I have read a file HO 45/23787 recently released into TNA on (Anne)
Valeska Uhlig, the daughter of the Duchesse by her first husband, a
German. The Duchesse herself was also said to be German by birth.

The Duchesse's file has not yet been released.

Both mother and daughter were interned under DR 18A in October 1940
but Anne, who 'disapproved' of her mother's activities, was quickly
released when MI5 accepted that she had no knowledge of her mother's
'real activities'.

Her mother sounds an interesting woman who was described as 'an
adventuress' in the pay of Dr Rantzau, one of the heads of the German
Secret Service.

In a different file, another detainee in Holloway wrote in July 1942
that the Duchesse was then aged 64 and 'not at all strong'. She also
said that she was a French subject of Dutch origin who had lived in
England over 40 years.

Incidentally, I already know about her association with Vera Erikson.

Can you do your best on digging up some more info on the Duchesse
(like what happened to the Duc and when did she fall off her perch)
because I am very fond of Duchesse potatoes?

As always, a piccy would be much appreciated.

gnikool drawrof

ocned

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Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 15 Oct 2006 06:40 PDT

For DR 18A read 18B ...

Sorry!

Dear robinbloopcoup,

A little more success this time. Please note that there slight
variations of the spellings of the names throughout (in case you
thought I had been at the red wine over lunch).

Anny Sophia Salomonsky married a Curt Oscar Uhlig at Marylebone in 1898.
See GRO marriage certificate 1898, Jan - March, reference 1A 818

In Jan - March, 1899, Anne Valesca Uhlig?s birth was registered in Marylebone 
GRO: Marylebone 1a 618

In the Times, of December 07, 1915, it was reported that Curt Oskar
Uhlig, an interned German, filed for an undefended divorce from Amy
Sophia Uhlig on grounds of adultery. Co-respondent was one Duke de
Chateau Thierry.
The report confirms the marriage of 24 February, 1898, at St
Marylebone Parish Church. There were two children of the marriage.
Petitioner born in Saxony and came to UK 1891. Respondent was Dutch.
In 1913 they split because of her conduct with a man. Her father came
from Holland at this time to try and calm the waters. In 1914 she was
followed from her home in Chistlehurst to the Duke?s address, etc,
etc.
See article for further information


The Times, reported on July 28, 1916 the marriage of her and the Duke.
 
Chateau-Thierry: Uhlig - On the 27th H.S.H the Duke of Chateau-Thierry
of 40 Buckingham Gate SW to Anna Sonia Uhlig (nee Salamonska), of
Chistlehurst, Kent

GRO reference: De Rais Bouillon and Uhlig Anna S.
St. Geo. H. Sq. 1a 1038

Next is two Times reports of a failed deportation attempt on the Duke.
See the articles for the full information. His wife is not mentioned.

The Times January 12, 1917
Deportation order against a French Duke quashed.
Because of a recruitment requirement in France, Britain would assist
to deport those avoiding military service in France. Deportation order
made against the subject.
Leon Amand De Rouis Bouillon otherwise Derais, the Duke of Chateu-Thierry.
He argued that he was a refugee and medically unfit. Full affidavit on
his antecedents. He succeeded to the title in 1905 and assumed
additional surname of Bouillon. Came to England in 1907.  Had Royalist
sympathies in France.
Deportation denied. Also mentioned in the Appeal Court. See Times, March 17, 1917.

The Duchess receives several  mentions in the Society pages between 1920 and 1922.

In the Times, April 21, 1923, the engagement was announced between
Somerled Hamilton Watson
Welsh Guards and Anne Valeska, only daughter of  the Duchess of
Château-Thierry, of 32 Lower-Belgrave Street, SW1.

The wedding, however, does appear to have taken place as I found later
reference to him with another wife, and jumping forward, Anne Valeska
died in 1973 with the obituary in her maiden name.

The Times, November 13, 1973
Uhlig - 11 November 1971 Royal Marsden Hospital. Miss Anne Valeska of
Barnstead Surrey.

You may be able to get a photograph of Anne Valeska from the Temple
University Libraries.
http://library.temple.edu/collections/urbana/index.jsp?bhcp=1

It is amongst formal portraits produced by Bassano, Ltd, a society
photographer in London.
See this Google cache page for more details, and the catalogue reference below.

?Uhlig, Miss A. Valeska
URBAN ARCHIVES
Bassano, Ltd.
Photographs, ca. 1920-1939 (PC-59)
Formal portraits produced by Bassano, Ltd, a society photographer in
London, England, and provided to the Public Ledger newspaper in
Philadelphia. Includes members of European nobility, English
government officials, sports celebrities, theatrical performers, and
prominent citizens including Americans visiting England.?
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:wvJxWoRvd9cJ:www.library.temple.edu/urbana/pc59.htm+Formal+portraits+produced+by+Bassano,+Ltd,+a+society+photographer+in+London,+England,+and+provided+to+the&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=1

Catalogue Entry
http://diamond.temple.edu/search/f%28URB%29+PH+PC-59/furb+ph+pc+59/-2%2C-1%2C0%2CB/frameset&FF=furb+ph+pc+59&1%2C1%2C


The disappearance from the society pages is interesting, and even the
failed marriage. Perhaps this has something to do with it.


On 20 January, 1924, the Duke was adjudged bankrupt. Source: London Gazette

"DE RAIS-BOUILLON, Leon Amand Joseph, DUKE. of CHATEAU-THIERRY, described in the
Receiving Order as H.S.H. The Duke of Chateau-Thierry, lately residing
at 32, Lower Belgrave-street, in the county of London, but now of 7,
Lancaster-place, Strand, W.C. 2,
Courl^HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE.
No. of Matter?1,710 of 1924.
Date of Order?Jan. 20, 1925.
Date of Filing Petition-^Dec. 16, 1924."
http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveViewFrameSetup.asp?webType=0&PageDuplicate=x0%20%20%20%20%20%20&issueNumber=33014&pageNumber=0&SearchFor=Chateau-Thierry&selMedalType=&selHonourType

Creditor?s petition
http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveViewFrameSetup.asp?webType=0&PageDuplicate=x0%20%20%20%20%20%20&issueNumber=33013&pageNumber=0&SearchFor=Chateau-Thierry&selMedalType=&selHonourType=

Then of all things, he appears to have become an actor (see obituary for source).

See the Internet Movie Database for two of his films from 1925 and 1926.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0991865/

On July 27, 1934 a review was made of ?That certain something?, at the
Aldwych Theatre. He appeared under the stage name of ?Norman le
Strange? He was the head waiter (well down the list of actors). This
?farcical comedy? was slated by the Times Critic.


His obituary appears in the Times, June 06, 1936.
Chateau-Thierry 5 June 1936
20 Greville Place, Leon Amand Joseph de Rais-Bouillon, 11th Duke of
Chateau-Thierry, known on the screen as Norman le Strange, beloved
husband of Anna Sonia de Chateau-Thierry.


I assume you have seen these files from the National archives
regarding the Duchess? activities during the war.

Piece details: KV 2/357
Covering dates  	1917 Jan 16-1941 Aug 09
Scope and content 	
Anna Sonia CHATEAU-THIERRY, alias UHLIG, De RAIS-BOUILLON: Dutch,
French and German. Before the Second World War CHATEAU-THIERRY was in
correspondence with a German Intelligence chief in Hamburg and
received sums of money from him. On these grounds, together with a
belief on MI5's part that she had made a less than full disclosure of
her dealings with the Germans, she was interned during the war. After
the war it was discovered that she had, in effect, volunteered her
services to German Intelligence
Access conditions 	Open on Transfer
Closure status 	Open Document, Open Description
Held by 	The National Archives, Kew
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=8095638
Piece details: KV 2/358
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=8095639


The trail then goes cold. I am unable to identify here date of death.
It would take some considerable time to go through all the quarterly
volumes. Especially as I?m not sure which name it would registered
under. What are your views?

answerfriend

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Clarification of Answer by answerfinder-ga on 15 Oct 2006 07:33 PDT

Perhaps I have been at the red wine.
'The wedding, however, does appear to have taken place' should read,
The wedding, however, does not appear to have taken place.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by probonopublico-ga on 15 Oct 2006 07:42 PDT

Many thanks for the Clarification ...

I had already allowed for the Wine Effect.

---

Clarification of Answer by answerfinder-ga on 15 Oct 2006 07:59 PDT

Many thanks for your generous tip. I enjoyed this one. What an
interesting  selection of characters!
answerfinder

Brilliant, Anserfinder, as always!

The Duchesse certainly was fascinating but No, I have not seen KV
2/357 but now I will!

Funny how she started off as Sophia and then became Sonia.

She was apparently only a 'low-grade' German agent.

You have done wonders and her Date of Death does not justify any further efforts.

Very many thanks for everything!

gnikool drawrof

ocned

I expected something else, surely you are not FLD in disguised
reverse! I'm confused. Maybe it's time for bed. When I wake up that
type will be in the right order and say something else!

I wouldn't "dig the dirt" on anyone named Thierry; you might run afoul
of the whole arsenal.

Umm.. Really..

Cynthia, now I'm confused ... 'FLD in disguised reverse'?

That's perverse and very cynful. Please explain yourself.

Myo, I ain't afraid of any holes or arsenals either.

It's the Henrys who scare me. 

Remember Dutch Henry Brown?

Then steer clear of Henry Thierry, and please don't say anthing to him
about any woman with any version of the name, especially if it is
anything about her character.  Some of those French kickers get very
hardheaded on the subject.  ;-)

OH, more important:
That was a fantastic answer  - not that I can really judge, just
astound at the variety of information and sources.