city of Philadelphia and book belonging thereunto. To William Magor £30. Executors: John Beaton, David Davis of Tredyffrin. Wit: Jonathan Evans, William Potts, Samuel Smith.

The following slaves are on page 4 of the 1780 register:

Slaveholder Name: Gronow, Lewis
City or Township: Tredyffrin Township
County: Chester County
Occupation: Yeoman

Slave Name: York
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age: "aged thirty two years"
Slave Date of Birth: 1748 (calculated)
Slave Status: "A slave for life."
Slave Description: "Negro man"
Slave Notes: Registered as "A negro man named York aged thirty two years a slave for life."
Date of Record: (Registration) 1780;
Source: Slave Register, Chester County, November 1, 1780

Slave Name: Moses
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age: "aged twelve years"
Slave Date of Birth: 1768 (calculated)
Slave Status: "A slave for life."
Slave Description: "Negro boy"
Slave Notes: Registered as "A negro boy named Moses aged twelve years a slave for life."
Date of Record: (Registration) 1780;
Source: Slave Register, Chester County, November 1, 1780

Slave Name: Aaron
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age: "aged fourteen years"
Slave Date of Birth: 1768 (calculated)
Slave Status: "A slave for life."
Slave Description: "Negro boy"
Slave Notes: Registered as "A negro boy named Aaron aged fourteen years a slave for life."
Date of Record: (Registration) 1780;
Source: Slave Register, Chester County, November 1, 1780

Slave Name: Simon
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age: "aged ten years"
Slave Date of Birth: 1770 (calculated)
Slave Status: "A slave for life."
Slave Description: "Negro boy"
Slave Notes: Registered as "A negro boy named Simon aged ten years a slave for life."
Date of Record: (Registration) 1780;
Source: Slave Register, Chester County, November 1, 1780

Slave Name: Amos
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age: "aged three years"
Slave Date of Birth: 1777 (calculated)
Slave Status: "A slave for life."
Slave Description: "Negro boy"
Slave Notes: Registered as "A negro boy named Amos aged three years a slave for life."
Date of Record: (Registration) 1780; Source: Slave Register, Chester County, November 1, 1780 .

The following is an extract of a correspondence I had late last year with the well know Author Prof. Jukka Gronow, regarding the surname Gronow, which can be found in Eastern Europe. He very kindly allowed me to publish it here, for which I am most grateful.

“Even though I live in Sweden, I and my family come from Finland. In Finland there are several – about half a dozen families – Gronow’s which, however are all related to each other. I do not know of anyone else in Sweden or Norway.
Our family – from my father’s side – comes from Russia where they, in the 19th century, moved from Finland which was part of Russia then. All the remaining Gronow’s in Russia are our relatives. As far I know there are not that many left any more, the cousin of my father’s died a couple of weeks ago in Moscow at the age of 92 without leaving any children behind, but there might be some relatives left in the far east, Vladivostok region, I’ve heard. We have however, had no contacts with them, after their father, my father’s uncle, died in the 1960’s. As so many Russian families, ours drifted apart after the Revolution.
As far as I know the name of my family was originally Gronovius and can be dated back to a student at the University at Turku Academy (or Aabo Academy in the Swedish) in the early 17th century who took this name when entering the academic life. Most Finns did not have any real surnames at that time at all, and this was a very common practice, that is to take an “invented” Latin name. The name was “Swedified” in the 18th century to Gronow (In the 18th century many Latin names were Swedified in Sweden-Finland was part of Sweden at that time and Swedish was the language of the upper classes and administration.) When my relatives went to Russia to serve in the Tsar’s army this name fitted well because it sounds like an ordinary Russian name – they often end in ow (as transliterated into German) or off (as it is written in the French form). But it is extremely rare in Russia (not to be confused with Gromow which is very common and very “Russian”, comes from the word “thunder”) Gronow does not mean anything in Russian. But many Russians still take me for a Russian because of the form of my name.
I have heard that there are more Gronow’s in Wales and the Netherlands (Gronoviuses too in the Netherlands) – and presumably in other places of the world too – I remember being very well treated – with some curiosity – when booking in some little hotels in Wales, for instance.” Jukka Gronow 17th Nov 2006.

Benjamin GRONOW 1887 – 1967.

Ben Gronow was one of the best rugby league forwards in the world during the mid 1920’s, and was the only player from an English club to move to Australia in the first 50 years of the game Down Under. In December 1909, at Newport, Ben Gronow played in his first international trial match and so impressed the Selection Committee that he was “capped” for the Wales v. France match, played at Swansea on the 1st January 1910. In this match he scored a try. Next he played against England at Twickenham, the match which celebrated the opening of the Twickenham ground. As he also played against Ireland and Scotland, Ben represented his country in all her international matches that season.
In 1915 Ben joined the War effort and was transferred to the Army Service Corps M2/103369 and was raised to the rank of Serjeant, in charge of a motor depot at Ypres. In 1920 Gronow was one of five Huddersfield players selected for the Australian Tours. When he retired he settled in Yorkshire and in the 1930s became the coach at Morley Rugby Union Club. Ben was survived by three sons (his other son like him a Serjeant in the Royal Army Service Corps died in Egypt in 1943 and is buried in Heliopolis War Cemetery.)

If your are reading this page you have probably come to it by way of my Guild Profile page. Recently I am getting lots of enquires from that site starting with something like “seen your profile page my name is (George) trying to trace my family history what can you tell me.” Not much I’m afraid from that information, I try to tell them how many (George)’s are alive today and that I need a little bit more to go on – at the very least their date of birth.
However 9 times out of 10 I do not hear from the enquirer again. Am I asking too much? Generally speaking if you give me a date of birth of someone alive 90% of the time I can trace their parentage back to 1912, 70% of those I can trace back to 1800. But I do advise people that there is what I call the Dark ages in Family History & that is the period 1902-1912 when other than BMD Registration it is a lot harder to trace people. This is a stumbling block for many people and if you have a birth in this period & do not know who the parents where, then the only other option is to see the actual certificate. As you will see from earlier posts I do regularly purchase certificates to get beyond this point. So if you are thinking of contacting me try to give me as much info about your Grandparents (Great Grandparents) as you know, and I will be only too happy to help you and your history.

Henry Lettsom Gronow
1831-1876
He died of a gunshot wound, believed to be self inflicted. At the time he was working as a warden at Young Gaol( New South Wales, Australia).

Latest certificates:
Birth:
Gronow Griffith, 22nd February 1847
Frederick Gronow, 21st November 1907

Marriages:
Griffith Gronow, 29th May 1869
Edward Gronow 16th March 1907

Deaths:
Ann Jane Gronow 2nd November 1900.

Trying to trace Griffith Gronow born about 1847, could be the same Gronow Griffith registered in the March Qtr. of 1847 in Bridgend. I have tracked him in the 1861 Census through to the 1901 Census, but where is he in 1851, spent all of his known life in Llanrhidian, Glamorganshire. Will probably have to obtain the above birth certificate if all else fails.

Take time to look at my profile page on the Guild website at
http://www.one-name.org/profiles/gronow.html