LEO FERDINAND MICHAEL-SMITH was residing in West Mersea, Essex, ENGLAND at the time of his death. His birth name was Leo Ferdinand Michael SCHMIDT, but he changed his last name in 1931 to Michael-Smith. He was born in New Chwang China (Yingkaw) Manchuria in 1898 to HERBERT THEODOR SCHMIDT and JENNY ADELE SPIEGEL (SPIGEL). (Leo had a sister, ALICE ANASTASIE ADELE SCHMIDT, also born in New Chwang, China).

Theodor was Russian Consul to the Chinese during that time. The family had moved back to St. Petersburg, Russia, when my father, ALEXI SCHMIDT, was born.

Leo was a bodyguard to the Czarina when he was seventeen years old (Click on "Photos of Leo" below). He also fought in the Czar's army during the Bolshevik Revolution ("War of the Czars"), but fled with his family to Finland when defeat was apparent.

My father's family eventually settled in London, England, about 1917. In 1936 Jenny Schmidt was residing at 27 Highfield Avenue, London, NW 11; My uncle was residing in London also. They were fluent in both Russian and German.

My aunt Alice immigrated to Paris, France, and married a French artist, MAURICE DELAVIER. They owned a flower shop and art studio at 19 Quai Saint Michel in Paris. Maurice was taken prisoner by the Germans during WWII in the invasion of France, 1940. He was confined to Stalag 6A, where he drew many portraits of fellow prisoners: English pilots, sailers and soldiers of various nationalities. These portraits in pencil are now on display at the Imperial War Museum in London.

 Alexi Schmidt and Leo Ferdinand Michael-Smith were in the fur business together. During WWII, my uncle was "in the parachute business"; My aunt Alice was residing at 19 Quai Saint Michel, Paris, France (Maurice was a prisoner of the Germans); and my father had immigrated to America and changed his name to ALEXIS SMITH.

When Leo's home in Finchly was bombed out during the war, he relocated to West Mersea where he and his wife, Winifred, became licensees of the White Hart inn. They retired from the inn in 1963.

 My father made several trips between England and America prior to WWII. He eventually relocated our family and fur business to Cochabamba, Bolivia. After my father died, my mother returned to the states, and any connection with his brother and sister ceased.

 I would like to hear from anyone who knew my Uncle Leo or Aunt Alice. Also, any additional information on Alice's husband, MAURICE DELAVIER, would be greatly appreciated. Please email me -Paul Smith

With the help of the "Traceline" division of the ONS I was able to trace my uncle from a partial name and an old 1938 address I had gotten off a ship's manifest that NARA had sent me. A lot was involved in getting that far, but I could not have completed my search without the additional help of Traceline. If you are searching for someone in England, I highly recommend Traceline. Since they are a branch of the British government, they have access to records that are not available to the general public. If they locate your missing person they will contact you. If the individual is still living, they will forward a letter to that person for you. If the person has died, they will instruct you as to how to obtain a death certificate. Visit their website at:

My uncle had died, but from information on his death certificate, I was able to find a close friend of his who has provided me with a wealth of information. My thanks to the folks at NARA and to all the people in the genealogy newsgroups - I would never have found my uncle's whereabouts without their advice and assistance. I am still collecting information on both my uncle and aunt, and would appreciate hearing from anyone who knew either of them.