Durban & Coastal Newsletters

Lees in hierdie Uitgawe: Heraldry-The Khoina in shining armour. Plekname van weleer-Riemland. Toekennings-Isak Bosman: Ontvanger van die Akademie van Wetenskap en Kuns se toekenning vir genealogie in 2008. Anglo Boereoorlog-ABO en konsentrasiekampherinneringe van Johan APJ Schutte en Margaretha Johanna Schutte. Explorers-First White Explorers of Transvaal and Natal: The English speaking contribution. Diamante-Wie kan sê 'Eureka'? Die ontdekker van die eerste diamant is nie 'n klinkklare kwessie nie

"Lots of interest in this latest newsletter - Deciphering Old Handwriting,  the origin of the poem "In Flanders Fields" from WW1, a list of the various different places one can look for personal data on one's relatives, the Transport system in Durban in the late 1800s - and all the usual snippets of information."

To start off 2015, this newsletter gives details of our new Committee and some feedback and pictures from our Ancestral Tea combined with our Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Genealogical Society of South Africa.  It was a fun and happy occasion.  There are lots of interesting websites and search tips, plus an article on Durban's famous "Bunny Chow"!

This final newsletter for 2014 continues with the WW1 theme;  it also includes an article on Princess Grace of Monaco in which she receives acknowledgement of her Irish roots;  there is some Christmas trivia, an article on the oldest DNA found, photos of Durban in the 1960s,  some interesting websites .... and more.  

This edition contains a write up on our guest speaker, John Dovey of Just Done Publications, who spoke in great detail about all the dos and donts of publishing your story; who was the real Blackadder? ;  analysis from excavations assess that Britain's oldest house is 11,500 years old;  the usual tips, websites and humour  ...

The great thing about genealogy is the excitement of the chase and then the surprise when ou find that tiny piece of information hiding in the undergrowth. I’ve had great fun over the years looking for those little snippets that embellish the history of the family and have managed to get a good idea of how my family existed over the past 500 years. Lately with the anniversary of the First World War my thoughts have come closer to the present day and in particular my
Grandfather. Read more.

"Continuing with our "war" theme, (in commemoration of the beginning of WW1), there is an article on the role Durban played in WW1 and also the story of the connection between the Wipers Times (a magazine published by soldiers on the Front Line),  the Sherwood Foresters and the area of Sherwood, Durban.  One of our members given us an extract on her family's involvement regarding the Siege of Kimberley.  As always, there are some helpful websites including a fairly new one for Mauritian researchers, and some genealogy humour."

"This edition continues with different references to WW1,  including an article on war-time activities in Durban;  there is an update on the progress at Stellawood Cemetery;  information on a fairly new, GSSA National, Funeral Program Project;  the usual interesting websites and genealogy tips, and, of course, a little bit of genealogy humour"

As 2014 commemorates the beginning of WW2,  each newsletter this year will have at least one article pertaining to the Great War - with different aspects of the war covered.  There is a write-up on our visit in December to Mariannhill Monastery.  This visit began with a tour round the Museum where we saw the original printing press and learned how it operated and ended up with a tour of the ultra-modern and very hi tech Mariannhill Mission Press.  A challenge to start (a little bit late) a 52-week blog on aspects of your life;  National and International news;  interesting websites ... and more ...

"This final newsletter of 2013 goes down Memory Lane by way of a different sort of Advent Calendar;  there are the usual interesting websites and tips;  a report on the amount of work achieved this year at Stellawood Cemetery, and a genealogy game for all those who can identify "cousin's mother's sister's son" type relationships!!