Johan Heinrich Kirchler
was born on 31 May 1872 at Theringwals in Germany.
He was born to Johan
Heinrich Kirchler (born 1831) and his wife, Ottiliea Von Struck (four years
younger than her husband, born in 1835)
Johan Heinrich Kirchler
(Snr) was a master weaver by occupation.
Johan (Jnr) joined or was
conscripted into the German navy, and found himself in the German Pacific
Fleet.
By November 1900, he
found himself in Sydney, Australia as a sailor aboard a steamship.
In Sydney, he jumped ship
whilst the ship was berthed in the capacious Sydney harbour.
He had fallen for a
petite auburn haired lovely little Irish Australian lass by the name of
Winifred Leonard, who had been born in Dublin on 10 April, 1882, and had
emigrated with her family to Sydney, Australia.
Johan was tracked down by
the Water Police after the Captain of the ship had reported him missing, and
arrested.
He was hauled before the
Magistrate at the Water Police Court in Phillip Street, Sydney, Mr Beaumont
S.M.
The Magistrate, Mr. G.
Beaumont, told him the facts of life: under the law, he was required to return
him into the custody of the Master of his ship, to be returned to Germany to
face the German Courts, and no doubt compulsory military service in the
Kaiser's gathering hordes.
Johan realised that his
only salvation was to seek asylum in Australia, the land of the free, the land
of growth, opportunity and prosperity, the land on the verge of ambitious
colonies about to merge into a new Federation called the Commonwealth of
Australia. But how could he seek such asylum. There was no refugee provisions
in those days.
His only answer was to
marry this cute Irish Australian lass he had met as daughter of a wharfie, Jack
Leonard, who was working at Darling Harbour wharves at the time.
He pleaded clemency to
the Magistrate, Mr. Beaumont. He said that he intended to marry this lovely
Australian girl he had met.
Mr. Beaumont had heard it
all before. "Prove it to me", he said.
So the Leonard family was
called in to the Water Police Court where Johan was being held, and a Minister
was called for to perform the rites of marriage.
The Minister was the Rev.
E. Masterman of the local Primitive Methodist Church, an extremely historical
19th century church which has gone down in the annals of time, and was closely
related to the Lutheran Church so influential in Protestant Germany.
Winifred came in with her
best friend Mary Beckman.
Her Dad, Jack Leonard,
had to sign the Consent to Marry, in the Magistrates' Office, as Winifred was
only 18, and a Consent to Marry by a Parent or Guardian was necessary for male
or female under 21 in those days.
The wedding was conducted
in the Magistrate's office in the back of the Water Police Court in Phillip
Street. It would have been not quite appropriate to conduct such a ceremony in
the Courtroom itself, even though Johan had earlier spent some time in
handcuffs in the dock there. He had expressed his honest intentions, and the
Magistrate was proper enough to make the ceremony as civil and comfortable as possible without letting Johan free
of the jurisdiction.
The date was 23 November,
1900.
Johan Heinrich Kirchler
showed his incipient Australianisation by signing his name as Harry on
the marriage certificate.
Eighteen year old
Winifred appended her neat signature.
The wedding party
resorted to a nearby pub for a celebration of a wedding breakfast and Johan's
relief from his daunting experience.
Later the wedded pair
stayed at the bride's home at 45 Murray Street, Pyrmont, near Darling Harbour wharves,
where Jack (John) Leonard, his wife Bess (Elizabeth, nee` Hudson), and family
lived.
After overcoming the
shock and relief at his new life, and the opportunities before him, Johan
realised that he would have to support his new wife, and went looking for work.
THE
TRUTH
It makes a good story
But is it the truth.
Can we sift the grains of
history and find out some hard facts.
When Harry died in 1931,
his widow, Winifred, when registering the death at Burwood registry, advised
the registrar that Johan Heinrich Kirchler had spent the last 37 years in New
South Wales, and 37 from 1931 comes to 1894.
It is to Winifred that we
must also look for the story on Harry jumping ship.
During the latter half of
the nineteenth century throughout the Australian colonies, there were
approximately 10,000 desertions and other absences by seamen.
Reports of deserting
seamen first made their rather sudden appearance in the New South Wales
Government Gazette early in February, 1852. No announcement preceded these
first notices, nor any reasons given for their appearance, but it can be
surmised that the phenomenon had become a major problem, and the problem was
caused by the discovery of gold in 1851 and the ensuing rush to the fields.
The great exodus to the
goldfields stripped the ports of many seamen, as well as potential
replacements, necessitating the preparation of warrants for the arrest and
return of the deserters themselves. This recourse appears to have met with
little success in spite of the great size of many of the rewards offered.
After the gold rush,
desertions continued to be reported, at a moderate to low rate, for the
remainder of the century. Half of the recorded desertions for the latter half
of last century in the Australian colonies had occurred by the end of 1860.
There were two
resurgences in the 1870's and 1880's, one of which was again due to the
discovery of gold.
Desertion notices first
appeared in the New South Wales Government Gazette for the period
1852-1862. In 1862, the New South Wales Police Gazette took over the
role of reporting desertions.
Most of the men and
youths named in the Notices were straight forward deserters; however, a small
minority were variously described as Stragglers, Strays, and Absentees, or as
being Absent Without Leave.
Stragglers, Strays, and
Absentees were from among the crew and personnel aboard Her Majesty's Ships,
who, in the main, had failed to return in the required time, and might be found
in the vicinity of the port. These terms were tentative, however, as the Naval
authorities often added an alternative, higher reward, which would be paid if
it could be shown that the straggler was in fact a deserter. A deserter, on the
other hand, usually made straight for the interior, or some point far from the
port of desertion.
Seamen and personnel
deserted from two main types of vessel - private, and Naval (Her Majesty's
Ships, and foreign). Non-government vessels were the source of the great
majority of deserters from 1852 to 1857. Thereafter, deserters and stragglers
from Her Majesty's Ships began to appear with some frequency, increasing, by
steps, to almost entirely dominate the records from 1864 to the turn of the
Century.
When the Gulgong
goldfields were in full swing, in the early 1870's, a small increase in the
number of desertions from non-government vessels occurred, but they did not
overtake the departures from Naval vessels at any stage of the overall
resurgence.
In the last decade of the
nineteenth century, i.e. the 1890's, there was a large number of Naval vessels
that called at Colonial ports and lost crew through desertion. Approximately
114 of Her Majesty's ships made frequent appearances. Vessels belonging to the
German, French, Austro-Hungarian, United States, Italian, and Netherlands
governments, all had crew lost in Australasian ports.
It should be remembered that a lot of these countries had Pacific
Colonies to patrol eg. German New Guinea and Samoa.
Up to the middle of 1864,
all desertions reported occurred in New South Wales. Most of them were in Port
Jackson, but reports from Newcastle were frequent. Only a few were reported at
other ports in New South Wales, such as Ballina, Eden, and Port Stephens.
From 1864, notices of
Victorian desertions began to appear, and, one by one, all of the remaining
colonies- including New Zealand, Fiji, and even Port Darwin- began to feature
in the notices.
The last peak in the
number of desertions was in the years 1880 to 1883. It appears to have been
encouraged by a combination of a brief agricultural boom, and an unprecedented
spate of railway building, which greatly enlarged employment opportunities in
that period. In the severe economic depression of the 1890's, even the great
gold finds in Western Australia caused no noticeable increase in the low rate
of desertions during that decade.
The Desertion Notices
varied in the amount and quality of detail of information given about the
particular deserter. From 1854 on, most deserters were graced with a physical
description, in addition to the name of the ship, the person's name, his
classification, and, perhaps, a reward.
The personal description
is usually a perfunctionary one- describing the deserter's height, complexion,
hair, and eye colour, and obvious marks. A small proportion of notices also
provide the deserter's nationality or race, but many apparently foreign names
appear without any mention of their nationality.
Details were usually
fuller if the deserter was from one of Her Majesty's Ships, as the details of
age and place of birth were usually included, and, after the transfer of the
notices to the New South Wales Police Gazette in 1862, and from 1864,
when almost all desertions were from Her Majesty's ships, particulars of
birthplace and age became very nearly the rule.
The characteristics of
deserters were very much as could be imagined. They were usually young- 17 to
25. Very few were older than 35 years of age, and men in their 40's and 50's
were rare. Most deserters were from the lower classifications, such as Ordinary
Seaman, Able Seaman, Boy, or apprentice. A small minority, especially during
the gold rush, were from higher ratings, such as Chief Officer, 2nd mate,
Quarter master, or were tradesmen, such as Ship's carpenter, or Sailmaker. Some
of the latter, plus the occasional, apparently excellent, Captain's cook, were
evidently so prized, or essential, that rewards of up to 50 pounds were
offered.
Like seamen of today, a
very high proportion of the deserters bore tattoos. Many of these tattoos
appear to have been done in ink by the seamen themselves during their long
confinements on board.
Among the deserters from
Her Majesty's Ships, which were invariably steam ships, were personnel not
noted among deserters from private vessels, such as Engine Room Artificers,
Qualified and Leading Signalmen, and Warrant Officer's Servants. There were
also deserters from the Marines on board, including members of the Royal
Marines Light Artillery, and the Royal Marines Light Infantry.
Most deserters appear to
have been born in England, particularly the southern counties, Irish were the
next most numerous. Germans composed the next largest group, with the Welsh
some way behind. A whole gamut of nationalities, races, and ethnic groups made
up the remainder, lead by the French and Dutch.
In the great majority of
cases dealt with by Desertion Notices, the act of desertion appears to have
been the first attempt by the deserter to settle in the colonies. Pretty well
all deserters had enlisted overseas.
Some had obviously
visited before, as places the deserter frequented were sometimes named. Others
had friends at some distance from the port, eg at Parramatta, so they cannot
have been strangers to the place. Others were evidently settlers of some year's
standing, as wives and family members were residents of the colony.
Some used the voyage out
as a means of rejoining family members who preceded them to the colony eg one
deserter from an Austro-Hungarian warship had an uncle in George Street,
Sydney, who owned a business.
Over the whole of the stated
period, there were only about 430 reports of arrests, or voluntary returns
(quite a few of whom were repeaters). Almost all of the returns and arrests
occurred from 1870 onwards.
During the period
1852-1900, over a million people migrated to the Australian colonies. Of that
million, perhaps 400,000 were adult, or adolescent males. so that, at best only
1:40 males arrived by desertion. Even this figure probably over exaggerates the
importance of desertion as a means of arrival, for it is likely that many times
more seamen merely signed off upon reaching the colonies.
After that treatise,
which may assist a lot in setting the parameters of our search, an exhaustive
search was made for any mention of Johan Heinrich Kirchler jumping ship.
After a long and arduous
search, we finally hit pay dirt.
In the New South Wales
Police Gazette for 1895, was found, on page 219, the following notice,
dated 19 June 1895:
HEINRICH JOHANN KIRCHLER
From the German man-of-war "Moewe", on the 12th June, 1895, 23 years
of age, 5' 6" high, dark hair, brown eyes, oval face, medium build, clean
shaved except moustache, speaks German only. Kirchler wore a German marine
uniform when he left the ship.
Not only was there one
notice, but two, because he must have been captured the first time and
returned, probably to the next German vessel to enter the port of Sydney.
In a later issue of the New
South Wales Police Gazette, sequentially numbered page 403, a Notice dated
20 November 1895:
HENRICH JOHENN KIRCHLER
From the German man-of-war "Bussaid", Sydney, in October last. 23
years of age, 5' 6" high, medium build, dark hair, brown eyes, high
forehead, brown moustache only; wearing a German Marine Uniform at the time he left the ship.
There were no other
desertions from either ships listed at the same time. Unlike the desertions
from British ships which occurred at the same time, no reward was posted on
either occasion for the return of Johan Heinrich Kirchler.
Heinrich seems to have
persisted in wearing his German Marine Uniform when deserting ship. Maybe he
was on authorised shore leave in same on both occasions.
There still remains the
mystery of his having his marriage to Winifred Leonard celebrated in the
Magistrates' room at the back of the Water Police Court in Phillip Street,
Sydney, on 23 November, 1900. It is certainly highly suggestive of his being
held in custody at the time.
Note that in the marriage
certificate, Harry Kirchler, as he described himself therein, gave his usual
place of residence as the Steam ship S.S. Mode, Sydney. The S.S. Mode
is believed to be a coastal steamer operating out of Sydney. Obviously, Harry
must have felt himself safe to return to the docks and his previous occupation
of sailor after a period of time free in the colony, only to have that trust
betrayed, or, was recognised by the authorities.
As to an enchanting love story, the facts could have been a bit more
blunt and pragmatic, like “either you marry or you go to jail take your pick”
or something similar, but who is to ruin a good tale.
HARRY
AND WINIFRED
After their marriage, and
no doubt a short period of residence with the bride's parents at 45 Murray
Street, Pyrmont, Sydney, the couple moved upcountry from Sydney to Werris
Creek.
There Johan, or Harry,
either owned or leased a run or farm known as “Box Hill” which south west of
Werris Creek, where he engaged in dairying pursuits.
Harry also used to build grain silos,
especially in the Werris Creek area. He was known locally as an innovative
farmer and is credited with several inventions to mechanise the dairying
process relative to his times.
It was at Box Hill, that
the first of the couple's children were to be born.
Harry and Winifred were
to have 11 children.
First to be born was
Johan Heinrich Kirchler. His birth was registered in 1901.
Next in order was Ernest
Frederick Kirchler. Ernest Frederick Kirchler was born on 10 September 1902.
Both their births were
registered at nearby Quirindi, the area's rural service centre, then as now.
Third to be born was
Wilhelm Erich Kirchler. His name was Anglicised to William Eric.
Wilhelm Erich was born in
1907.
The place of birth is
given by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Index as Sydney. The
circumstances behind that are not known. They could have been on a visit or
staying with the Leonards at Pyrmont.
The fourth child to be
born to Harry and Winifred Kirchler was Ottiliea. Ottiliea was named after her
paternal grandmother, Ottiliea Von Struck. It has also been spelt as Othelia,
the more familiar spelling, such as appears in William Shakespeare's Hamlet.
Ottiliea was born in
1910, variously at Wyong or Werris Creek, as her birth does not seem to have
been registered.
Next to be born was Lewis
Reginald Kirchler. Lewis Reginald
Kirchler was born in 1912 at Wyong. His birth also does not seem to have been
registered.
Sixth to be born was
Margaretha A. Kirchler. Margaretha A. Kirchler was born in 1913, and her birth
registered at Bathurst. By this date the family were located at a farm called
“Newstead” outside Tarana, near Bathurst, some kilometres, then miles southwest
of Tarana, off a side road.
Her name has been spelt,
or Anglicised to, Margaret. She has also been known as Greta. The "A' is
for Ann.
Around about 1913 was
written a letter from Germany from Harry’s parents in a very old form of
German, and in which letter Harry’s mother (then 78 and still surviving, and it
would appear that his father, then 82, was also alive), complained that Harry
was or had not written to her much. The mother asked how the boys and daughter
were, so obviously she had been advised of the birth of Othelia. The mother
also complained about how she was being treated by her daughter, with whom
apparently the parents were then living.
Seventh to be born was
Alwine F. Kirchler. Alwine F. Kirchler was born in 1915 and her birth
registered at Bathurst. Her name was spelt by Ern, in his later years when
giving this information, as Olivina. However it was spelt as Alwine F. Kirchler
in the Index of the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Eighth to be born was
Paul Sydney Kirchler. Paul Sydney Kirchler was born in 1917, and his birth
registered at Bathurst.
Ninth to be born was
Elizabeth D. Kirchler. She was born in 1920 at Bathurst. She was also known as
Doris, which is correct as the D. stands for Doris. No doubt, she was named
after her maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Hudson.
Tenth to be born was
Josephine P. Kirchler. Josephine P. Kirchler was born in 1922, at Bathurst. P
stands for Phillis.
Eleventh, and last to be
born was Kathleen H. Kirchler. Kathleen H. Kirchler was born in 1925 at
Bathurst.
All children were alive
at the time of their father's death in 1931, although most of the oldest would
have left home.
Ernest said he left home
at age 21.
In 1931, there were four
over that age, with the eldest, Johan Heinrich being 30, Ernest being 28,
William being 24 and Ottiliea being 21.
The youngest at their
father's death in 1931 was Kathleen, who was only six at the time, Josephine
was only 8, and Elizabeth 11. Their father's death must have come as somewhat
of a shock to all concerned, as Harry committed suicide by putting his head in
a gas oven.
He died on 7 June, 1931,
during the Great Depression. It was said that he was depressed at the lack of
employment and the starving mouths of children he had to feed.
The Coroner said that he
died by inhalation of coal gas caused by his own hand while not of sound mind.
That means temporary aberration caused by a decision to take one's own life,
not necessarily by permanent mental instability.
The address for the
family at the time of Harry's death was 43 Concord Road, Rhodes, Sydney. His
given occupation was wood machinist or wood merchant. Harry was buried at the
Methodist Cemetery at Rookwood, with the Rev. G. Percival, a Methodist Minister
presiding. At the funeral was a German friend John H. Kuebl.
Another interesting fact
is that Harry does not appear to know his mother's name for the Marriage
Certificate in 1900, although he intimated, curiously, that both his parents were dead by then, and
even said that he was born in Berlin. For the death Certificate in 1931,
Winifred both knew Harry's mother's name, and gave a more accurate place of
birth.
There are no other
Kirchler registrations for the years 1851 to 1918 in New South Wales apart from
this family, nor for that matter, for the years to 1939. In fact, there does
not, at this stage of research appear to have been any other Kirchler family in
Australia, ever, which again underlines the fact that the surname may be a derivative,
and any remote relatives or descendants (lost in time), are probably bearing
names like Kirchner.
Some facets emerge about
some of the children.
Josephine or Jo, lives at
Ashmore on the Gold Coast, and celebrated her 80th birthday in 2002
at Hyatt, Sanctuary Cove, being the last of her generation alive. She married
twice, the latterly to a Tom Cameron (deceased).
Heine used to live in
Cherry Street, Warrawee, Sydney, with an excellent garden with peacocks in it.
It was the peacocks that the visiting young daughters of Ern Kirchler always
used to remember. He had a daughter, Carol. Heine was always remembered for his
ramrod stiff posture as he walked down Beresford Terrace, Coorparoo to see his
brother Ernest.
He used to carry an
umbrella under his arm and patted the little girls on the top of their head.
Kathleen was always known
as "Sticky". She was the youngest.
Greta was another known
to the daughters of Ern Kirchler.
Other details of what
happened to the Kirchler family have slowly emerged.
In 1926, Johan Heinrich
Kirchler married Dorothy E. Crompton in Sydney.
He was later to be
married again, in 1939, to Phyllis Irene Jones Brooks, at Marrickville. They
had a daughter Carol McNeill.
Heinrich was by then
calling himself John Henry.
Also in 1935, Ottiliea
married Reginald F. Turner at Balmain North, an inner Sydney suburb. She had a
son Barry Turner.
Her name was registered
under the spelling Ottilien.
In 1936, Dorothy Eileen
Kirchler, married Terrence Sutton O'Hagan at Auburn in Sydney.
This Dorothy does not
appear as a blood relative, but rather as Heine's first wife, remarrying after
a divorce, i.e. nee` Compton.
Other sad events occurred
in 1936.
The death occurred that
year of Wilhelm Erich Kirchler (Eric), at Sydney.
In 1937, Margarite Ann
Kirchler married Norman Keith Macdonald (or McDonald), at Waverley in Sydney.
She later married a William Maguire, and had a daughter Robyn, now Firth and a
Mark. Robyn is married to a Mark.
Note how Greta's name was
spelt upon marriage, namely Margarite, compared to how it was spelt in her
birth certificate, namely Margaretha.
In 1939, Reginald Louis
or Lewis, (or Lewis Reginald) Kirchler married Kathleen Mary Mulcary at Forbes
in the near west of New South Wales.
As previously mentioned,
also in 1939, occurred the second marriage of Heine, or John Henry as he was
then known, Kirchler, to Phyllis Irene Jones Brooks at Marrickville.
In 1940, Olvina Kirchler
married Henry Warren Langley at Randwick in Sydney. She later married a Reginald
F Turner. She had no children. She possessed a letter from her grandfather’s
mother in Ireland asking for money.
Note again how the name
has been spelt. Ern used to spell it Olivina. The birth registration at
Bathurst in 1915 records it as Alwine F. Kirchler. The marriage records show it
as Olvina.
In 1940, Vera Kirchler
married Edward Russell Couldrey at Granville.
In the Death Certificate
for Johan Heinrich or Harry Kirchler, in 1931, wherein all children are listed,
and all were surviving at the time, there was no Vera. There was no Dorothy
either. Dorothy appears to be Heine's first wife.
So too it may be with
Vera, but first wife to whom, (Ernest of course), and in which state was the
marriage earlier consummated? Probably Queensland, where the marriage records
for the relevant period have not yet been released.
In 1941, Elizabeth Doris
Kirchler married Francis Thomas Salvia at Glebe in inner Sydney. Doris lived in
Darwin until her death a few years ago. She is believed to have had children a
Raymond, Stephanie and Brian, Francis (girl) and Leslie (girl).
In 1943, Josephine
Phillis (Jo), Kirchler married Thomas Andrew Begbie at Sydney. They had a son
Tom Begbie, who married Jeanette and lives at Yundah Street Shorncliffe,
Brisbane in the State of Queensland with their two children, Liam and Sally.
In 1945 Kathleen Hazel
Kirchler married Izzy Slefkiv at Balmain in Sydney, and had a daughter
Victoria.
Paul Sydney Kirchler,
born 18 October 1916 at Bathurst married Dorothy Eileen Lockwood, and had two
children, Paul Robert Kirchler, born 5 June 1952 at Forbes, in New South Wales,
and Eileen Patricia Kirchler, born 23 May 1963 at Forbes.
Paul Sydney Kirchler
(snr) died 30 May 1971 at Ourimbah, New South Wales. His wife Dorothy, who had
been born in Iona, Bankstown, New South Wales, died at Wyoming in the United
States of America, on 28 September
1993.
Eileen married Russel
Kingdom, and have a son Ben James Kingdom born 25 June 1999.
Paul Robert Kirchler
married in 1997 Barbara Jean D’Autremont born in Marshall, Minnesota, United
States of America in 1951. Paul was working and building a house in the
Bathurst area but is (2002) currently in Singapore.
And here are the snippets
saved from the currently only surviving member of the last generation of
Kirchlers:
Jack Leonard was supposed to be continuously drunk. Or, variously, the
Leonards were “all” drunk. Bertha was “Sticky”. Victoria was Sticky’s daughter,
Kathleen’s.
Someone or more than one, worked in the sex industry.
Jo says that grandmother, Elizabeth Leonard (nee` Hudson), was on her
death bed; all her grandchildren were present save Eric. “Bess” sat up in her
deathbed, noticed that Eric was missing, and called for him before dying. Eric
passed away a few weeks later.
At the grandmothers’ funeral, (Bess) everything was covered in black.
The family was out in the kitchen drinking gin. The more they drank, the more
they cried. The coffin with Bess in it stayed in the house for days.
Grandfather, Jack Leonard, is said not to have survived his wife's death
for very long.
Grandmother Bess, Elizabeth Leonard, nee` Hudson, is also said to have
had a large family, including a sister Rosie.
When Jo went back to school, her father gave her a halfpenny. She always
remembers that.
Eric was at the races when his mother died. He had a big melanoma on the
back of his leg. He was showering one day and the melanoma flipped off. He died
two weeks later.
Jo did not remember Tarana very well or the property at Newstead, three
or four miles out of Tarana. She says that at Werris Creek, they were the first
to get milking machines in the district. Jo says that her father owned the land
at Box Hill, and farmers came from miles around to see the milking machines.
Johan is said to have had a shocking temper. He was milking a cow one
morning and no milk was coming out, so he shot it.
It was Josephine or Jo who found her father dead in the kitchen.
Izzy Slefkiv was a Balmain Jew and nearly killed Sticky so that she
couldn’t walk. He was said to be a terrible man.
Johan’s brother went to Detroit in America [some contact was made from
America during World War II with silk stockings believed to have been sent from
the Kirchlers in America to at least Ernest and his wife at Brisbane in the
State of Queensland].
Johan’s brother in America is believed to have inherited money from an
estate. Apparently under German law the estate goes to the first born.
The German Consulate is said to have rung in about 1956 to say that the
estate had been released. Previously Hitler is said to have confiscated the
estate.
The brother in America is said to have had cotton mills.
Sid was the first to have had a toy.
There is a very old letter from Germany begging for money. This is
probably the letter dated 1913 (a guess, not 1910, as it enquires after the
sons and daughter). It was written in an ancient form of German that has taken
a lot of time and effort to translate. At this time, both father (aged 82) and
mother (aged 78) appear to have been still alive. The letter appears to have
been written by the mother and complains about the hard time her daughter was
giving her. It complained about the lack of correspondence from her son in
Australia. Apparently the old people were living with their daughter. Bearing
in mind the way that World War 1 was waged with a variable line of troops
(Siegfried etc) stretched out across northern France, Germany’s main
devastation, including a lot of their records, did not come till the Second
World War.
Heine’s second wife’s father was Mayor of Petersham. His first wife was
very lovely.
Robin was born about 1941.
Ernest used to take out Bruce Small’s wife, Lillian, before he married
Marjorie.
Heine died in Caloundra with a fortune. He left his house to his
housekeeper and no money to his daughter, Carol (McNeill). His housekeeper died
one week after Heine died.
The photos are of Sydney who was a Changi Prisoner of War.
The other photo is of Sticky, and of Winifred, who died of bowel cancer.
More snippets:
ERNEST
Ernest attended St.
Stanislaus school at Bathurst.
He remembers his father
for his ability to extract from him and his brother Heine, all coins they
earned by chopping firewood and ringbarking trees, which they used to do before
taking the younger children off to the local country school in the dogtrap.
The property they were working was “Newstead”, not the “Newstead”
featured in the Tom Roberts painting with its famous decrepit woolshed. That
“Newstead” is located between Glen Innes and Inverell in Northern New South
Wales. This “Newstead” is a smaller property, used by the Kirchlers for
dairying, situated just outside Tarana, between Bathurst and Lithgow. It is
still called “Newstead” although owned by a large pastoral company. The house
can be seen from the road, down by the river, about a kilometre from the
entrance gate, although it is not known if it is currently occupied. Stud beef
are currently being run over it.
Ernest used to work as a
representative for Ford Company during the Second World War years, in a war
protected job.
He later worked for the Hills
Company, and was the first to introduce the legendary Hills Hoist into
Queensland. After that he worked as a manager for PGH Bricks till compulsory
retirement at age 65. Not being content to sit still in retirement, he started
his own import export agency in a small office in Melbourne Street, South
Brisbane, in a building now demolished for the South Bank Parklands. This kept
him busy and occupied till age 80, when even the effects of time were beginning
to slow Ern down, but still, Ern survived another 10 years in retirement at 56
Beresford Terrace, Coorparoo, in the company of his wife Margery, his daughter
Carolyn, and grandson Timothy. His favourite drink was Bundaberg Rum, a
tradition carried on by another grandson, Ben Cleary. Others have analysed
Ern's longlivety to see if they can carry on till near 90; a toast to Ern, in
that delicious black swirling sugar based spirit from just up the Coast, would
not go astray. Probably if he had been allowed to double his evening dose of
God’s favourite elixir, he might have made it to 100.
Ern used to make regular
sales trips up the north coast of Queensland in the early days, and he is
believed to have met his bride to be, Leila Marjorie Godschall Kirchler, at
Ingham, during one of those trips. There is a photo extant of Ern and Marge
leaving Ingham Railway station to go on their honeymoon.
Ern is also remembered by
his daughters for their annual vacations, without fail, to Sydney where the
family stayed at the N.R.M.A. Club, and he used to proudly show his girls off.
It was also an opportunity to visit relatives, including Heine, and the ageing
Winifred. Winifred, in that era, was remembered as a slight frail lady always
dressed in black.
Winifred Kirchler, nee`
Leonard, died in 1981 at a nursing home at Bowral, in New South Wales, at age
99. She had nearly made it to 100, and missed out by a few months. Ancestors
can point to a fine tradition of longevity in the family.
Ernest Frederick Kirchler
died on 21 August, 1992, one month short of his turning 90.
Leila Margery Godschall
Johnson was born on 25 October 1911 at Ingham in North Queensland.
She was the eldest
daughter to Frank Godschall Johnson and Leila Josephine Bonning.
Margery and her sister,
Mary, attended primary school in Ingham, then finished their education as
boarders at St. Margaret's in Brisbane.
On 11 January 1938, she
married Ernest Frederick Kirchler at Ingham. Ernest had been married
previously. They met whilst Ernest was travelling Queensland, on behalf of the
Ford Company.
They originally lived
first at Hamilton, then flats at Highgate Hill, then at 58 Beresford Terrace,
Coorparoo, but in 1947, moved to 56 Beresford Terrace, Coorparoo, Brisbane.
That became the family home for decades and has been passed down to daughter
Carolyn by testamentary disposition.
They bore four daughters:
8 December 1939 Janelle
Rosemary Godschall Kirchler,
23 August 1943 Carolyn
Liane Godschall Kirchler,
27 November 1944 Cheryl
Gillian Godschall Kirchler,
21 August 1946 Paula
Mary Godschall Kirchler.
Margery died on 1
October, 1996, after a period of residence at the Nimbin Nursing home at New
Farm, Kangaroo Point.
Her funeral was conducted
at the Metropolitan Funeral Chapel at Newnham Road, Mt. Gravatt, on 3 October,
1996, the same chapel where, four years earlier, her husband, Ern's funeral
service was conducted. She was survived by her four daughters.
We return now to the four
surviving daughters and their families.
In 1960 eldest daughter
Janelle Rosemary Godschall Kirchler decided to go overseas to England on a
working holiday. She was to spend five years over in England.
In 1962, she attended a
University graduation ceremony presided over by the Queen Mother. In a pub
after the graduation, she met her husband to be, a fresh engineering graduate
by the name of Christopher Lawrence Sewell. Christopher Lawrence Sewell was the
only son of Eric and Pat Sewell. Eric, since deceased, was also an engineer,
and his son followed in his footsteps.
The Sewells lived at 80
Chiltern Road, Sutton, Surrey. Pat has since emigrated to Australia, after the
death of her husband, to be close to her only son, Christopher.
Christopher Lawrence
Sewell and Janelle Rosemary Godschall Kirchler, were married at the Church of
St. John the Baptist in Belmont, Surrey, and had their wedding reception at an
interesting location, namely Nonsuch Manor, a home built by Henry VIII for Anne
Boleyn, called "No Such Other Place".
Christopher was an
Engineer with Queensland Transport, formerly the Main Roads Department of
Queensland, but is now retired. During their married life, they have lived at
various addresses in Queensland, after leaving England shortly after their
marriage, namely at Kenmore in Brisbane, then at 16 McVeigh Street, Bundaberg
on the Queensland coast, and of recent times at 36 Davrod Street, Sunnybank, in
Brisbane.
They have three sons:
Kurt Jonathan Sewell, born on
20 April, 1967,
Sven Richard Sewell, born 25
February, 1969,
Sean Andrew Sewell, born 8
March, 1971.
Kurt works as a bank
officer with the ANZ Banking Corporation, Queen Street, Brisbane. In 1994, he
married Dora Costi, who was then a loans officer at Esanda, daughter of Greek
emigrants from Cyprus, Christos and Braxu Costi, who live at West End,
Brisbane. Kurt and Dora Sewell have two children, Christopher, and Connie and
live at Belmont.
Sven graduated from
Griffith University with a degree in Environmental Science, in 1994. He was
employed as an environmental scientist with the Ranger Uranium Mine in the
Northern Territory. He currently lives, and is based on Christmas Island on a
contract, and is married to Trudi Zorman from Melbourne, and has a daughter Alex.
Sean married Susan Jane Flanders,
daughter of Doug and Jan Flanders of Daisy Hill, on 26 September 1996 at the
Anglican Church of St. Marys at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane. Doug was a scientist
with the D.P.I. Sean works in the ANZ Banking Corporation as a bank officer in
Brisbane. Susan works as a receptionist at the Holland Park Medical Clinic, and
is studying hospital administration. They live at Belmont.
Carolyn Liane Godschall
Kirchler has a son, Timothy Godschall Kirchler. Timothy Godschall Kirchler is a
doctor and has spent time in Sri Lanka on with Doctors without borders, and is
currently a hospital registrar at Goondiwindi. Carolyn worked as a receptionist
in a local medical practice at Coorparoo, and resided in the former family home
at 56 Beresford Terrace, Coorparoo until about 2000 when the family home was
sold and Carolyn moved to Terranora.
Cheryl Gillian Godschall
Kirchler married on 27 January, 1974, at St. Stephens Church, Coorparoo, Robert
Arthur Allen, and they have four children. Cheryl, Robert and family live at
Cholmondeley Hall, 6 Normandy Street, Sunnybank Hills but for many years lived
at 200 Old Gympie Road, Caboolture. Cheryl Gillian Godschall Kirchler
originally trained as a laboratory technician, but now works with the Blue
Nursing Service Retirement Village at “Carramar”, Hellawell Road, Sunnybank
Hills, Brisbane, after working with the Blue Nurses at Caboolture.
Their four children are,
Loretta Lynne Allen, born on 21 March, 1976, Christian Marcus Allen, born on 3
August 1979, Marshall Robert Allen, born on 7 August 1981, and Gemma Jolienne
Allen, born on 19 August 1983.
Loretta has a Degree in
Bio Medicine from Griffith University and a Degree in Radio Therapy from
Queensland University of Technology, and works as a radio therapist at the
Queensland Radium Institute variously at Royal Brisbane, South Brisbane and Mater
Hospitals.
Loretta, Christian,
Marshall and Gemma all attended Caboolture High School with Gemma finishing off
Years 11 and 12 at Macgregor High School at Mount Gravatt, Brisbane.
Marshall is studying at
Griffith University as is Gemma.
Christian has a computer
diploma from Ithaca Tertiary College, and works for the Queensland Police Department.
Paula Mary Godschall
Kirchler married Edward Patrick Cleary, son of Jack and Joyce Cleary, on 22
November, 1967. Jack, now deceased, was a fitter and turner. Paula Mary
Godschall Kirchler and Edward Patrick Cleary had known each other for years, as
they lived in adjoining streets at Coorparoo.
Ted had a meteoric rise
in local government ranks to head the Health Department with the Redlands Shire
Council, on Brisbane's southeast periphery, but is now retired. Paula is a
qualified laboratory technician, works as a section head at O'Sullivan
Nicolaides, Pathologists, and has recently completed a University Degree in her
field with the University of Southern N.S.W.
They have resided in a
number of locations arising from Ted's employment, having been variously
located at the Gold Coast and Miles in western Queensland, then at Aleon
Street, Ormiston, but are now at Cleveland with a new house, of architectural
intricacy, at Passage Street, Cleveland.
Ted and Paula have a son
and a daughter. Their daughter Victoria Jane Cleary was born on 9 June, 1971.
Victoria graduated from Queensland University with a Bachelor of Engineering
Degree in 1995, and worked for the Walgett Shire Council as an engineer in
charge of the Lightning Ridge area for a while.
In December 1995,
Victoria married Stefan van der Donk in the School Chapel of Somerville House,
where she, her mother and her aunts were all educated.
They live at Brisbane,
and have a daughter Madeleine.
Ted and Paula's son is
Benjamin Patrick Cleary who was born on 17 October, 1973.
Benjamin has a degree in
accountancy and works as an accountant. He has spent some of his working life
in London. He is married to Sharyn Strophair.
LEONARD
John Leonard was a wharf
labourer from Dublin in Ireland. His father was Patrick Leonard, a farmer. John
was born on a farm in County Dublin in 1857.
In 1876, at age 19, he
married Elizabeth Hudson, daughter of John and Mary Hudson. Their first child,
Winifred, was born 10 April 1882 in Dublin.
In 1883, the young family
emigrated to Sydney, Australia, where John got a job on the wharves at Sydney
Harbour and they found somewhere to live in nearby Pyrmont.
John and Elizabeth were
to have five other children.
In 1885, Elizabeth gave
birth to Patrick.
In 1889, she gave birth
to Annie, in 1890 to John, in 1893 to Katie and in 1907 to Rosie.
The family were living at
45 Murray Street, Pyrmont, when Winifred married in 1901, later moving to 93
Murray Street, Pyrmont.
John, or Jack as he was
known, spent decades working as a wharfie's labourer, or wharfie, for short.
When he became too old for the heavy lifting involved in those days, when
mechanisation was unknown, they gave him a job as nightwatchman so that thieves
would not ransack valuable cargo off the wharves when the shifts were over.
Jack continued in his nightwatchman's position up till his death, at well past
normal retirement age, of 78.
He spent his last days
ill in the Sacred Heart Hospital, run by the Sisters of Mercy for good but ill
Catholics. Before admission to hospital he had been residing at 293 Harris
Street, Pyrmont, probably at the home of one of his married daughters, as his
wife Elizabeth had died in 1934.
Jack died on 12 January
1936, aged 78.
The Informant for his
death certificate was his good mate Walter Joseph, the publican of the Pyrmont
Bridge Hotel in Pyrmont, where Jack had spent many a convivial hour at the end
of his shift on the wharves.
He was buried in the
Roman Catholic cemetery at Rookwood.
Witnesses to his burial were Leslie A. Bowers, and Patrick O'Dwyer.
He was survived by
Winifred, aged 52, Patrick, aged 50, Annie, aged 46, John, aged 45, Katie, aged
45, and Rosie aged 28, with no children deceased.
The last statement,
coming from someone not connected with the family, appears erroneous, as a
daughter Margaret, was born in 1899, but died the ensuing year.
THE
NAME KIRCHLER
Research of German
records is hampered by the fact that most were bombed out of existence during
World War II. If isolated records accidentally surface, it should be remembered
that the name Kirchler may not necessarily appear as such in Germany.
Ancestors, and for that matter, any surviving descendants, may well be bearing
a name from which Kirchler may be but a derivative. It appears that the
original surname may be Kirch, and that Kirchler and Kirchner,
are two possible derivatives.
There may be other
derivatives also such as Kirchen and Kircher.
A survey of these
derivatives in the 1996 Capital City telephone books in Australia show the
following distribution of names:
SYDNEY
Kirch (1 listing)
Kirca (2 listings)
Kirchberger (1)
Kirchen (4)
Kirchengast (1)
Kircher (2)
Kirchof (1)
Kirchhoff (2)
Kirchmair (4)
Kirchner (21)
Kirchler (1)
BRISBANE:
Kirchler (1)
Kirchebner (1)
Kirchen (1)
Kircher (7)
Kirchheiner (4)
Kirchhoff (1)
Kirchhubel (2)
Kirchner (23)
MELBOURNE:
Kirca (3)
Kirchenberger (1)
Kircher (3)
Kirchert (1)
Kirchof (1)
Kirchofer (1)
Kirchoff (1)
Kirchmann (2)
Kirchner (3)
Kirchners (1)
PERTH:
Kirch (1)
Kircher (1)
Kirchhoser (1)
Kirchner (9)
Kirczenow (1)
GOLD COAST:
Kircher (1)
Kirchfeld (1)
Kirchoff (1)
Kirchner (1)
So there are a wonderful
selection of derivatives to choose from.
Go to a Net search of Kirchler/
Kirchner and invariably one finds the currently leading member of this eclectic
group, a world famous skier from Austria.