On not providing a citation. Sigh.

Last year I was sent a copy of the GRHS News (Germans from Russia) in which the main article dealt with Volga German farmers and an insurrection in the summer of 1918.

Fascinating also because it lists my family's village of Josefstal as one of the villages involved in fighting the local communists. (article is here)

I inquired about the article because it does not list a proper citation, only the name of the publication, St. Peter's Bote, and the aproximate year it was published.

Alas, the translator who had access to the original article had passed away...and no one knew when it was originally printed.

Just this last month, after 5 months of requests and paperwork, I was able to get 2 microfilms of St. Peter's Bote through our local library.

The article suggested 1925, so I ordered that year and 1924 (Cost $30)....as my grandfather came to Canada through the sponsorship of the Volksverein, somewhat associated with St. Peter's Bote.

Sigh.

Nothing.  Now, I could very well have missed it.  The paper IS in the German language.

I had hopes of getting the exact citation, maybe a clue to the identity of the author....and hoped that my grandfather's trek to Canada might be covered.

But nothing.

Frustrating to be sure.

Back to the drawing board on this one.

91 Years ago: Paul Gerk to Canada

Paul Gerk circa 1924

91 years ago this month, April 1924, my grandfather, Paul Gerk, left a refugee camp in Frankfurt/Oder Germany and traveled to Canada.

Sponsored by a family in Holdfast, Saskatchewan, Paul was to make his way to the west....in hopes of a new life.

Escaping war and revolution....and not knowing if he would ever see any of his family again....the bravery of this young man was amazing.

22 years old.  The horrible things he had seen and lived through.

I have often wondered what was going through his mind as he made that trek...escaping from Soviet Russia....to the west...not knowing where he would end up....just knowing he had to get away.

A year later, he would sponsor his wife, Elisabeth, and she would make the trek...alone...to her husband in Holdfast.

The two very quiet people would live in Holdfast for 3 or 4 years...then make their way to Rutland, B.C. in 1928-29.

Paul would never hear from the rest of his family again.

91 years.

Our family owes so much to this brave couple.

We live in an amazing country.

There is much to be thankful for here....starting with Paul & Elizabeth.

Arrived aboard the SS Montrose in St. John's, NB on April 5, 1924

SS Montrose

Happy National Sibling Day!

For National Sibling Day I'd like to call out my amazing brothers and sister!

John, Bill, Tom & Deb.  You are amazing people and it has and always will be an honour to be related to you!