Everything tagged: Iris Gaby

Sally Gaby was born to Iris and Cyril Gaby in Shanghai in 1935. She was brought up with her cousin, Daphne Cook, daughter of Iris's sister Marjorie and whom the Gabys had agreed to adopt. The family were a part of a swap with Japanese POWs in Australia, where they then settled. Sally was one of the great-grandchildren of the Swedish tavern owner John Olson and grandchild of Charles and Elizabeth Warnes. Both Iris and Marjorie had been brought up and educated at the Canossian Convent after the death of their parents.

Daphne Cook was born to Marjorie Cook (née Warnes) and John Turnbull Cook in Hong Kong in April 1934. She was one of the great-grandchildren of the Swedish tavern owner, John Olson. As her parents separated when she was a baby, she was brought up by her aunt, Iris Gaby and her husband Cyril, who worked for the Chinese customs. When WW2 broke out the Gaby family were at first interned at the American Club in Shanghai and then included in a POW swap via Lourenco Marques. They settled in Australia.

Elizabeth Warnes was the second daughter of John Olson snr. and half sister to Hannah Warren. Her mother was Ching Ah-Fung. Her other siblings were John Olson jnr., Charles W. Olson and Ellen Melcher née Olson. She married Charles Aspinell Warnes at St John's Cathedral in 1905. Their children were Iris, Marjorie and Cyril. Iris's and Marjorie's descendants now live in Australia. They lost touch with their brother, Cyril, who is thought to have emigrated to Canada. Elizabeth is buried in the Protestant Cemetery in Happy Valley near her parents.