Maurice “Moss” Lewis Platnauer
Birth: 1869 in Swansea, Wales
Death: June 2, 1949 in Victoria, B.C.
Plot: Row D – Plot 25
Inscription:
.פ.נ
משה בן לואיס
.ת.נ.צ.ב.ה
MOSS LEWIS
PLATNAUER
1869 – 1949
Translation of inscription:
.פ.נ (Abbreviation of Hebrew: “Buried here”)
משה בן לואיס (Hebrew: Moshe ben Lewis)
.ת.נ.צ.ב.ה (Abbreviation of Hebrew: “May his/her soul be bound with the bond of life.”)
Moss Lewis Platnauer
1869 – 1949
Biography:
Salesperson, Accountant and leader in the Jewish community
Maurice, who sometimes went by the name “Moss,” came from a large family in England. His mother was British-born. His father was a Polish Jew who along with his brothers escaped Jewish persecution in Europe by going to Chaux des Fonds, Switzerland and studying jewellery, watch and clock-making. He immigrated to England around 1838 and set up a watch making and jewellery business in Birmingham and Bristol. J & S Platnauer, later Platnauer Brothers, and finally R. Platnauer would develop an international reputation. They made charms under the name of Nuvo House until the 1980’s. The company was still in business as of December, 2022.
The 1871 British Census for Birmingham, England showed the Platnauer family living with a lodger and two servants. According to the 1881 British Census, Maurice was a Wholesale Jeweller.
According to the 1921 Canadian Census, Maurice immigrated to Canada in 1903. His name first appears in the Victoria City Directory in 1904. He was listed as an accountant in the 1905 City Directory. In 1908 the City Directory indicated that Maurice was employed as a manager by Fred Landsberg. By 1912 Maurice was working as a salesman at Lenz & Leiser’s wholesale dry goods and clothing store.
(Both Landsberg and Leiser are buried in this cemetery.)
From 1920 to 1943 Maurice was listed in the Victoria City Directory as an accountant, auditor, or bookkeeper. Lenz and Leiser were listed as one of his clients.
The Daily Colonist on December 12, 1923 reported on the creation of the British Pacific Investment and Loan Society. Nine directors including Fred Landsberg were named. Maurice was elected as on of two auditors.
Maurice was also involved in Jewish affairs. The Victoria Daily News on September 9, 1911 reported that a large number of the members of Congregation Emanuel attended the third annual meeting at which M.L. Platnauer was unamously re-elected Secretary for another two year term.
On December 14, 1915, The Daily Colonist published a letter that Maurice, the secretary of the Jewish Relief Committee of Victoria, received correspondence from the National Committee of Jewish Relief Committee in London. The letter, signed by Baron Leopold de Rothschild thanked the Victoria chapter for the funds that were collected for “the relief of the stricken Jews of Poland.”
Maurice was a lodger at 321 Michigan Street in James Bay for most of the time that he lived in Victoria. According to the Victoria City Directory, Maurice retired in 1945 and was living at 204 Government Street.
Parents:
Sophie Silverstein Platnauer (1836-1896)
Micheal Joseph Platnauer (1818-1893)
Siblings:
Emile born circa 1862
Rodolph born circa 1864
Flora born circa 1866
Albert born circa 1868
Percy born circa 1869
George born circa 1871
Septimus born circa 1873
Ethel circa 1877
Additional Images:
The Jewish Cemetery of Victoria, British Columbia 