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Showing posts with label Manuk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Manuk. Show all posts

30 March 2016

The Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy, Calcutta 1821 to Present Day.




This story is brought to you with the support of the
AGBU UK Trust.

In tribute and celebration of the 195th anniversary of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy in Kolkata. Remembering the first Headmaster, Arratoon Kaloos and a selection of others associated with the school.

The list of Founders of the school.




  
A great deal has already been written about Arratoon Kaloos and it is not my intention to repeat it all here.  Suffice to say he was born in 1777 in Tokat in Anatolia, he started the first Armenian school in Calcutta in 1798[1]. (Mesrovb Seth’s “Armenians in India” can be downloaded here https://archive.org/details/ArmeniansInIndia_201402)
Arratoon was passionate about education and he was one of several Armenians in Calcutta who came together to create the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy.  More on the history of the ACPA can be read on their website. http://www.armeniancollege.edu.in/about-us/.

What is perhaps much less known about him is that he was one of the earliest financial contributors to the Armenian Church in Singapore. The Will[2] along with the Estate Accounts of Arratoon Kaloos clearly show that he was a named subscriber to the building and subsequent completion of the church.





The first paragraph of Aratoon Kaloos's Will.



Extract from the estate accounts of Arratoon Kaloos dated 1834[3]

The extract shows evidence of his financial support
to the building of the Armenian Church in Singapore


"11 April 1834 to cash paid to Mr. P Jordon the deceased's subscription to the completion of the Armenian Church at Sineapore (sic)."

This is the first time I have seen written in any estate accounts evidence of the support Calcutta Armenians, and in particular a named individual, gave to the community in Singapore for the erection of their own church. Normally a generalisation is made in reference material that the Armenian communities in Calcutta, Java and Singapore raised the necessary funds.

Arratoon Kaloos had been the head master of the Armenian College during the first years of its inception and it can be seen from his will and supporting accounts that he was a generous man of heart and mind. As well as supporting the school and the church, he and his wife adopted a child and brought him up as if he was his own. Ever grateful to Arratoon Kaloos for his kindness in offering him a home, the child Arratoon John Agacy, went on to marry and have children one of whom he named Kaloos in his honour.


A simply family tree chart


In his Will dated 9th February 1832, Arratoon Kaloos left a legacy specifically to the Armenian College. “To the Managers, for the time being, of the Armenian Philanthropic Academy in Calcutta, in trust, to be applied for and towards the maintenance and education of the indigent Pupils of the said Academy the sum of two thousand Sicca Rupees. Rs2000.0.0.”





The estate accounts indicate a small amount of interest had been made on the original legacy.



Another founding member of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy in 1821 was Aviet Agabeg. Rarely remembered these days as one of several who changed the life path of so many, his obituary reflected his loss as well as his achievements.  Unlike others such as Arratoon Kaloos, Aviet Agabeg[4] did not leave any legacies in his will to the Armenian College, preferring to ensure his wife and children inherited his estate. During his lifetime Aviet was a staunch backer and supporter.

Aviet Agabeg's Obituary, written by an un-named ex student
of the Armenian College and Philanthrophic Academy


It should be remembered that Sir Paul Chater (or simply Paul Chater as he was then) took the bold step to bring six Armenian College students over from Calcutta to Hong Kong in 1899. Knowing that he could make a difference to peoples’ lives, he gave them commercial opportunities that would otherwise not have been available to them. Although Sir Paul never attended the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy in Calcutta (his preferred school was La Martiniere in Calcutta), by investing personally and professionally in the future of six young students he demonstrated that he did indeed have very fond memories of the Armenian community in Calcutta where he once roamed as a bare foot orphan boy himself.

Chater suggested they give up their studies earlier than planned and take advantage of an offer he was making to them to emigrate with him to Hong Kong and fill jobs he had obtained and held for them at the Post Office in Hong Kong[5].

The students in question were:

Mr. G.M. Gregory (not to be confused with Rev. G. Gregory)
Mr. Tigran Matthews Gregory 
Mr. Stephen M. Joseph
Mr. Nazareth Malcolm Manuk
Mr. Mackertich Cyril Owen
and 1 other with a nickname "Goblin"

The Apcar ship 'Lightning'. Courtesy of John Schlesinger

They all arrived in Hong Kong in late 1899.  A coincidence in this small story is that they took the ship "Lightning", which was the same ship Chater sailed on in 1864 when he left Calcutta for Hong Kong.  Chater, an Indian Armenian pioneer in 1864 facilitated more Indian Armenian pioneers 35 years later.  The ship belonged to the Calcutta based Armenian company Apcar & Co, and thus the promise of a new life and prospective fortune was instigated and carried out by Chater and Apcar. Both, who were influential in their own right in the Far East, having paved the way for further Armenian settlers to seek their fortune in the Fragrant Harbour and also keeping it nicely within the Armenians of Calcutta community.


The students all took up their positions obtained for them by Chater in the Post Office in Hong Kong.  Five of them are listed in official papers of the colony[6].  They were all earning $40.00 per month with a $4 sorting allowance.  None of them stayed long in the Post Office, all of them ultimately making a good living, particularly Tigran Matthews Gregory.  Tigran started his own company T.M. Gregory & Co of which he was sole proprietor and he was also a well connected and established diamond merchant in Hong Kong during his lifetime.  Without that first leg up from Paul Chater, Tigran Matthews Gregory would not have been in a position to donate to the Armenian Church in Calcutta so generously upon his death, Tigran died in Hong Kong in 1962 and is buried in the same cemetery as Sir Paul Chater.  Thus, the Armenian Church in Calcutta acquired further generous donations which, ordinarily it would not have received but for Sir Paul.  




Nazareth Malcolm Manuk joined the Post Office briefly in 1899 but quickly obtained a position with the Chartered Bank of India.  After about 18 months he then joined The Dairy Farm, a company that Paul Chater had helped to start. Within a year of joining in 1905 Malcolm (who dropped his Christian name of Nazareth to fit more easily into the British establishment), was promoted to Secretary of the Company a position which showed that he was held in the highest esteem for his business abilities.  Malcolm dedicated 27 years of his life at the Dairy Farm Company and its rapid progress was in no small measure because of his responsibilities.  During WW1 he served in the Hong Kong Volunteer Corps in what was known as the Right Section Machine Gun Company.  He was well liked and thoroughly efficient.  He was also an extremely good marksman and won many shooting trophies.

Malcolm took a keen interest in theosophy and was the Presidential Agent of China of the Theosophical Society in Hong Kong where he often gave lectures.
 
The six men had a long and close friendship for the rest of their lives and in particular Malcolm Manuk and Tigran Matthews who later became his brother in law because Mrs. Gregory was Mr. Manuk’s sister Ripsey.  Malcolm Manuk died in Hong Kong in 1932[7].

After three years at the Post Office, Stephen M. Joseph felt confident enough in himself and his abilities to try his luck in Shanghai, but perhaps youthful exuberance, or slight immaturity held him back and he wasn't as successful there as he would have liked.  However, undaunted and unbowed, he left for Japan with one of the original six friends, and he secured a job with an American firm.  S.M. Joseph lived in Japan for 23 years and became extremely successful.  However, his brother, Abraham Joseph had a Shellac business in Jhalda and asked Stephen to join him.  He left Japan for India with approximately a lakh of Rupees in his pocket but tragically just prior to his leaving, he learnt of his brother's death by drowning which happened in 1927.  Shortly after this the big depression in trade set in and in 1930 all his savings where lost.  Stephen Joseph was now in serious financial difficulties and facing great hardship.  He received a letter from one of the original six friends that he had travelled to Hong Kong with from Calcutta, and who had heard of his hard times, the letter contained a job offer with a firm in Bangkok.  He immediately took the offer up and left for Bangkok to start his life all over again at the age of 60.  He became a successful businessman there.

Mackertich Cyril Owen, (known as Mack Owen) after his time at the Post Office, took a position as an assistant with the well known firm of A.H. Rennie & Co., Mack married in March 1909 at St. John’s Cathedral, Hong Kong to Phyllis Seth the daughter of the Court Registrar of Hong Kong, Arathoon Seth and his wife Catharine.  Arrathoon’s family was originally from Madras.

Other Armenians from India who settled and worked there during the lifetime of Paul Chater were Owen Elias Owen, Enos Seth, Harold Arathoon Seth, John Hennesey Seth, Seth Arathoon Seth and Aratoon Vertannes Apcar[8], to name but a few.

That friendship of six Armenian College students was solely due to Sir Paul Chater bringing them together, spotting their potential and giving them the chance of a lifetime to make something of themselves.  They in turn held each other in the highest regard all through their lives; that bond of friendship forged on the decks of the "Lightning" on that long journey between Calcutta and Hong Kong was etched in their minds for life.

Over the last 195 years the Armenian College has turned out numerous students who have made a difference in the world one way or another. With some patience and persistence one can find references to students and ex students in newspapers, journals, periodicals, institutions, repositories and libraries.

Congratulations Armenian College & Philanthropic Academy on your 195th anniversary, may you have many more years of education and celebration in front of you.

From little acorns, mighty oak trees do grow.




[1] Armenians in India by Mesrovb Seth. P.481
[2] British Library: L/AG/34/29/53
[3] British Library: L/AG/34/27/106/333.  See also L/AG/34/27/109/2, L/AG/34/27/169/81, L/AG/34/27/170/69.
[4] Oriental Observer (Calcutta, India), Sunday, November 18, 1832; pg. 520; Issue 47. Empire.

[5] Armenian College Old Boys’ Union Souvenir 1909-1959
[6] Hong Kong Government papers. Correspondence Respecting Increase of Salaries of Subordinate Officers in the Civil Service of the Colony. October 1900
[7] The China Mail 7 April 1932
[8] Hong Kong Government Gazettes

23 February 2015

Manuk: From the Killing Fields of France to the Diamond Fields of Africa


Geoffrey Manuk’s Extraordinarily Short Life.

His Armenian pedigree stretches back several centuries with ancestors such as Khojah Phanoos Kalandar, Coja Sultan David Shameer, Astur Sarkies de Agavally, Ter Johannes Sarkies, Phanoos Bagram and Kevork ter Simon to name just a few, it is surprising to find that he was in fact baptised in a Scottish church in Calcutta, his parents clearly shunning the family history that was in his DNA.


Born in London 5th January 1894 to Percy and Nellie Manuk he was baptised in St. Andrew’s Church Calcutta a year later[1]. 

Birth certificate of Geoffrey Chater Manuk

Baptism record of Geoffrey Manuk at
St. Andrew's Church, Calcutta



A 2 x great grand nephew of Sir Paul Chater a philanthropist from Calcutta, Geoffrey’s own father Percy was a renown barrister and art collector who lived in Patna, India where he practised law. An only child he spent his early years in Calcutta. Like many young men in India, Geoffrey applied to join the Indian Army, something that would give him a footing for the future. When the First World War broke out he sailed for England to sign up.

He was assigned to the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and by the end of October 1914 had been appointed with a temporary commission as Lieutenant. Just a month later he was again promoted this time to temporary Captain and by January 1916 he had been posted to the 7th Battalion in France. He fought, marched, fought some more, saw many friends die in the killing field and spent a year in the godforsaken trenches before returning to England in February 1917. By May 1917 he was back in France.  Extracts from the battalion war diary[2] for October 1917 give a snapshot of the life, conditions and routine that Geoffrey would have encountered on the front line.


War Diary of the 7th Battalion
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Extract for October 1917




Place, Date, Hour



PROVEN, 1.X.17

In camp (P5) preparing for move.



On Route PROVEN TO BAPAUNE

2.X.17

Battn. Marched from camp to PROVEN RAILHEAD and entrained 11am for BAPAUME, arriving midnight.



BAPAUME-YTRES

3.X.17

Marched with transport to YTRES via ORCQUINEY arriving about 6am. Remainder of day resting and changing camp.



YTRES-HAUT ALLAINES

4.X.17. 12.50p.m

Bn (with transport) left camp at 12.50 and marched to HAUT ALLAINES via ETRICOURT, MANANCOURT & MOISLAINES, arriving at 2.30pm.



HAUT ALLAINES

5.X.17-7.X.17



Refitting and reorganising. Weather very wet. MAJOR LP STOOR 12th KINGS, attached to Bn as Sec-in-Command to A/Lt-Col J.T. Jenson 6/10.17.



HAUT ALLAINES0SOREL LE GRAND

8.X.17. 9am.



Embussed at MOISLAINES & debussed near FINS, marching thence to Nisson Huts at SOREL, arriving noon.



SOREL-VILLERS GURSLAIN

9.X.17. 9pm



Relieved 21st Middlesex Regt. (40th Divsn. 121st. Infy Bde) A B & HQRS at GUISLAIN (x2B9) & C+ D Coys behind GONNELIEU (R26 c +d).



Continued to SUPPORT LINE 7 days, providing garrison; also working parties for 7 SOM L.I. (right front coy) and 7 D.C.L.I. (left front coy).



16.X.17. 8pm

A/Lt.Col J.T. JANSON left for 30 days special leave in UK. Major LP STORR assumed command with Capt. R.G. ROYLE as Sec-in-Command.



GONNELIEU 16.X.17-22.X.17 Relieved 7 D.C.L.I. in left front sector, with companies distributed as follows: Right Front B, Left Front D, Right Support A, Left Support C. On the 19th there was an inter-company relief, the support coys moving into front lines and the front line coys into support.



17.X.17.



2/Lt. W. Short appointed ADJUTANT vice 2/LT R.C.W. SMITHERS (killed in action Aug 16/17) from Aug 17th.



18.X.17



2/LT C. Ellis with a patrol of 18 D.R. lost direction and entered a German trench. The party effected its escape leaving the officer behind.



20.X.17. 10am



Court of Enquiry convened by MAJOR LP STORR assembled at BN. HQRS. Members. CAPT. R.G. ROYAL (President), LT. N.D. GYE & 2/LT H.R. PRUST. Instructions: to record opinion on “(I) Whether Sec.Lt. ELLIS is missing, killed, prisoner of war or wounded and prisoner of war.



(II) Circumstances attending loss of Lewis Gun & Three Rifles and culpability of men in charge of same”. After examining nine witnesses, the Court found that 2/LT ELLIS must be wounded and a prisoner of war. A qualified culpability was brought against men who abandoned Lewis Gun & rifles.



VAUELLETTE FARM & RAILTON

22.X.17 – 29.X.17



Relieved in left front sub-section by 7 D.C.L.I. & proceeded into RESERVE: hqr COY & a*c TO Vaucellette fm & b&d Coys to RAILTON. Intensive training in musketry, bombing, PT & close order drill was carried out with good results.



23.X.17

Bn took baths at HEAUDECOURT. Also on 27th.



26.X.17

Concer at HEUDECOURT arranged by Pdre. Rev. F.M. WINDLEY (C of E).



27.X.17



Football match at MOUSLAINES. 62 field ambulance V. 7. K.O.Y.L.I result Amb.4 K.O.Y.L.I. 1



28.X.17



Voluntary Church parades and working parties.



GONNELIEU. 29.X.17



Relieved 7 D.C.L.I. (less 1 Co) in left front sub-Sector with Companies disposed as follows: right front “A”, Right Support “B”, Left Front “C”. “D£ Co was at Fins assisting R.E.s.



30.X.17. 6am

“D£ Co relieved “C” Co. D.C.L.I. in Left Support.



31.X.17

Battalion extended its front to the left. Right support co took over No. 1 Post R. Front Co. Right Front Co took over posts 1 & 2 L.F. co. Left Front Co took over posts from 10th K.R.R. bringing his left to the GOUZEAUCOURT-CAMBRAI RD.


Due to illness Captain Manuk left the unit on 30th October 1917 and headed for Rouen from where he sailed for England arriving on the 16th November 1917. He was one of many to suffer P.U.O. commonly known as trench fever, something that plagued hundreds of soldiers in France.


“Medical Officers during World War 1 tended to put trench fever down as PUO - pyrexia (ie fever) of unknown origin. Often they would take a stern view and prescribe "M&D" - medicine and duty. The unfortunate soldier would be returned to duty with some medicine, often the notorious Pill No. 9 (see right). Pill No. 9 was a laxative beloved of the British Army doctor; it's doubtful that it did much to help a man suffering with a fever.

Not all men suffering with trench fever could return to duty, they were simply too ill. In those cases, they would be evacuated to a hospital for rest and recuperation. It's likely that many of them were in no rush to recover and rejoin their unit. Trench fever, though unpleasant, was undoubtedly a welcome relief from being shelled on the front line.[3]


By January 1918 Geoffrey Manuk had been placed in a convalescing home at Osborne on the Isle of Wight. In February of that year he wrote a desperate letter to the War Office stating that he was still too unwell and not fit for service. In April a report from  Maudsley Neurological Hospital in London recommended no further hospital treatment for Capt Manuk but perhaps another 4 months spell at a convalescing home and suggested he “may again be fit for sedentary duties at home”. However, that was not to be and he relinquished his commission on account of his ill-health on the 19th June 1918.  He was granted the honorary rank of Captain.

He was awarded the British War and Victory medals on the 21st December 1921.

Geoffrey was awarded the British and Victory war medals

After the end of the war he can be found living in Iverna Court, London in 1919, ironically not far from the Armenian Church.

Geoffrey was living close to the Armenian Church in London

In the early 1920’s having recovered from the illnesses that had cut his war service unexpectedly short and perhaps yearning for some warmth on his body and maybe a safer adventure for his heart, he can be found in South Africa as a diamond digger. A bachelor with no commitments, he might have thought it would be a good way to make some money. It was in fact a brutal way to earn a living, the searing heat and basic conditions of the mines were not for the faint hearted. He didn’t last long and on the 19th October 1924 at Droogveld, Sydney-on-Vaal in Barkly West he died aged 30 years and 9 months. Having been through the very harrowing and bitter times of WW1 in Flanders, he met his death in the harsh scrub land of the South African desert panning for diamonds.  His debts amounted to £100 (sterling) which were paid by his father, P.C. Manuk. The list of possessions as noted in his estate inventory show the very bare minimum he had with him[4].

Geoffrey's Estate Papers are held at the
Cape Town National Archives

1 silver wristlet watch
1 pocket compass
1 wood and canvas stretcher bed
1 box kitchen utensils, Beatrice and primus stoves
1 cabin trunk containing clothing
1 leather suitcase, containing clothing
1 bundle of clothing, etc. & helmet
1 leather writing satchel and contents
1 box boots (3 pairs)
1 box sundries (shaving and toilet requisites etc)
1 square tank (wood and iron) 6' x 4'
1 house (since smashed by the wind) 8' x 9'
1 single bebe
1 overcoat (gents)

He is buried at the Old Mine Cemetery, Sydney on Vaal, Delportshoop, Barkly West District, Northern Cape, South Africa.[5]


Buried in the Old Mining Cemetery at
Sydney on Vaal, South Africa
Photo courtesy of: Gansie Coetzee, South Africa
Via website: The Genealogical Society of South Africa  eGSSA branch


My thanks and acknowledgments go to Gansie Coetzee and the Genealogical Society of South Africa for photographing and recording the graves at the Old Cemetery, Sydney on Vaal (rural farm cemeteries) where Geoffrey Chater Manuk is buried. A simple tombstone and taking into account the harsh sun and dusty conditions in the African veld, it has a remarkably readable inscription.

There are no Armenians in Sydney on Vaal and it is likely that his grave has never been visited by family or friends - maybe one day someone will.






[1] British Library: N1-241-43
[2] King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry War Diaries: National Archives, Kew WO 95/2127/2
[3] Trench Fever and Lice in WW1.  http://hubpages.com/hub/Trench-Fever-in-World-War-1
[4] Estate papers of Geoffrey Chater Manuk: Cape Town National Archives, South Africa
[5] The Genealogical Society of South Africa  eGSSA branch http://www.eggsa.org/welcome_e.htm