The Australasian Ufologist Magazine 6/2002 [antikvár]

Editorial In Memory of Andrew Paul Tomas: 1906-2001 Andrew Paul Tomas passed away on November 1st 2001 at Chico, California. He was just 95 years old. Andrew was bom in St. Petersburg, Russia June 23rd 1906. In 1911 the family moved to Helsinki, Finland where his father had a position as civil engineer in the Ministry of the Army Navy. In 1912 Andrew's father announced they were moving to Vladivostock, clear over on the other side of Russia as he had been promoted to State Controller. The Trans-Siberian Rail trip took 10 days because of the vastness of the country and Andrew remembered it very clearly though he was only six years old. Andrew's early school years were in Vladivostock. The family planned on moving back to St. Petersburg in 1917 when his father retired, with intentions of pursuing architecture to supplement his pension. But Czar Nicholas was forced to abdicate when the revolution broke out. In 1922 there were 70000 Japanese soldiers in Vladivostock due to the civil war, but they were planning on pulling out and the Red Army was on their doorstep just waiting for their departure. So the situation became very grave for all former Czarist Government Officials and Officers, especially for those who participated in the White Army. Andrew's father was offered a transfer to Harbin, Manchuria and since his father was working for the railroad they easily secured passage. In 1923 Andrew went to school at an English Methodist Missionary School and learned typing, English and other skills, as did thousands of Russian refugees who had to find jobs. There were 35000 Russians and other foreigners and then times as many Chinese in Harbin. In 1924 the family moved to Shanghai after Andrew, who was now 18 years old, graduated from High School. Andrew lived in China for 21 years, including the time of the Japanese occupation during WW2. During this period he came to the United States in 1927 to 1931. The stock market crash influenced his return to China where he remained until 1948, at which time he flew to Australia because Mao Tse-Tung was on the march from the north heading for Shanghai. During his 20 years in Australia he managed to circle the whole continent from Sydney to Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin. Andrew travelled to India in 1956, the first of three trips (the second in 1966 and 1976). at which time he had a private meeting with the Dalai Llama. This was important to Andrew as he was doing research on his upcoming book "Shambala, Oasis of Light'. In 1966 he also travelled to Egypt and England and moved to Paris that same year, lived in London for awhile, wrote a book in Portugal and wrote another book in Italy and Yugoslavia. He met Heather (his future wife) in 1975 in Zurich, Switzerland at a conference and in 1976 moved to Frankfurt, Germany where he can be closer to Heather. At that time Heather was working for the American Military Army. They were married in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1976 and resided in Frankfiirt until April 10th 1977, when they flew over the pole to Seattle and then to Chico on the 11th. This was due to the fact that the Chico state College allowed him to do research in its Library on future books he had planned to write. Andrew and Heather visited South America for a month in 1977, visiting archaeological sites in Brazil, Bolivia and Peru. Andrew published several books during his 35 year rein as an author. His published books are 'We Are Not the First', 'On the Shores of endless Worlds', 'Beyond the Time Barrier', 'The Home of the Gods', 'Mirage of the Ages', 'Shambala, Oasis of Light', and one published in 1935, 'The Planetary Doctrine'. Translations of these books were published in a total of 60 countries. He was a 32° Member and past Member of the Shanghai Masonic Lodge #5904 (1948) and a Scottish Rite Officer. He transfered his membership to Australia. Andrew could speak and write French, Russian and English fluently and spoke a little Italian. He enjoyed Ancient History, Paleontology, archaeology. Astronomy and travelling. Andrew is survived by his wife Heather and two stepsons, Stanley Brooks Hill of Gardnerville, Nevada and Rodney Allen Hill of Auburn, California, and three grandchildren. Brooks, Sean and Olivia. VOL.5 m THE AUSTRALASIAN UFOLOGIST 3