The Shuster Family in Hong Kong

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/22/2011 - 01:53

Hi from Portugal!

I am a descendent of the Shuster Family who was in Hong Kong around 1880-1950). My grandfather, Fritz Edward Shuster, died as a POW In a camp in Japan. Some years after that, my grandmother (Elvira da Cruz) left HK and came to Portugal with her children (my Mom and Uncle) where she lived till she passed away in 1998.

Now I have been able to trace the Shuster's back to an an ancestor, Jacob Fritz Shuster, who worked at a Sugar Refinery, but I would like to find out more information, if possible.

My grandfather Shuster was married to Emma Legg(e) and I wonder if anyone has any more information I can add to my investigation.

 

Thank you and best regards,

 

Ana Shuster

Thank you so much for your tips. Hi will try and see if I'm lucky. As you saw, in the link you sent me, there was a Mr. Henry Ching who added some more info back in 2006. I tried to get in touch with him, but no luck. Do you think there would be an easy way to get a picture of my grandfather's name he talks about?

Thank you.

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Submitted by
Jabberjabber (not verified)
on
Sat, 07/02/2011 - 09:38

Ana, I assume you are referring to your Grandfather's name on the War Memorial at the Diocesan Boys' School, as mentioned in the information you obtained in 2006. I have a photo of it and can send it to you if you let me have your email address.

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Submitted by
Ana Shuster (not verified)
on
Sat, 07/02/2011 - 19:52

Hi!!

Oh, thank you so much! I would really appreciate it if you could email it to me. As you will probably understand, my grandmother lost evertyhing during the war. We only have one picture of my grandfather and everything we can have that links us to him is so precious to us. It has taken years to gather information, but little but little I am managing to find some bits and pieces to help build my family history. 

Thank you so much!

Best regards,

 

Ana

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Submitted by
Jabberjabber (not verified)
on
Sun, 07/03/2011 - 15:54

No email address, Ana!  I have taken advantage of David's goodwill and posted the photo - see Diocesan Boys' School War Memorial above. Your Grandfather's name is the last on the plaque.

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Submitted by
Ana Shuster (not verified)
on
Sun, 07/03/2011 - 21:16

Hi!!

Oh, I am so sorry. I saw my email address here and thought you would get it. It's anasbsales@gmail.com

I am going to try and find the picture now.

Thank you so much. :))

Ana: I was unaware that Elvira had married Ernest Cecil Frederick after the war until I saw your post.  I have great respect for Lt-Col Frederick. During the Battle of Hong Kong he led a large composite force consisting of RASC and other troops. He managed to escape encirclement at the Ridge, Overbays and Repulse Bay Hotel. East Brigade war diary gives a grid reference to his house 233487 which on war time maps would put it southeast of Repulse Bay (probably near where Spy Glass Hill is troday). I wonder wherther you recall any detail of this property which he reportedly owned before the war.  Was his marriage to Elvira a second marriage for him ?  Thanks.  Philip Cracknell

Ana,

I came across the record of your ancestor's burial notice recently but I see that it's already in the 1897 St John's Cathedral Notes copied by annelisec for Gwulo: 

Burial  1897  Feb  12  Jacob Alexander Bedford Shuster

I dare say that Christine M. Thomas would have a photograph of his gravestone in her archive of the Colonial Cemetery if you were interested

http://www.agra.org.uk/christine-thomas-specialist-researcher-in-somerset  

Hi Philip!

I only saw your response now - I apologize for the long delay!

Thank you so much for this precious information :)

Freddy, as we called him, met my Grandmother Elvira while she was working at the Repulse Bay Hotel and then they moved to Portugal around 1953 where they settled in a villa in Estoril. They never actually got married, because Freddy's first wife wouldn't give him a divorce, so I am told.

Freddy eventually left to England and lived in an old age home until he passed away, in 1960.

Best regards,

Ana