Leon Bryer (1919 - 1994)

Leon Bryer is a nephew of Rachel Levin, my 2x great aunt. Morris family HERE. Bryer family HERE

Parents: Barnett  Bryer (1878 - 1958) and Dinah Rachel Morris (1879 - 1969)

Tombstone for Leon's mother Dinah who is buried in the Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg, grave block M, grave no 358. His father Barnett is buried in the Bloemfontein memorial cemetery, plot no 10:601

Born: 25 March 1919 in Bloemfontein, South Africa

Hebrew name: Leib son of Baruch

Siblings

• Michael Bryer (1904 - 1933) married Anne Smulian (1897 - ?) in April 1927 in London, England
• Nathan Bryer (1908 - 1990) married Rose Frankel (1908 - 1984) on 31 December 1933 in Johannesburg, South Africa
• Maurice Bryer (1911 - 1986) married 1) Phyllis Salkinder (1915 - 1973) around 1945/6 probably in Bloemfontein, South Africa; 2) Dorothy Kollenberg (1918 - 2010) on 11 January 1951 in Bulawayo, Rhodesia

Occupation: Medical practitioner

Leon was registered as a doctor in December 1941

Travel

1952

Leon departing Southampton aboard the Edinburgh Castle on 4 December 1952 bound for Cape Town. His address in England is given as Crumpsall Hospital, Manchester

1956

Leon departing from Durbam South Africa and travelling to Southampton, England where he arrived on 28 December 1956 aboard the Athlone Castle

1959

Leon departing Southampton aboard the Pretoria Castle on 6 August 1959 bound for Cape Town. His address in England is given as the Orthopaedic Hospital and his occupation is listed as surgeon

Notes

Leon served in World War 2. He lived in Johannesburg from 1952 onwards, mainly in Hillbrow and worked at the Johannesburg General Hospital as an orthopaedic surgeon. But his main work place was the at a mining hospital. He had a lifelong partner, Nancy, a theatre sister who was the widow of his best friend. They never married (Information supplied by his niece Lee)

Death

3 January 1994 (20 Tevet 5754) age 74 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was buried in the Westpark Cemetery there on 4 January 1994, Grave block VE, no 220

Tombstone

"Leon Bryer 25 March 1919 - 3 Jan 1994. Lovingly remembered by his family and friends. Rest in Peace"

Hebrew translation: "Here lies Leib son of Baruch, departed 20 Tevet 5754. May his soul be bound up in the bond of life."

Jewishgen cemetery record for Leon Bryer

Westpark cemetery record for Leon 

Residences

When Leon qualified as a doctor in December 1941 his address was given as 15 Waverley Road, Bloemfontein, South Africa

By August 1946 he had moved to Johannesburg, where his address was given as 101 Roxdale, Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa

Dorothy Kollenberg (1918 - 2010)

Dorothy Kollenberg, known as Doris, is the wife of Maurice Bryer, a nephew of Rachel Levin, my 2x great aunt. Morris family HERE. Bryer family HERE

Parents: Isadore Kollenberg (1888 - 1971) and Johanna Dublitsky (1889 - 1980)

Tombstones for Doris's parents. Isadore is buried in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and Johanna in Westpark Cemetery, Johannesburg, South Africa

Born: 20 October 1918 in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia

Hebrew name: Devorah daughter of Yitzhak

Siblings

• Esther Kollenberg (1913 - 2001) married Michael Gelfand (1913 - 1985) in Johannesburg, South Africa on 26 January 1937
• Eileen Kollenberg (1915 - 1991)
• Nina Kollenberg (1922 - 1996) married Leonard Pinshow (1916 - 2004) in January 1945
• Gerald Kollenberg (1931 - 2021) married Adrienne Rubinstein

L-R: Isadore, Eileen, Johanna, Esther, Nina (in front), Edward, Doris, Glicka Kollenberg. Edward and Glicka were her grandparents.

Occupation: Radiographer

Married: Maurice Bryer on 31 January 1951 in Bulawayo, Rhodesia. Maurice was 39 and Doris 32

Maurice and Doris on their wedding day

Children

• Lesley Beryl Bryer 1952 -
• Beverly Ann Bryer 1956 -

Travel

1923

In 1923 the family (Johanna, Esther, Eileen, Doris and Nina) went to Canada to visit their maternal grandfather, the Reverend Samuel Dubitsky who resided at 13 Evans Street, Montreal, Canada. Doris was age 4. They departed Durban, South Africa aboard the Briton and arrived in Southampton, England on 7 May 1923 on their way to Montreal, Canada

The Canadian arrival card for Doris. They arrived in Quebec aboard the Malta on 20 May 1923

The family departing Montreal and arriving in Liverpool on 17 May 1924 aboard the Montcalm

1938

Doris travelled from Durban, South Africa to England arriving in Southampton on 24 March 1938 aboard the Edinburgh Castle. She is listed as a student from Rhodesia, age 19.

1939

Doris travelled aboard the Empress of Britain from London to New York departing on 29 July 1939 and arriving there on 10 August 1939. The purpose of her visit was study. Here age is given as 20, she is a student and she is 5 foot 6 inches tall with a medium complexion. 

The image is blurred and hard to read. AI reads it as follows:

This image is a U.S. Department of Labor Manifest for Dorothy Kollerberg, , a 20-year-old student from Southern Rhodesia who entered the United States at Rouses Point, N.Y. on November 1, 1939.

Based on the manifest and historical context, here are the key details of her journey:

Personal Information

• Name:  Dorothy Kollerberg
• Age & Sex: 20 years old, Female
• Occupation: Student
• Nationality: S. Rhodesia (Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe)
• Race: Hebrew
• Place of Birth: Bulawayo, S. Rhodesia 

Travel Details

• Passport: Southern Rhodesia Passport No. 26100, valid until December 19, 1943.
• Arrival in U.S.: She arrived via the steamship "Empress of Britain" on August 1o, 1939.
• Destination: She was headed to the Jewish Hospital, 10 No. Morris Pk. West, NYC.
• Purpose of Visit: A temporary stay of one year for study. 

Physical Description. The document includes a detailed physical record used for identification at the time:

• Height: 5 ft. 6 in.
• Complexion: Medium
• Hair: Brown
• Eyes: Brown

Doris initially went to study at Guys Hospital in London.  But once the war broke out in September 1939 she could not go back to Rhodesia so she then went to complete her radiography course in New York. On her return to Southern Africa she worked at the Edenvale hospital in Johannesburg. It was there in Johannesburg that she met her future husband Maurice

1940 USA Census

Doris was living and studying in New York when the 1940 census was conducted. She is a student age 21 with 3 years of college education and residing at the Peter Stuyvesant Hotel

Death

13 July 2010 (2nd Av 5770), age 91, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She is buried in the Lyndhurst Cemetery there, section 3, row R, grave no 56

Tombstone inscription: "Doris Bryer 23.10.1918 - 13.7.2010 Lovingly remembered by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren"

Hebrew translation: "[abbreviation] Here is buried/ Devorah daughter of Yitzchak and Chaya/ passed away 2 Menachem Av 5770/ [abbreviation] May her soul be bound in the bond of life."

Jewishgen cemetery record for Doris

Australian Jewish Historical Society record for Doris 

Residence

In 1976 the family were living at 4 Bevan Avenue, Kumalo, Bulawayo, Rhodesia

Maurice Bryer (1911 - 1986)

Maurice Bryer is a nephew of Rachel Levin, my 2x great aunt. Morris family HERE. Bryer family HERE

Parents: Barnett  Bryer (1878 - 1958) and Dinah Rachel Morris (1879 - 1969)

Tombstone for Maurice's mother Dinah who is buried in the Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg, grave block M, grave no 358. His father Barnett is buried in the Bloemfontein memorial cemetery, plot no 10:601

Born: 11 April 1911 in Bloemfontein, South Africa

Hebrew name: Moshe son of Baruch

Siblings

• Michael Bryer (1904 - 1933) married Anne Smulian (1897 - ?) in April 1927 in London, England
• Nathan Bryer (1908 - 1990) married Rose Frankel (1908 - 1984) on 31 December 1933 in Johannesburg, South Africa
• Leon Bryer (1919 - 1994)

Occupation: Engineer and company director

Married:

1: Phyllis Salkinder (1915 - 1973) probably in Bloemfontein  around 1945/6

Engagement of Maurice and Phyllis in Hashomer, June 1945, p. 7

2: Dorothy Kollenberg, known as Doris, on 31 January 1951 in Bulawayo, Rhodesia. Maurice was 39 and Doris 32

Maurice and Doris on their wedding day

Children

• Lesley 1952 -
• Beverly Bryer 1954 -

Military

In World War 2 Maurice served in the South African air force, rising to the rank of Captain. Here he is in 1941 as a light aircraft mechanic and his service number is 24963

Maurice in the air force

Biography

BRYER, Maurice. B.Sc. Civil Engineering. Director of Company. Born Bloemfontein, 11th April, 1911, son of Barnett and Dinah Bryer. Educated Brebner School, Grey College School, Witwatersrand University. Joint Managing Director, Vulcan Trading Co. (Pvt) Ltd. Bulawayo. Previously employed by Spilkin & Newfield, co-partner Germiston Linen & Furniture Co. Member Bulawayo Hebrew Congregation, Byo Chevra Kadisha, Member Savyon Lodge Old Aged Home, Member Our Parents Home, Johannesburg. Served in World War II S.A.A.F obtained rank of Captain. Married Dorothy Kollenberg 11th January, 1951. Two daughters. Member Glendower Golf Club, Transvaal Automobile Club, Wanderers Club Bulawayo Golf Club. Recreations: Golf, Swimming. Add: 4 Bevan Avenue, Kumalo, Bulawayo. P.O. Box 1757 Bulawayo. (South African Jewry 1976/7)

Death

30 April 1986 (21 Nissan 5746) age 75 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was buried in the Westpark Cemetery there on 2 May 1986, Grave block V, no 2049

Tombstone

"Maurice Bryer 11th April 1911 - 30th April 1986. Lovingly remembered by his wife, children and grandchildren. Rest in Peace"

Jewishgen cemetery record for Maurice Bryer

Westpark cemetery record for Maurice 

Residence

In 1976 the family were living at 4 Bevan Avenue, Kumalo, Bulawayo, Rhodesia