Family of Robert Karl KUHLER and Ellen Frances GOOCH

Husband:	Robert Karl KUHLER (1885-1917)
Wife:	Ellen Frances GOOCH (1885-1973)
Children:	Robert George KUHLER (1911-1978)
	Karl Norton Francis KUHLER (1913-1987)
	Reginald KUHLER (1915-1995)
	Ellen Elizabeth (Betty) KUHLER (1917-1993)

Husband: Robert Karl KUHLER

Wife: Ellen Frances GOOCH

Child 1: Robert George KUHLER

Child 2: Karl Norton Francis KUHLER

Name:	Karl Norton Francis KUHLER
Sex:	Male
Birth	1913
Death	1987 (age 73-74)

Child 3: Reginald KUHLER

Name:	Reginald KUHLER
Sex:	Male
Birth	1915
Death	1995 (age 79-80)

Child 4: Ellen Elizabeth (Betty) KUHLER

Name:	Ellen Elizabeth (Betty) KUHLER
Sex:	Female
Birth	1917
Death	1993 (age 75-76)

Note on Husband: Robert Karl KUHLER

Until recently (i.e.2020) documented records of the Kuhler family in England started with the marriage of Robert Karl in 1911. Evidence of his life before coming to England was confined to his Confirmation Certificate and the records of his service in the British Army. His confirmation took place on 13/5/1900 in the Lutheran parish of St. Johannis, Lodz which was in the Russian sector of the former state of Poland.

 

He joined the British Army in 1916 where his nationality was recorded as 'Group 1, Russian'. His army record mentions 6 sibblings - Karol, Friedrich, Ferdinand, Christl, Pauline and Else. Apparently none of these ever emigrated to Britain, but the family base was in Poland (then under Russian control) in the Burkowiec/Pabianca area. However the family had connections with Germany and visited/spent time there.

 

At the time of his marriage to Ellen Gooch on 2 March 1911 he was living at 75 Albert Street, St. Pancras, London. Ellen was also living in St. Pancras. His nationality was given as 'Group 1 Russian' and, on marriage, his wife was required to take the same nationality. Robert's occupation was given as Concierge (= Hotel Porter/Head Porter) at the Grand Hotel, St Pancras. Ellen was a Hotel maid.

 

They were still living in Albert Street when his eldest son Robert was born, but then moved to Paris for about 2 years. In Paris they lived close to the Arc de Triomphe at 41 Rue Lauriston Etoile. On their return to England in 1913 they lived in Blucher Place, Brighton.

 

After their first son Robert (listed here), they had 3 more children - Karl (b. 31/3/1913), Reginald (b. 10/6/1915) and Ellen Elizabeth ( b.13/9/1917) (known as Betty).

 

He enlisted in the British Army on 13/9/1916 as Gunner R Kuhler 119767. He was assigned to No.361 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.

 

On 16/10/1917 he died of wounds at No.36 Casualty Clearing Station, France. He was awarded the Military Medal posthumously for saving the life of an officer.

 

Further research of Polish records was conducted in 2020 by Grazyna Rychlik who found no further record of the Kuhler family at all, either in Lodz, or more widely using the name Kuhler. Note that the administrative language of this part of Poland at the time was Russian so the surname could turn up as a Russian form of the name which has then been transcribed into the Latin alphabet. The end result could well be 'Kiler', 'Kieler' , 'Killer' or similar.

 

In fact a suitable family turns up in the village of Nowolsona (on the outskirts of Lodz) with parents Karol Kieler and Elzbieta nee Egler. The birth of 2 sons Robert and Ferdynand are recorded in 1885 and 1887 respectively, which is good confirmation that the right family has been found. (See notes under Karol Kuhler for other siblings as subsequent research proved this was the correct family).