Sir Gerrard was an ‘amateur’ menagerie owner, circus hobbyist and friend (especially the Hoffmanns) as well as a politician. At the outbreak of the war he had a large collection of animals in his private zoo at his home in Maidstone. The Narrative here is extracted from his books and memoires. Including: Ref: T-D G… [Read More]

Eugen Sandow was a naturalized British subject and strongman. He was famous for developing fitness regimes and at the outset of war he had various enterprises. The narrative here is extracted from his biography: The Perfect man. Muscular life and times of Eugen Sandow, Victorian strongman. by David Waller. Victorian Sectrets, 2011. ( ref W D)  … [Read More]

At the outbreak of war King Ohmy ( John Smith) and his adult children, were working with a circus in Germany. Here are articles about the families war experience and Claude Ohmy’s story with a narrative extracted from them, have been set into a rough chronology. References include: Various Newspapers found in the British Libraries, British… [Read More]

CHILD ARTISTE. At the outbreak of war Mercia, was fifteen. Her mother had died in 1912 and she worked with her father in an acrobatic act, they were British. Her story has been researched by a family member, Colin Dale. The Narrative here is extracted from his book: The Last Edwardian Jester: Mr Harry Dale… [Read More]

By 1914 Grock, Adrien Wettach, was an established musical clown working across Europe. He was from Switzerland. The Narrative here is extracted from his Autobiography: Grock, King of Clowns. Methuen and Co. 1957. Ref: (G) Other articles realting to Grock have been transposed retaining the language of the time. From various newspapers fround in the… [Read More]

Franz Taibosh, known mostly as ‘Clicko’ was a Bushman and British South African, While Maurice Hepston was an Irishman known as ‘Paddy’ and ‘Capt Epstein’. Both held British Passports. They started working together around 1912/13. The working relationship was unequal, with Franz an indentured artist. After the war Franz was no longer managed by Maurice… [Read More]

The Hanneford Family were well established circus artists working internationally especially in Britain & Ireland before the war. Articles realting to the Hanneford family have been transposed retaining the language of the time. From various newspapers found in the British Libraries’ online archive, British Newspaper Archives; Tyne and Wear Archives, Fenwick Collection; The World’s Fair,… [Read More]

Edward Pablo was the son of Pablo Fanque a famous Victorian Circus Artist and Proprietor. By the time the war broke out Edward was a mature artist well known in British circus. Articles realting to Edward Pablo have been transposed retaining the language of the time. They are from The World’s Fair, the Showland newspaper… [Read More]

ROMAN PROSKE: Roman was Austrian and aged 14 run away from home to work with animals and set of on a ship for Africa. At the outbreak of war he was a 16 years old and already a lion tamer in East Africa. The Narrative here is extracted from his Autobiography. See bibliography: My Next… [Read More]

Lorenz was the son and heir to Carl Hagenbeck. Carl was the most successful animal importer and founder of Stellingen Zoo, Germany which was fabled for it’s innovate ‘nature’ park designs. Lorenz was an adult at the outbreak of war. While his brother signed up, he was put in charge of business in Northern Europe… [Read More]