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Shirley~I,m getting the hang of it : Thanks for that. I am assuming Louis was her son as I have a photo of Louis with a message to my grandparents addressed to Auntie and Uncle from your nephew Louis and it looks as if it could have been taken in France. There are no other brothers or sisters of my respective grandparents who have a son called Louis. Also there was a family story passed down that Alice had been involved somehow in helping as a research advisor with a film that was made about a women's prisoner of war camp/concentration camp in France?
Flip: I have death for Alice in 1965 in Bermondsey, SE London registered by her niece Nellie Hurley. But cannot find anything for Alfred Leonard Oliver (seems to have been a bit of a lad! and from electoral registers not living with her for several years as she was at her brother Harry's home from 1945 to 1965) Her death certificate states marital status either wife or widow of Alfred Leonard Oliver (a waiter).....She was registered as a widow when she married Alfred Leonard Oliver and had the surname La Gamba then (1935) with her father being Henry Gadd (deceased)..... so I know she is the correct person. Couldn't find any probate records for her.

You may be right safc, have just found her with her brother:


Alice R Oliver
Year:1959
County or Borough:Southwark
Ward or Division/Constituency:Bermondsey
Street address:49 Major Road << this should read Layard Road SE16

Also living there Harry & Lily M H Gadd

That'll teach me to refresh before posting!

How old was Alfred when they married, was he quite a bit younger than Alice?

Flip: Yes he was 16 years her junior.

So this one which is what I'd thought?

Alfred Leonard Oliver
Gender:Male
Birth Date:28 Mar 1897
Baptism Date:18 Apr 1897
Baptism Place:St. Mary's, Walthamstow, Essex, England
Father: Alfred William Oliver
Mother: Kate
FHL Film Number:1564136

Though not seeing a death for him with the full name or dob.

Flip: That sounds good as his father named on marriage certificate of 1935 is Alfred William Oliver (deceased). Thanks!!

OK, but it's not getting you any nearer Louis or Mr La Gamba sorry. You'll find Alfred and his parents/siblings in 1911 census, although I've seached for a death with the exact dob can't find one.

I can't see anything about Alice Lagamba prior to her marriage. And the only records I can find for Louis Lagamba are in the US;

Louis Lagamba born 8/1/1918 died 1974 Niagra Falls, but his mother (according to census) was Virginnia.

Louis Lagamba born 29/8/1922, died 15/10/2009 Allegheny, Pittsburg. Served in WW2 in US forces, but no other info found.

Flip: Thanks for all that info. Think we may have hit a major brick wall with La Gamba!!! Not sure how to get information from Italy re: marriages.

As for Violet Maud, I can account for her up to 1901 when she was in a home for orphaned girls in St.Johns Wood. I have just sent for her birth certificate to see if she may have been adopted as I cannot find her in the 1911 census nor a marriage for her. I had information sent me about the orphanage where she would have remained until 16 years old and then been sent to work as a maid or suchlike.

There were no formal adoptions until 1927, so not sure if the birth certificate will show if she was adopted. However you will get her exact dob to try for a death using this - hghly unlikely her christian names would change considering her age.

Familysearch has a lot of Italian records, but they are by region and don't appear to have been indexed yet. What sort of age was Louis in the picture - and any idea of the date the picture was taken?

Going by the clothes he is wearing I would assume he is between 12 and 18 years old - and his hairstyle indicates the 1920's/1930's. It is on a postcard "Carte Postale" with instructions written in French "Partie reservee a la correspondance" and "Adresse du destinataire" hence my assumption he is living in France.(Maybe Belgium?)

Or even French speaking Switzerland.......... Certainly not Italian though. So not much help, lets hope the birth certificate shows up something for Violet.

Flip : I have just received Violet Maud's birth certificate but it does not give me any extra information than I already had apart from her exact birth date 2/11/1890. Have looked at the death index for Violet Mauds born on exact date but not found any results! Another mystery......

Flip : I have just received Violet Maud's birth certificate but it does not give me any extra information than I already had apart from her exact birth date 2/11/1890. Have looked at the death index for Violet Mauds born on exact date but not found any results! Another mystery......

Hi Vivien,

Sorry, but I can't find anything on her after the 1901 census - which I'm pretty convinced is the correct person. Even with the dob I can't find a death, although there are a few Violets with that birth day, but not the year - so not sure what to suggest next :-(

Thanks for trying Flip. Will keep persevering!!!! :-)

Is there a stamp on the postcard, and, if so, what country?

I wonder if you should be looking in Canada - that post card could be French Canadian?

Patchem - No stamp on the postcard.....
Flip - That is a thought but not sure how to get French Canadian records?