Alfred "Alf" BERTHELSEN

A Thumbnail Sketch

Alfred Magnus Waldemar Berthelsen, known as "Alf", 1876-1924

When “Alf” Berthelsen was born on 30 May 1876 in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia, his father, Jørgen was 35 years of age and his mother, Ellen Jonasen was 24. Alf’s first marriage to German-born “Minnie” Mary Augusta Jones née Rudolph (widow) ended when his wife died on 23 April 1906 in East London, Cape Province, South Africa. Six years later on 19 March 1912, Alf wed an Irish colleen from Kilkenny in Krugersdorp, Transvaal Province (as it was then) in South Africa. This union resulted in the birth of two daughters, the younger being the only surviving one to reach adulthood.

Siblings

1. Thyra Eleanora, born on 11 December 1877, in the Hervey Bay town of Pialba, Queensland.
2. Olga Sophie, 24 May 1881, Pialba.
3. Ida Matilda, 14 February 1883, Pialba.
4. George Christian, 5 October 1885, Bundaberg, Queensland.
5. Nellie Katrina, 21 March 1887, Bundaberg.
6. Sissa Elizabeth, 14 September 1889, Bundaberg.
7. An un-named son, 15 January 1892, Bundaberg.
8. Arthur, 23 January 1893, Bundaberg.

Death of Mother

Ellen’s sudden demise at age 41, on 25 January 1893, only two days after giving birth to Arthur, her ninth child, was a devastating blow to Jørgen and his young family. Ellen and Jørgen had only been married 19 years. Prior to her demise, Alf’s mother had lost her last three born—Sissa, named in memory of her sister, an un-named son, and Arthur.

Paraguay Bound

When the New Paraguay Social Experiment made headlines in Australia towards the end of the 19th century, Alf joined the Queensland contingent and departed Australia bound for a “new” life in Paraguay. One Queensland historian summed it up succinctly as follows—

In 1893, almost 500 Australians, including at least forty Queensland families, set out on the Royal Tar for Paraguay, South America ... Their aim was to escape what they perceived as the ills of Australian society, evidenced by such events as the 1891 shearers' strike and the 1890s depression, and to live in peace and harmony with equality for all.

Royal Tar

Photo courtesy SLV Image H91.250420

Alf’s dream of finding “Utopia” was just that—a dream, the dream of a teenager, not yet 18 years old. The venture ultimately failed and life in “New Australia” folded. Destitute and desperate to leave South America, he managed to find work on a ship leaving Montevideo and landed at East London, Union of South Africa which country became home for the rest of his lifetime.

Marriages

“Minnie” Mary Augusta Jones née Rudolph (widow) was Alf’s first wife. No children were born to this union.

Anne Sinden (remembered by some relatives here in Australia as Aunty Cissy or Sissy) became his second wife in 1912. A delayed honeymoon to Queensland the following year presented Alf with the perfect opportunity to introduce his new bride and to re-connect with family whom he had not seen for twenty years. One of the highlights of their stay with brother George and his wife Margaret in Toowoomba was as sponsors at the baptism of their daughter, Trafalgar Edith Berthelsen, on 4 January 1914.

Children

Olga Mary, born 19 July 1916, and died the following November.
Mary Alannah, 18 May 1919, Krugersdorp, Transvaal. SA; died Johannesburg 26 July 2006.

Death of Father

Jørgen Berthelsen lived out his twilight years at Kinagin, on the Kolan River, west of Bundaberg and died at Bundaberg on 30 September 1917 aged 77 years.

Death of Alf

Alf Berthelsen died on 26 May 1924 aged 48 years and was buried locally. His premature demise came only seven years after that of his father’s passing. In his short lifetime, he had lived on three continents, married twice, fathered two children, and served with the British army in the Anglo-Boer War.

Death of his beloved Wife, Anne

Anne, his wife of only 12 years died on 8 June 1971 in East London, Cape Province, South Africa.

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