On March 26, 1928, BPW arrived in Britain with Anna and Eva (aged three) to take up his position at Edinburgh University (PHOTO ref: BPW and family, 1928 Embarcation and Immigration form). At the end of 1928 we can see a copy of a minute from the Board of Agriculture of Scotland, which refers to their request to the Under Secretary of State asking to extend BPW’s residency (due to the value of his work there). The memo also refers to Anna’s involvement with the miners Unions in the Central Belt of Scotland: The Under Secretary of State: The Board approached the University confidentially on this matter and they had a call today from Mr. Miles (President of the Royal College of Surgeons) who is Chairman of the Committee of the University Court which looks after the Animal Breeding Department, and Mr. Fleming, the Secretary of the University. Mr. Miles explained that Dr. Wiesner was doing unique work of first class importance. He had made in Germany an independent chemical discovery the results of which he had applied to animals in Edinburgh with success. This success was now being confirmed by preliminary observations on the human subject and most important results may be obtained if success is fully established. In Mr. Miles’ opinion, Dr. Wiesner cannot be replaced. The chemical knowledge required for the work now proceeding is his alone. If he were withdrawn from this work the results of nine months’ valuable and expensive work would be lost. Mr. Miles is satisfied that the University representation would definitely be in favour of his services being retained. It was further suggested that if it would help matters at all, the Principal, Mr. Miles, Secretary, or some influential representative of the University would be prepared to see Mrs. Wiesner with a view to inducing her to cease the association which she has formed. (Id.) C.V. Secretary Board of Agriculture for Scotland EDINBURGH. 28th December, 1928 (PHOTO ref: Board of Agriculture minute re BPW and Anna Gmeyner) We also have a report referring to Anna’s involvement in more detail, and is included here as it also mentions BPW’s previous and highly regarded work in Austria : “Anna Wilmenia Wiesner Austrian, born Vienna 16th March, 1908. Holder of Austrian passport No. 342593, issued at Vienna 4.4.28. Wife of Dr. Bertold Paul WIESNER, Austrian, born at Marchegg, Austria on 24th July, 1901. This woman, who was formerly resident at 24, Eschenalle, Berlin, landed at Leith on 24.5.28. Her husband, who had landed at Harwich on the 26th March, 1928, is in charge of the Animal Research Department of Edinburgh University. In September, 1928, it was ascertained that Mrs. Wiesner had been in the company of Communists in the mining district of Lochgelly. Ostensibly she was writing a book on mining conditions in this country, based on personal observation. She did in fact visit the Jenny Gray Pit, Lochgelly, and the Lochore Colliery. She gave out that she was interested in mining and would like to see the underground workings. She was taken down a pit and asked about the main roads. She asked about the coal cutting machines and also if they had any other machines. She wished to see the coal face, but as no miners were there she was not taken and she enquired as to the number of shafts or outlets there were at the pit. When asked whether she had been down any other pits she said she had been down several in the Lothians - Lady Victoria, newton Grange, Rosslyn Colliery and one near Cramond Bridge. On the occasion of her visits to the Jenny Gray Pit, Lochgelly, and the Lochore Colliery she was accompanied by two individuals well known as associates of Communists.
In October, 1928, it was definitely ascertained that Mrs. Wiesner was in direct touch with David Ramsay, the District Organiser of the Communist Party in Glasgow, and with F. Douglas, a Communist, of Edinburgh, regarding the setting up of Miners’ Relief Committees under the auspices of the Workers’ International Relief. Confirmed proof of her participation in this work can be produced if necessary. Other enquiries that have been made can be produced if necessary. Other enquiries that have been made have established that Dr Wiesner is a well known chemist, who for some time worked as assistant to the well known professor, Dr. Steinach. He has frequently lectured in Vienna on rejuvenation and heredity and bears a good name in scientific circles. He is considered to be a hard working and clever chemist and there is a rumour abroad that he intends to emigrate to Australia. He is a Social Democrat who takes little or no interest in politics, having devoted his whole time to chemical research. Mrs. Wiesner, on the other hand, is known in her native country to be politically very Left. It has not, however, been established whether she is actually a member of the Austrian or German Communist Parties.” (PHOTO ref: Report about Anna Wiesner and communist sympathies) After taking up his position in Edinburgh, BPW travelled in and out of the UK a number of times: the following photos/scans show some of his entries and exits: 9 January 1929 (PHOTO ref: BPW landing at Harwich, 9 January 1929), 6 April, 1929: (PHOTO ref: Aliens Branch file for BPW and Anna Gmeyer) Next we see a list of his travels from 1929 to 1934, as shown by the stamps in his passport. It is possible that he was in Canada and the United States to liase with laboratories there but we have no actual record of why he went there and who he visited. for Breclav in South Moravia 1929 6 January 1929 Czechoslovakia 7 January 1929 ( with receipt of visa payment) 9 January 1929 Visa to remain in UK until 26th March 1929 Stamped by Immigration Officer Edinburgh City Police Aliens' Department (16 March 1929) Stamped by Chief Inspector Aliens Branch Home Office 22 April 1929 Extension of Visa to remain until 26 March 1930 Stamped by Immigration Officer Edinburgh City Police Aliens' Department 26 April 1929 August 8th 1929 Stamp of American Consulate Visa in London for travel to America Visa stamp 28 September 1929 can land in Glasgow and remain in UK until 26 March 1930 Stamp of Edinburgh City Police Aliens Department (30 September 1929) Extension of UK Visa 20 December 1929 to stay until 26 March 1931 Stamped 14 April 1930 Aliens Branch Home Office 3 September 1930 Buchs in Switzerland 11 September 1930 France Transit Visa 3 November 1930 permitted to land in UK (Harwich) but not to stay after 24 March 1931 UK Visa dated 1 April 1931 to leave no later than 26 March 1932 Also Stamped June 1931 entry to Quebec Canada. 9 June 1931 American Visa Stamped by America Consulate in Scotland. UK Visa 29 June 1931 to land in UK but not to remain in the UK after 26 March 1932 31 July 1931 Transit Visa for France 13 August 1932 stamped in France and also a stamp 20 August 1933 for Basel in Switzerland Entry to Italy 28 August 1932 , Entry to Italy 3 September 1932 16 August 1932, Visa to travel from Bergen in Norway to Edinburgh. Permission to remain until 16 April 1933 Stamp for Newhaven UK 3rd September 1933 Stamp for Harwich UK 22 Sept 1933 Stamp for Southampton 13 March 1934 Stamp from Brenner (border between Austria and Italy) 3 September 1932 Stamp from Buchs Switzerland 21 June 1933 France- Transit Visa Dunkirk 19 August 1933 Commissariat Special St Louis 1933 Commissariat Special Paris 28 October 1933 accompanied by daughter Eva Wiesner 31 October 1933 admission of child only by Immigration Officer in Newhaven Stamp from Commissariat Special USA Temporary Visitor Visa 5 Feb 1934 valid for 2 months (PHOTO ref: BPW passport 1929) (PHOTO ref: BPW's arrival in Harwich, 20 December 1929) (PHOTO ref: Home Office form about arrival in Glasgow from Canada) He did not have permanent residency in Britain for the first three years after he arrived in Edinburgh, and the Department of Genetics wrote to the Home Office a number of times in order to request extensions to his visa as shown in the following letters: March 27th 1930. University of Edinburgh King’s Buildings, West Mains Road. Sir, It is required of me formally to state that I wish to obtain permission from the Under Secretary of State for Dr. B. P. Wiesner, an assistant in this Department, to remain in this country for a further period of time. He is in charge of a section in this Department, and I could not possibly replace him at the present time. His work has been the means of attracting a very considerable amount of attention, and also endowment, to this Department, and his conduct during the past year has been entirely satisfactory. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, Signed F.A.E. Crew To: The Under Secretary of State, Home Office, Whitehall, London, S.W.1. (PHOTO ref: Dept of Genetics to Under Sec of State 1930) The following year, Dr Crew writes to the Home Office again: Department of Animal Genetics, King’s Buildings West Main Road ,Edinburgh. March 24th 1931. Sir, I beg to enclose herewith the passport of Dr. B.P. Wiesner. Dr. Wiesner is a senior member of the staff of this Department, and his services to the Department, and to the University, with which we are closely associated, have become indispensable. His work is of such high standing that it would seriously embarrass our activities were he obliged to leave, and I therefore beg leave to request that his period of residence in this country be prolonged indefinitely. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, (signed) F.A.E. Crew The Under Secretary of State, Home Office, Whitehall, London, S.W.1. (PHOTO ref: Dept of Genetics to Under Sec of State 1931) In 1932, Dr Crew writes again, this time requesting an indefinite stay for BPW: Institute of Animal Genetics, King’s Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh. 3rd February 1932 The Under Secretary of State, Home Office, London, S.W.1. Sir, I wish to apply on behalf of Dr. B.P. Wiesner for an extension of his sojourn in this country. It can be said of Dr. Wiesner that he attracted to this institute the endowment from which his own salary is derived. Furthermore out of this endowment the salaries and wages of over a dozen people of British nationality are provided. Mr. T.B. Macaulay who gave this endowment to the University of Edinburgh is particularly interested in the work that Dr. Wiesner himself is doing and there is no doubt that if Dr. Wiesner were to leave Macaulay’s interests in this institute would diminish if not cease. I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant
(signed) F.A.E. Crew
(PHOTO ref: Dept of Genetics to Under Sec of State 1932)
On September 14 1933, BPW applied for naturalisation and placed a notice in The Scotsman. (PHOTO ref: BPW naturalisation application, PHOTO ref: Naturalisation notice in The Scotsman) His naturalisation was granted on 30 August 1934 . We don’t have a copy of the actual certificate but the reference is as follows: Reference: HO 334/226/367 , Description: Naturalisation Certificate: Bertold Paul Wiesner. From Austria. Resident in Edinburgh. Wife's name Unspecified [Wiesner]. Children: Eva Maria Charlotte Michele Wiesner. Home Office Reference: W 351. Certificate BZ367 issued 30 August 1934. In that year, 1934, he was still having to apply to the Home Office for permission to stay in the UK for his daughter Eva, and the transcription reads: Name of Alien in full: WIESNER Berthold Paul . Aliens Naturalization. Fee W351/2. MINUTES: Police Report, See minutes on 530601/9. Austrian aged 33 yrs. 6 yrs residence in the U.K. Austrian born wife from whom he is separated. 1 foreign born daughter residing with him whom he desires to be included in the cert. He is a lecturer at Edinburgh Univ. but is seeking another appointment. The Proc Fisc and the local police do not like his political opinions but otherwise have nothing to say against him. The application is well supported . Grant £9 , Include daughter Eva etc , Omit reference to the wife. Amendment: Address: 1, Lennox Street, Edinburgh initialized] 18/7/1934 .
(Carole M. comments: The position of divorce in Austria is peculiar. Prior to the present regime it was the case, according to the information given us by the Austrian legislature, that where the divorce is not final and is a separation, its parties unless there were faults were urged to remarry. In response it would not be just to refuse naturalisation in this case. Gibberish – appalling grammar and scant knowledge of the then legal position concerning divorce in Austria. This was in July 1934. In fact, in 1783 Joseph II, who was a reforming Emperor, had made it legal for couples to divorce by mutual agreement provided they were not Catholic and had not married in Church. This was effectively separating Church marriages from State civil marriages. Joseph II was known as a monarch of the Enlightenment – his many reforms included permitting schools for the children of Jewish families, and other schools for those of minority groups. The legislation regarding marriage did not change till 1938 and the Anschluss, when German law prevailed.
(PHOTO ref: Police Report on BPW’s application to remain in UK with Eva Wiesner, 18 July 1934)