John Walter Bulner, born 4 February 1883, Ceylon, died 27 May 1967, Melbourne, Australia, married in Christ Church Bangkok, Siam, on 19 December 1912, Daisy Maud Jacobs, daughter of Henry Jacobs and Emima Christobel Conderlag (They returned to Ceylon, leaving Bangkok, Siam, aboard the SS Heim, on 13 September 1919.

YOUR  MOTHER  BORN  IN  SIAM,  YOU’RE  KIDDING!!

Can anyone throw more light on the Burghers who went to Siam in the early nineteenth century. The majority of them returned to Ceylon, whilst a handful stayed back.

About 1906-08, the King of Siam (remember ‘Anna & The king of Siam – well he’s the one), advertised in the Colonies for staff to work on the Royal Siamese Railways and manage the many Saw Mills around the country. Siam, was a British Protectorate and never a colony.

A number of adventurous Ceylonese (most of them Burghers, from the information I have), ventured out to Bangkok, Siam, in search of adventure. The information also states that they were mainly individuals and not families. I like to build up a list of the family names of those that went. Some of the names I have are: Capper, Keith. James, Bulner, Jacob, Rabot.

My maternal grandmother, Daisy JACOBS (born, Colombo, 23 April 1881) went along with several of her brothers. My maternal grandfather John BULNER (born Kandy, 4 February 1883) also went accompanied by his brothers. I suppose it was a similar scenario with many of the others. Grandpa was known to be living in Bangkok, in 1908, when he registered himself at the British Consulate as a British Subject

Grandpa, John BULNER, originally worked at one of the Saw Mills and later moved on to the railway as a Store Keeper. Grandma, Daisy JACOBS, anecdotal evidence states she taught needlework at the Kings Court, whilst her brothers worked on the railways. G’pa and G’ma met, courted and were married on 19 December 1912 at the British Consulate, Bangkok, and on 21 December 1912, at Christ Church, Bangkok.

Their three children were born in Bangkok: Henry Malcolm (Hal), born, 31 October 1913, Iris Daphne, born 21 March 1913, Phyllis Dagmar, on 14 July 1918 (she is my mother). Their birth certificates were issued by the British Consulate, Bangkok and not the Siamese authorities.

Just prior to the outbreak of World War 1, the King of Siam, issued a decree that all the Ceylonese workers (and any other workers from overseas) who wished to continue working in Siam, had to take up Siamese Citizenship or return to their country of origin. Needless to say, G’pa, G’ma and the kids, packed up and returned to Ceylon on the S.S.Heim leaving Bangkok, on 13 September 1919.

G’ma’s brother, Percy JACOBS stayed behind, as he had married a Thai lady. G’pa’s brother, Percy BULNER, also stayed, behind. He married a Scottish lady and later, the daughter of a Danish seafarer (Thai mother).

I would like more information please, on all those who went to Siam in search of adventure/work, those who returned and those who stayed behind, and any oother information. An interesting footnote, my grandparents, Mum, her brother and sister, all spoke Siamese, especially when they did not want us kids to know what was being discussed. Needless to say this irritated us.

Please feel free to send me whatever information you might have. Thank you.

Regards

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                         Victor 

Source: Victor Melder Sri Lanka Library