Thought this might interest some.

[Bobby Conkers]

There was a Sigvard Gronhaug born in Cardiff in 1896.
I don't know if my G-Grandad had any connection with Scandinavia or if his hostel held some particular attraction, but I have a mercantile marine medal that was issued to a Swedish chap.

Please do, I find the research fascinating. I've pretty well run out of interesting facts to find about my own family, so other people's families are fun!
Pete

Yes, I just did a quick check with my bro, I think that Sigvard must be a different Sigvard if my Grandpa was born in 1921. But maybe he had an Uncle (Sigvard son of Sigvard) - I'll check that too.

My mother managed to do our family tree back to 1600 in some cases, but there's a difference between dates and names, and the stories behind them. Do you know who that medal was awarded to? Maybe there was a pocket of (ex) Scandi merchantmen hiding out in Wales!

[Guest]

Great story Andy and detective work from Pete, and what coincidences you share .
The boat in a bottle in a master piece of work, and reading about your great grandfather seems well able to construct that .Bet your please you posted this now !

[stillp]

The medal was awarded to a John Fohlstrom, who was a guest at the hostel/cafe in 1911. I can't find the Gronhaug record that rang a bell - it might have been in a press cutting someone sent me that I can't access now. The Scandi cluster might just have been because of the sheer number of seamen passing through Cardiff and Barry, which were (I think) the busiest ports in Europe at one time.
A quick search for Sigvard Gronhaug on Ancestry produced Sigvard and Charles Gronhaug, aged 15 and 12, living in Tynemouth, adopted sons of Charles Kuhre, a Dane, in 1911. Both born in Cardiff.
Ancestry can be frustrating - the search shows me Sigvard Gronhaug born 1865, in Bergen in 1875 and 1891, and also Magda Sigvarda Gronhaug, same place and years, but won't let me see any more detail unless I upgrade to World membership, which is not cheap. There's also a S Gronhaug in Barry in the 1911 Census Summary Book, but the actual census page is missing. FindMyPast has various seaman's records for him, but not the 1911 census page.
Pete

[stillp]

Update: FMP lets me search for the address from the census summary (94 Broad Street, Barry), which finds the Gronhaug household. The S. Gronhaug in the index is not Sigvard but Sidney. The occupants are Maud, age 31, James, 16, an Engineer Apprentice, Maria, 11, Sidney aged 1, and a nursemaid. A couple of odd things about the census return are that there's no-one listed as head of the household, but Maud has signed it on behalf of Sigvard, and also the marriage had lasted 6 years but only produced 1 child, so Maud must be Sigvard's second wife.
Your mother did well to get back to 1600. I've got back to 1734 on one distant branch, but anything before 1838 needs parish records, not all of which are online, and I don't get out to the county record offices these days.
Pete

[Bobby Conkers]

This is fab!

So Sidney aged 1 is my Uncle Sid (great uncle). He was a card. Sort of the Black Sheep, but very likeable. My Grandfather's older brother. So, I'm a tad confused, as that appears that Uncle Sid was born when James was only 15/16, and James' parents aren't there. Hmm.

I need a copy of the tree. I'll see if my brother can scan from 1850 onwards and I'll post it up, this is getting very intriguing.

As for 'our' past past, my Mother had to go to Norway, then back to France as she found a large column of Huguenot exiles. Seems they kept good records, but it explains why there is no info prior to the 1600s, and why I have such a massive conk.

[Bobby Conkers]

Then we can start on my great aunt, who was in the SOE...

[Guest]

Wow your family could tell some tales then Andy, just shows what research can uncover.

[stillp]

As for 'our' past past, my Mother had to go to Norway, then back to France as she found a large column of Huguenot exiles. Seems they kept good records, but it explains why there is no info prior to the 1600s, and why I have such a massive conk.

I did some research for an old schoolmate, who needed to prove his ancestry to receive an inheritance from a half-brother who he didn't know existed. He'd always been told his grandmother was a French Huguenot, but she turned out to be an Austrian Jew, so perhaps Huguenot seemed more acceptable around the time of WW1. In fact pretty mush everything his father had told him was untrue, his supposedly Scottish great-grandparents were from Sunderland. His father had had two wives, but didn't marry either of them!

[stillp]

This is fab!

So Sidney aged 1 is my Uncle Sid (great uncle). He was a card. Sort of the Black Sheep, but very likeable. My Grandfather's older brother. So, I'm a tad confused, as that appears that Uncle Sid was born when James was only 15/16, and James' parents aren't there. Hmm.

I need a copy of the tree. I'll see if my brother can scan from 1850 onwards and I'll post it up, this is getting very intriguing.

As for 'our' past past, my Mother had to go to Norway, then back to France as she found a large column of Huguenot exiles. Seems they kept good records, but it explains why there is no info prior to the 1600s, and why I have such a massive conk.

Here's the birth registration for Sidney:

GRONHAUG	Sydney Richard		Cardiff	11a	525

[Jeff Wiltshire]

Update: FMP lets me search for the address from the census summary (94 Broad Street, Barry), which finds the Gronhaug household. The S. Gronhaug in the index is not Sigvard but Sidney. The occupants are Maud, age 31, James, 16, an Engineer Apprentice, Maria, 11, Sidney aged 1, and a nursemaid. A couple of odd things about the census return are that there's no-one listed as head of the household, but Maud has signed it on behalf of Sigvard, and also the marriage had lasted 6 years but only produced 1 child, so Maud must be Sigvard's second wife.
Your mother did well to get back to 1600. I've got back to 1734 on one distant branch, but anything before 1838 needs parish records, not all of which are online, and I don't get out to the county record offices these days.
Pete

Hi there, This update is very interesting to me . Sigvard Gronhaug was my Great Grandfather , in the above message you mention Maria , actually its Marie Louise and she is my Grandmother on my Fathers side Here's a Picture With Jim, Sid, Maud, Marie and Sigvard . This photo was always on my Grans Dressing table in Llandarcy in the house where I still live to this day. I did meet Arnold once in Sid's Daughter Pamela's funeral in Romsey . Will Be good to hear back from you .--My Sister Geraldine has a lot of info.

[Jeff Wiltshire]

This is fascinating, and not a little coincidental!

My GG's father was called Sigvard, who left Norway under something of a cloud. I think they went straight to Wales, but am not sure. If so of course James was born there, where he married May. You have my Grandpa's birthday right!

He moved to the Civil Service and remained at the DoE. Interestingly, when in Singapore in 1946 he was seconded to the RAF at the rank of Squadron Leader. That's where he met my other grandfather (also Squadron Leader), they remained friends, and both their eldest children eventually got married and produced me. (A tale which deteriorates the longer it goes on...)

I'm going to ask my aunt and brother what info they have, but if there are any gaps I'll be right back to you. Despite the unusual surname, it's amazing it rang a bell with you, and thank you for your interest and knowledge!

[Jeff Wiltshire]

Sigvard Gronhaug was killed in an explosion in Halifax Nova Scotia On the morning of 6 December 1917, the French cargo ship SS Mont-Blanc collided with the Norwegian vessel SS Imo in the waters of Halifax. Sigvard was an engineer onboard the SS Picton which was in Halifax at the time of the explosion. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Picton.

[Jeff Wiltshire]

This is a photo of The Gronhaugs- Sigvard, Marie Louise, (my Grandmother), Jim, Maud and Sid

[Jeff Wiltshire]

Then we can start on my great aunt, who was in the SOE...

Andy , does the name Austin, or Austen mean anything to you?--perhaps something to do with Singapore?

[Guest]

What a story this makes esp linking members together like this.