THANKS
AND CREDITS
Firstly thanks to my father Leonard St. Michael “Len” AXSEL who told me many stories of family ‘legend’.
I have through my research, found most of these to be incorrect. (I will write a page detailing these – coming soon!) Unfortunately due to his early demise due to smoking related cancer he does not know of my findings and is unable to add more information which, no doubt he could.
Secondly to my wife Lee PEARCE who has a rather keen eye (Is this why I’m her husband?)
The story goes like this. My mother in law who is also looking into her family e-mailed me to ask what internet sites I use. I blew the dust off of my 'Favourites' button and e-mailed her the addresses with the instruction to return to the sites often as things are quite dynamic on the internet (page here, gone tomorrow).
Taking some of my own medicine, I visited a site (that I had last looked at least two years previously) and found a list of ships to ZA with passenger lists. Those who have scrolled through lists and lists of names will know that you eventually go a bit cross-eyed (even if you use the 'Find on this Page' facility). However, I was determined and I was scrolling and scrolling.
Some time later Lee came into the room to ask what I was doing. I told her what I had found and that there were no AXSEL's or AXEL's to be found and that I was therefore looking for family first names like Gottlieb, Ferdinand, Friedrich, Christian etc. (as one story goes that they had changed their firstname (Axel) to their surname). With that she glanced at the screen and said "But there's an Axsel!". And so there was!! But spelled ACHSEL. Well, what can I say?
Thirdly to Aunt “Nellie” HORN who endured countless hours of telephonic questioning in 1998.There are many others including Adele SCHOOMBIE who has been most supportive, helpful and a fantastic source of family photos (will put them on one day with her permission). Also Louis and Rita and David and Dawn for their hospitality. Also Freddie, Nellie, Brent, Ken, Mariet, Alfie, Fred,......
Also Luis MORETON-ACHSEL, a great source of information and encouragement in Germany
And not forgetting my mom – Maureen Joy EYBERS!
