Ancestors in Yugoslavia

[guest225400]

Hello,

I am looking for some help with regards to ancestors in Yugoslavia.

I have been doing my family history for over 2 years now, but just can't seem to develop my grandfathers side.

His family is from Yugoslavia. His father, Anton Beran, was taken as a Prisoner of War and arrived here. His wife, Cecilija, was left with 3 children, and unfortunately died at a young age.

Anton was born in 1913, and has now died. His wife Cecilija, we believe was born around 1916-1920, but died I the very early 50's. The place they came from is now Croatia, but I have little more information.

I don't have much to go on, but I really want to find out my ancestors. I really hope you can help me.

[jorose]

Do you know exactly where they lived, or just that it's somewhere in Croatia?

[guest225400]

I don't know where, but it is the area that is now Croatia. My grandfather said that he was born in one area, but grew up and lived in a different area.

My mother had an idea that Anton, and maybe even Cecilija could have been from Germany. Whenever he always used to visit Germany and never Croatia or surrounding areas, because all the relatives were in Germany. It could have been possible that when the war started they fled Germany and settled in Yugoslavia.

Thanks for your help.

[Gaie]

Hi and welcome to Rootschat 

Could this be your (edited) great-grandfather?

From The National Archives:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C12189503

KR
Gaie

[guest225400]

Yes this is, thank you.

Before this was issued, was he a UK national? I ask because in 1953 he married a woman named Emily, it says her name was Emily Beran, but she probably had her name changed before her marriage. His wife, Cecilija, could have still been alive, so he would have married to two people at the same time!

[Gaie]

No, he would not have been; according to the brief certificate details he was a German subject before naturalisation.

Where did Cecilija die?

The certificate should have Anton's parents' names.  I can photograph it next time I'm at the Archives if you'd like.

Gaie

[Gaie]

Here's the naturalisation as listed in the London Gazette:

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/40857/pages/4722

[guest225400]

Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it!

I would be so greatful if you would be able to do that for me. The real things that we want to know is about Cecilija. How would you find out when she died, where she died, when she go married?

If we can find that out, then you'll really have pushed my reasearch forward, not that you haven't already. I can't thank you enough!

[barryd]

Quite a good proportion of post World War II Eastern Europeans and others from Europe worked on British Railways. Knew a Polish dining-car attendant myself. Ended up on the same train as him once. Hope Street is within easy walking distance from Crewe Station. The London Gazette gives good information about Anton. Probably just as much as his naturalization certificate. Prior to his naturalization Anton would be classified as a foreign born person with right of residence in Britian.

On Free BMD the CREWE ONLY  Beran  names start with the 1953 marriage and end in 1969. Possibly all in the same family and well worth looking at.

http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl