Sue Kruger 1943

[queenswood 1]

Looking for any information on Sue (Susan?) Kruger who was born probably between 1918 and 1925 in South Africa and was in Grahamstown in 1943 at the Grand Theatre.

many thanks

Caroline

[Danchaslyn]

 

Hello Carolineawood

Do you perhaps know what it is, ie in what capacity, Sue Kruger was at the Grand Theatre, in Grahamstown?

I think it may be significant that she was there during the war years, was she perhaps an entertainer who travelled around SA for 'the war effort'?

You probably know this, but Grahamstown has always revolved around the university, Rhodes University, and has been predominantly English speaking.

Could you perhaps apply to Rhodes University to their History Dept to see if they might have info for you on the Grand Theatre, and hopefully, Sue Kruger?

Cheers

Danchaslyn

 

[queenswood 1]

Thank you - all I know at this stage is that my uncle was in Grahamstown at 44Air School in 1943 with the Volunteer RAF - he trained there as a Navigator and passed out as a Flight Navigator Sergeant in May 1943. Whilst he was ther, and after his return to England with the RAF in 1943, he continued to corespond with Sue Kruger at a PO Box address in Grahamstown and also at the Grand Theatre - it is believed that he and Sue became engaged at some point but it is abit of a mystery! He was killed in July 1944 but my grandmother briefly corresponded with Sue until around October 1944. So that is all I have to go on! Needle in a haystack really!!

Do you know if any of the historical details of Grahamstown or the theatre can be found online?

Caroline

[Danchaslyn]

 

Hello Carolineawood

Have a cousin in England who was a RAF fighter pilot in WW11, and among many places, at one stage was stationed at Gwelo, then Southern Rhodesia, and also an ex SAS Paratrooper friend, who might just know your Uncle. Will ask both for you, one is currently away on holiday, so may take a little time.

The Albany Museum in Grahamstown is an Affiliated Research Institute of Rhodes University, you can find them on www.academiaexchange.net./1.Science.../South_african.html

Also the Observatory Museum, both you can google..

Can't find anything online for the Grand Theatre, Grahamstown,............have a cousin Prof in Grahamstown, (also on holiday!!), will ask him upon his return if he knows of its history and what happened to it?

Cheers

Danchaslyn
 

[Danchaslyn]

 

Hello Carolineawood

Sorry, have to keep my posts to a certain length, otherwise dial-up internet prevents me posting further................

Anyway, wished to say, Grahamstown is steeped in history............you'll find stacks online.  1820 Settlers from Britain, Boer War etc etc.

Know it well as family have been and currently are and on Rhodes University staff, or students, for years.  Always has been very quaint, small town, of charming houses.  Many monuments/memorials to various battles, or settlers, founders and academics.

Its in the Eastern Cape of South Africa and I'll see if NAAIRS will let me in to find anything on your Sue Kruger.

Cheers

Danchaslyn

 

[Danchaslyn]

 

Hello Carolineawood

Its very, very difficult, as we don't exactly know Miss Kruger's first names......Kruger is usually a prolific Afrikaans surname in SA.

Sue is not usual, but more likely, if Miss Kruger was an Afrikaner, ...Susanna, she may well have used the nickname 'Sue'.

I flipped through NAAIRS, just 'S.Kruger' does not bring up results, but Kruger brings up thousands, many of them divorces and a few deaths, but couldn't find one, for just S.Kruger.

Think our best bet of finding out more about her, is through some historical facility in Grahamstown, or records from the old Grand Theatre.

Cheers

Danchaslyn

 

[queenswood 1]

Wow - thank you so much for all your posts! i really appreciate all the effort you have put in here. In the meantime, I will visit the Bank and have another look at all thepapers I have stored there which belonged to my grandmother and contained a lot of the correspondence to see if I can bring any further details to light.

Looking forward to hearing more from you in due course.

Many thanks

Caroline

[Danchaslyn]

 

Hello Carolineawood

Well, it certainly is a very intriguing story and a romantic one at that!   

Just a frustrating time of the year, when so many are away on holiday who could possibly help us further.   

How great you have papers stored, that you can trawl through.  Very, very good luck to you on that and all your searches.   

Will be in touch again as soon as possible   

Best wishes

Danchaslyn

 

[Danchaslyn]

 

Hello Carolineawood

The Director of the Albany Museum in Somerset Street in Grahamstown might be able to help you with info on the Grand Theatre and if Sue Kruger was famous, maybe on her to.   

Email   l.webley@ru.ac.**

Substitue za for the two **'s.

Still waiting for rellies to come back from hols........   

Cheers

Danchaslyn