Castellorizians in French exit records, 1915-1921

[Administrator]

During the French occupation of Castellorizo, the French naval authorities issued travel documents to those members of the local population who had been permitted to travel abroad for migration. These fascinating documents (laisser-passer) are a very useful record of those Castellorizians who left the island during this turbulent period because, aside from including their personal details, each document also includes a photograph of the holder and the details of their journey to their ultimate place of destination.

Here is an example - this is the laisser-passer issued on 27 October 1920 to Evangelos Konstandinou Koutsoukos who arrived in Fremantle on 2 February 1921 after having departed Castellorizo on 12 November 1920. His long journey to Australia took him via Athens, Port Said, Colombo and Singapore.

Nicholas

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[Alec]

Nicholas,

Do copies of these travel documents, laisser-passer, still exist among the French exit records, if so, where are they, in Castellorizo or in France? Do you have copies of them?

My family, both on my maternal and paternal sides, left Castellorizo in this period and I would be fascinated to see copies of their travel documents if they still exist.

Alec Protos.

[Administrator]

Hi Alec,

I have quite a few of these fascinating French documents, most of which I have sourced from our own National Archives (they were usually withheld on arrival). Have you searched online to see what is there for your family? Try www.naa.gov.au.

From my own quick look online, there appear to be quite a few files relative to your family, but only one has been digitised for online viewing. You can apply (for a fee) to have more files digitised if you find what you are looking for.

Remember also to search for variants of the surnames you are looking for. It was not at all unusual for names to be recorded incorrectly, or in an abbreviated form, when migrants first arrived.

There are also some details of departures from the island in French archives, particularly during the war years. I don't think there are any references to the Protomastorou family there, but if you give me your mother's family details I will check for those.

Nicholas

[Alec]

Nicholas,

Yes, the digitised NAA Protomastorou record is for my father Angelo Protomastorou's naturalisation application, for which I applied.

There is a record there for my father's mother, Despina Soultani's passport or travel documents which looks promising, I will apply for that.

My mother, Mihalakena Kanganas, came to Australia in 1915 or 1916 when she was only 3 years old. She came with her mother Evdokia Kanganas nee Harami and her aunt Evangelia Nicholas or Nikolaou nee Harami. So travel documents would be in the adults' names.

Thanks,

Alec Protos.

[stucarr81]

Hi there,

I see this is an old thread but hoping someone could help me please.

My second great grandfather Theodorou Hatzistatoglou (1883-1958) was known to have gone to France and returning to Castrellorizo, prior to migrating to Australia. The time span of his time in France is known to be about 5 years between 1917-1923, the place is known to be Marseilles and he was known to have acquired his carpentry and cabinet making skills there. I want to find this part of his life e.g., identify his passage there and back to Kazzi, his place(s) of residence in France, whether he owned or rented a residence, his profession and employers etc. etc.. The usual stuff.

Given I do not know the French language or how to use French genealogy resources, I am struggling.

I have found this thread and thought there may be a chance of finding a "laisser-passer" document that shows either his way out from Cazzie to France or his return back to Cazzie (depending on the exact years of his travel).

As the trip back was to Cazzie rather than to Australia, I do not expect to be able to find related records on the NAA as has been suggested below.

Would anyone have any guidance on this please?

Stu