August Birger came to England from Sweden around 1884,
and settled in London probably coming via Hull. He set
up as a continental cheese monger in Golden Square,
Holborn. Four years later he married Wilhelmina Andersen
at St Andrews Church, Marylebone. She also was Swedish,
and both gave their address at the time as the United
Scandinavian Club. Annie was born shortly after they
married, but died very young. John Eric, my father, was
born on 11 Jan 1890 according to his birth certificate,
but on 11th December 1889 according to family
traditions. At some stage, around the turn of the
century, they all returned to Sweden, which may account
for why they do not appear on the 1901 census. On their
return, August and Wilhelmina (known as “Ma”) lived in
West Ealing, then Middlesex, but John Eric, my father,
stayed with the Evans family in Liverpool, Everton
Terrace, and studied at Liverpool Collegiate. At one
point they stayed in Bradford.
If any reader of this page can throw any light on
August’s life and family in Sweden, particularly exactly
where he was born. I should be delighted to hear from
you.