Searching-Villach-St.Vite.Klagenfurt 1946-51

Late I know but I am trying to trace my Father with nearly all living relatives now dead and with limited information. It is as follows:-
• I was born Edwin Sapatsch to a Irene Erika Sapatsch (Deceased since 1976) On the 25/09/47 in St.Vite near Klagenfurt Austria.• I know very little about my Genetic father other than he was a serviceman who’s Christian name was Edwin & he had a longish affair with my mother one of the Cossacks taken by the Germans from the Ukraine & put to Farm labour in the region (circa 1943) According to her he had a large family here in England.
• My Mother eventually took up with a Sgt. James Henry McNeill Born Brighton Sussex 1920 of the RASC/RAOC (This might have been his transition period he remained RAOC until 1960’s)
• Sgt. Mcneill married a Waltaut Prerscher in Graz 1947 (This is news??) He then married my mother in Villach in 1950 & my sister Susan was born. No records of Waltraut ?

• The slightest of information will be very appreciated --Thanks

Welcome Edwin out of the area of BAOR but this website may help you if not already found

http://www.milhist.net/betfor/

Best regards
Steve

Thanks Steve--Things are suddenly moving fast & childhood memories falling into place. I have just revisited a Kintergarten where I played as a child.
The internet is a wonderful tool mate. Cheers Edwin

Edwin,

I am unable to help with your query but by coincidence I too lived with my parents in Klagenfurt from Oct 1948 to mid 1950, prior to this we had been in Vienna from Jan 1946 - 1948. my father was also RASC and stationed with HQ British Troops Austria. We lived in a hiring on the St Vite road just on the northern edge of Klagenfurt. Went back 3 years ago and was amazed as to how much I remembered, managed to identify the house in which we lived. hope you are successful in your search.

BobG

Yes I went back when I was hitch hiking around Europe at 18. Slept in the same bedroom I slept as a 3 year old, sneaked out at night and climbed the same Cherry Tree and stole the Same Gooseberries as I relish in my memories. It was an Ad Lib visit and just as well for the Farm House was demolished along with the trees later that year to make way for the Autoroute.
Sadly I never had the questions to ask that I am so desperately trying to answer now

Thanks Bob--at least theres response coming in and maybe theres someone who remembers Big Jim McNeill still alive--Better still if they know an Edwin. Cheers

Does anyone recall where the Klagenfurt garrison churches were actually located? Just trying to find the correct Sankt Oswalds where my wifes parents were married in 1949.

Sankt Oswalds sounds like an Austrian civilian church, the Garrison Church would have had a British themed name.

Will contact a school friend who lived in Austria with his soldier father in the late 1940s, and see if he has any thoughts.

As JPW says Sankt Oswalds will more likely be a civilian church. in most cases the Garrison Church was housed in  some suitable accommodation in a barracks or some other requisitioned building. The Garrison church in Vienna was in a stable block in Schonbrum Palace, as was the case in Verden where it was also in a stable block in Caithness barracks. In a few cases churches were built as in Fallingbostal and Ploen.

Garrison Church of St Oawald, Klagenfurt, Austria
Ordering and viewing options

Actually, This church is listed at National Archives, Kew, London

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11291822

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11291823


Reference: WO 156/53

Reference: WO 156/54