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HAPPY FAMILIES: Cyril, Yvonne, Richard and Harold pictured in 1927

FROM the other side of the world, Pam Hausler is on a mission to trace her Dorset ancestors.

Pam, who lives in Sydney, Australia, is looking for information on the Gibbs branch of her family tree.

"My paternal grandmother was Dorothy Mary Gibbs, daughter of Henry Gibbs and Polly Sansom," she said. "They lived at 4, Cove Cottages on the Bill' I was told as a child."

Dorothy Mary Gibbs was born in 1896 and was one of five children born to her father (born 1865) and her mother (born 1869).

In 1918, Dorothy married an Australian soldier, Oscar Richard Rosenhain, who was stationed in Portland during the war. Oscar subsequently took his young bride Dorothy and their six-week-old daughter Yvonne, to the isolated country town of Port Pirie in South Australia and she never saw her family again.

"It must have been such a trial for her, even the weather," said Pam. "Port Pirie is very hot and dry, even by Aussie standards."

She then moved to Murray Bridge, still in South Australia.

Dorothy and Oscar had four children and Pam's father, Cyril, was the youngest.

Now, Yvonne, 89, and most of her family live in Tasmania; her younger brothers Richard and Cyril have died, but they lived in Adelaide and Harold, now 86, still does.

The photograph shows Dorothy and Oscar's four children - Yvonne, Richard, Harold and Cyril circa 1927.

"My father was about three in the picture and I love the look on his face," said Pam. "Although I was only eight when he died, I still recall what a joker and fun-loving fellow he was."

She added: "I knew Dorothy as a gently spoken and very refined woman of great generosity of spirit and with much love to share at all times."

She added: "I do know of one other member of the family still living in Weymouth - Henry Gibbs -but not of any others. I have traced what could be a line back to Thomas Gibbs, born circa 1740, but this is yet unconfirmed and there are so many Gibbs in Dorset.

"As you might imagine it is difficult to trace relations in Dorset from Australia, especially a Gibbs in Dorset, and for that reason, I ask for your assistance."

If you know anything of either the Gibbs or Sansom branch of Pam's family, please contact Nicola Rayner on 01305 830971 or email lookingback@dorsetecho.co.uk

9:26am Tuesday 8th April 2008

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