Von Rode Family

Wally von Rode

Bertha Wally Louise von Rode, born 18 July 1882. Wally came from a German speaking landed family in Latvia or elsewhere in the Baltic region. She was from Riga. She used to speak of the family estate at Krunershof (?). We have not been able to find it on any map, and it is not clear whether it was near Riga, elsewhere in the Baltic States or Russia. A number of photographs show a young Wally at a large house or in a country estate. Her mother – Julie Gottlieb, died possibly in childbirth. Her father remarried. And had two daughters. Wally was not happy with her step mother or two step sisters. Her father died when she was young (about 8) on 6 September 1890. Wally was then raised by aunts on the family estate. She spoke fluent Russian and German.

She was working in Moscow, teaching languages, when she met Sigismund who had engaged her to teach Russian or German to some of his employees. They were married in 1910. In the 1920's or 30's she travelled alone to Florence her favourite city.

At the outbreak of WW2, she was in France. After Sigismund's arrest, she was sheltered by the French in Cahors. She was able tocontact her children via the Red Cross. She returned to the UK in 1945, and was met by Chales at Victoria station. After Charles moved to Lille, she moved to Westcliffe on Sea. She died of a stroke in 1948.

Colonel Carl von Rode

Wally's father, Karl-Julius (or Carl-Yuli Petrovitch) von Rode, born April 1833 in Culdiga (Goldigen) in Courland. Married Julie Gottlieb (born Riga 1857) on 29 October 1879. He served in the Russian army. Michael Voss engaged two military historians to investigate his past. They were able to trace his military history from the medals on photographs. The medal pattern is unusual, as it shows being and officer, then demoted, then promoted again. The reasons are not clear, but one family story was that he was demoted temporarily for cutting off the ear of a fellow officer who was being cruel to enemy prisoners.

The medals indicated that he was awarded the Military order St Martyr and St George in 1858 for "excellent bravery exposed on several occasions fighting mountain tribes during the expedition of the Lezginsky attachment/campaign" in the Caucasian war. His regiment was one of which Tsar Alexander II was chief. He was promoted to the rank of Poruchik, from unterofficer onMarch 1st 1863 for "excellent bravery to which he was exposed in a shooting exchange on 27^th February, and ardent fighting on Feb 28^th 1863, during the movements of Adagumski and Shebiyeski units from the Grigorievski fort towards the rever Prekupsu". He was also awarded the order of St Ann (4^th degree) for bravery during the annexation of western Caucasia in 1864. He resigned on health reasons on August 11 1873 with the rank of Poruchik.

Little else is known of the von Rode family history, Wally stated that there were Swedish antecedents. There is an intriguing press cutting from Finland about General Wilhelm von Rode, celebrating his 70^th birthday.

General Wilhelm von Rode

A possible relation to Wally, her or her father's cousin. He as probable born around 1860-70. Wilhelm was musically talented and went through the academy of music in St Petersburg. He then went to the military school at Konstantinovska and, at the age of 18 he joined the Semenovska Life guards regiment. During the first world war, as head of the 42^nd infantry division, he participated in the conquest of Lemberg. At the outbreak of the revolution he left military service and devoted himself to his favourite interests, literature art and especially music. He married Alma Frohstrom, a singer. He retired to Finland. He had strong Finnish connections, through having spent the summer with relatives who owned the Partala and Erikkala estates near Nyslott.

Edgar on Rode

Edgar Bernhard Otto, born 26 ^th November 1880 - Wally's brother. Wally was close to him as a child and corresponded infrequently prior to 1939. He settled in South/Eastern Russia, possible the Ukraine

Olga von Rode

Olga Caroline Elisabeth, born 1 December 1886 - Wally's sister. She settled in Helsinki. Charles visited her when there on business in 1957. She was then living in retirement accommodation. She did not marry but had one son

Ralph von Rode

Olga's son. He was head porter at Helsinki's leading hotel. Charles visited him in thee 1950's. He died in the early 60's, his heart and health having been affected by the Russian Finnish war. Was married twice, his daughter by first marriage – Anja – visited the UK and stayed with Charles and Harry in the 1950's. Ralph may have had another younger daughter and a son.

Alma von Rode

Alma Elise Fanny von Rode – born 26 June 1888 – Wally's sister