Jens William Andersen

1894 - 1988  (93 years)

• Name	Jens William Andersen
  Born	6 Nov 1894	Maryborough, Queensland Australia
  	Name: Jens William Andersen Birth Date: 6 Nov 1894 Father's Name: Niels Andersen Mother's name: Maria Frandsen Registration Number: 008108 (Queensland Historical Death Index 1829-1984
  Gender	Male
  Personal	8 Jun 1917	Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Queensland,
  	PRISONER IN GERMANY PRIVATE J. W. ANDERSEN PIALBA Our Pialba correspondent writes under date June 6, 1917:-Mr & Mrs N. Andersen to-day received a cable through the Brisbane branch of the Australian Red Cross Information Bureau stating that their son, Private J. W. Andersen, 26th Battalion, is a prisoner in Limburg. He was previously reported missing on March 26th, 1917. The necessary information was only given to the Brisbane Branch by Brisbane friends of the prisoner and family on May 28, and a cable containing the welcome news was despatched from London on June 1st. It is a relief to know definitely what has happened to Private Andersen, and we sincerely hope and trust that he will be treated decently. Any letters despatched to him should deal only with personal matters, and no mention of the war should be made. Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Queensland, Friday, 8 June 1917
  Personal	24 Jul 1917	Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Queensland
  	PIALBA. (From Our Own Correpondant) July 21. Mr and Mrs N. Andersen on Friday received a letter from their son, Private J. W. Andersen, who is a prisoner in Lemburg, Germany. He wrote the letter a fortnight after he was captured. He is well, and says he is treated well. He received writing paper for one latter a week, and one post-card per week. He says they are supplied with cigarettes, etc., but not enough to keep him going and all he wants is a pair of socks and more smokes. They did their best to avoid capture, but were forced to surrender. It is satisfactory to have such good news and we hope these will continue to come to hand. Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Queensland, Tuesday, 24 July 1917
  Personal	20 Feb 1919	Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Queensland
  	AUSTRALIAN WAR PRISONERS IN GERMANY Mr & Mrs Neils Andersen, of Hunter Street, Pialba, have received a letter from their son, Private William Andersen, who had been a prisoner of war in Germany from march 1917, till the Armistice, from which we make the following extracts:- I have once again landed in England, and can consider myself a free man once more. It feels rather strange to be walking about without a German failing you up. Sometimes when going along I fancy I can hear their draught horse step behind me, and turn around to find no one there. I have never done a better move in my life than the move out of Germany. Now that I can write freely about it, without fear of the letter being burned and disappointing you, I shall give you a good idea of what it is like. First of all, let me say that I was very fortunate all the while I was on command there, as I had no sentry standing over me while I was working, like the rest, as I had a civilian tradesman to work with, but the rest of the boys had to go in sixes, and had an armed sentry to see they did not waste their time, and they thought nothing of hitting you on the head with their revolver, or taking you into a room and hammering you with sticks or bayonets; but they were afraid to do so single handed. They used to wait for a prisoner when he was alone, then get five or six of their beautiful comrades to cover us with rifles or revolvers while the biggest of them did the flogging. Upon my word, I do admire them. It will pay all Germans to keep out of our way when we get back, or I am afraid there will be blood shed in some cases. I would rather embrace an Australian savage than shake hands with a German. I only know one man in all Germany, and he was the old man I worked with. I was with him sixteen months, and was my own boss. I learned the trade of heavy plumbing from him. It's work that I have never seen in my life before and very interesting, using the blow lamp the same as that chap had that tried to do Andy's boiler up for him. We handled hundreds of tons of lead, all used in the one factory. Some parts of it were heavy, but the most was sitting down or standing still work. There was some of the most horrid smells that ever insulted my nose in that factory, made from sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid. It was enough to choke you some times. Well, to get on about the Germans, they used to try and break our hearts by telling us that England was done, that our people here were starving and dying in hundreds, but the ignorant wretches did not know that we were being fed by our own country far better than any of them had been. For over three years they did not know that what we ate in one week would have cost them, at the very least, £20, had they been able to buy it-thanks to the blockade, they could not. Then if one of our packets was lost we used to get eight marks for it, valued in English money at about four shillings, instead of the real German value of at least £13. I thank God for bringing me safely through unharmed and healthy. How beautifully the Union Jack has waved high above all other flags in this war. The French, Russians, Italians had to live on what we could spare them, and German food; while we English had no need to touch even German food. We English prisoners had twice the life in us that the German civilians had, and though they tried hard to keep it down, they failed completely, and now I am back in good old England again, and will soon be on my way to dear old Aussy. Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Queensland, Thursday, 20 February 1919
  Personal	31 Mar 1919	Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Queensland
  	PIALBA (From Our Own Correspondent). March 25 Private J.W. Andersen, accompianed by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Niels Andersen, arrived home by car from Maryborough. Private Andersen has been on active service for nearly three years, 20 months being put in as a prisoner of war in Germany. He looks very well indeed. Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Queensland, Monday, 31 March 1919
  Died	11 Aug 1988	Gympie, Queensland, Australia
  Buried	13 Aug 1988	Gympie Cemetery, Queensland, Australia
  Person ID	I179	Nikenbah Cemetery
  Last Modified	12 Nov 2014

  
  

  Father	Niels Andersen, .Son of Blacksmith,   b. 8 Jan 1851, Kildebrønde, Københavns amt, island of Sjælland, Danmark. ,   bur. 25 Jul 1939, Poulsen Cemetery, Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia  (Age ~ 88 years)
  Mother	Marie (Jeppesine Mette Marie) Frandsen,   b. 18 Sep 1857, Bjørnemose, Dejbjerg Sogn, Bølling Herred, Ringkøbing Amt, Denmark ,   d. 11 Nov 1945, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia  (Age 88 years)
  Married	29 Apr 1877	Danish Church, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia
  	Name: Neils Andersen Spouse Name: Maria Frandsen Marriage Date: 29 Apr 1877 Registration Number: 000655 (Queensland Historical Marriage Index 1829-1939)
  Diamond Wedding Anniversary	8 May 1937	Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Queensland
  	DIAMOND WEDDING Celebrated by Mr. and Mrs. Neils Anderson, at Pialba The clerk of the weather paid a welcome tribute to Mr and Mrs Neils Andersen, of Pialba, when he provided perfect weather conditions on the 60th anniversary of their wedding on Thursday, April 29. A diamond wedding is at all times an auspicious occasion, but in the case of Mr and Mrs Andersen, it was rendered almost unique in that not only was the entire family of five daughters and three sons able to be present, but of the happy couple's 89 descendants, only eight were unable to attend. To celebrate so festive an occasion, and to accommodate so large a gathering a huge marquee was erected on the beautiful lawns of the residence of their son, Mr. N. J. Andersen. The breakfast tables were exquisitely decorated with choice flowers and fruits, and at the bride's table a handsome two-tier wedding cake, made by Mrs P Day (a grand-daughter) and decorated by Mrs P. J. Birt (daughter), attracted many admiring comments. The Rev. A. Hughes presided, and read messages of congratulation and good wishes from the following: Mesdames Jorgensen and Isaksen and families, Mr. and Mrs. Rickenberg and Mrs. Day. Miss Merle Smith (Caboolture). Mr. and Mrs. Julius Kunst and family (Sexton), Miss May Doss (Atherton), Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Birt and family, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Andersen (Gympie). Miss Vera Smith Grantham), the Methodist Ladies' Guild, Mr. and Mrs. Alcorn (Dagun),Mr. and Mrs. W. Hansen (Brisbane). Grace was sung and during the banquet hearty congratulations and good wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Andersen were heard over the wireless from 4MB followed by the song "Let's Grow Old Together." Mr. Hughes presented to the happy couple numerous presents from their old friends, and a substantial cheque from members of the family. He said it was a wonderful gathering, and although they were honouring Mr. and Mrs. Andersen on reaching their diamond wedding anniversary they were not really old. In fact, one could not help noticing that they were getting younger all the lime; they were looking forward to a time when they would be in a country where one never grew old. They were good Christians, and he congratulated them heartily. SON'S TRIBUTE TO PARENTS Mr Andrew Andersen, the eldest son, said he was very proud of his father. Looking back, he could not remember his father ever having lost his temper; he always took time to consider things. Like all pioneers, his parents had had to "rough it" very often, and he clearly recollected the many occasions when his father had to walk from Pialba, where they had a selection, to Maryborough, where he was employed as blacksmith, sawmiller, and later still, as engine-driver at Messrs Wilson Hart's mill. His mother also had been always loving and gracious, though she, too, had had to work very hard in the days when there was little to get and little enough to eat. He trusted their parents would be spared to them for many years yet. Mr G. C. Hansen (Dagun) said he and his wife (who is Mr and Mrs Andersen's eldest daughter) were very pleased to be present to do homage to their father and mother. It was a rare thing to be able to celebrate a diamond wedding day. These pioneers had had to put up with many hardships and in those early days it often happened that husbands were compelled to leave their families for months at a time to search for work. He felt sure they were grateful at having all their children together on this occasion, and wished them many more years of happiness. The company sang"For They Are Jolly Good Fellows" with enthusiasm On behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Andersen, Mr. Hansen thanked everyone who had assembled to help make this such a happy day, and also returned thanks for the beautiful presents. Special mention was made of Mrs. Day's kindness in making the cake, and those who had decorated it so prettily. Thanks were also given to Mr. Hushes for ably presiding over the gathering. Mr Hansen remarked that it was a unique gathering as there were present the family of eight, five daughters and three sons, death having taken no toll so far; and also 35 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. In fact all the descendants were present excepting eight. Plotos were taken of the guests of honour. LONG SEA JOURNEY Mr Andersen left Denmark, his birthplace, on the ship "Alardas" on November 10, 1872, landing in Maryborough in June, 1873. The passage was rough, and the boat reported missing several times during the voyage. Mrs Andersen left Denmark by the ship Lamasmerhagen in November, 1876, landing in Maryborough on January 18, 1877, and the two were married by Pastor Hansen in the Danish Church, Maryborough, on April 29, of the same year. For many years, they resided in Maryborough, where Mr Andersen was employed in Messrs Wilson and Hart's sawmill, for about thirty years, first as blacksmith, then as fireman, and later as engine driver. Forty years ago, Mrs Andersen and the family of eight left Maryborough to reside on a selection which Mr Andersen had taken up at Kawungan, near Pialba, while he himself continued to work for another six years at the sawmill, visiting the selection only at week-ends. Then he left the mill, and until 1915 made his living on the selection, in which year he and his wife retired to live quietly at Pialba. The family comprises Mr Andrew Andersen (Pialba), Mr J W Andersen (Lagoon Pocket), Mrs G C Hansen (Dagun), Mrs P. J. Birt (Scarness), Mrs A. W. Messer (Yerra), Mrs M. Nissen (Pialba), and Miss A. Andersen (Pialba), Mr J W Andersen, the youngest son, enlisted early in the Great War, and was a prisoner in Germany for a long period Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Queensland, Saturday, 8 May 1937
  Family ID	F6	Group Sheet

  
  

  Family	Lucy Violet Hutson,   b. 2 Nov 1904, Queensland, Australia ,   d. 22 May 1999, Gympie, Queensland, Australia  (Age 94 years)
  Married	4 Nov 1924	Maryborough or Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia
  	Name: Jens William Andersen Spouse Name: Lucy Violet Hutson Marriage Date: 4 Nov 1924 Registration Number: 003368 (Queensland Historical Marriage Index 1829-1939)
  Last Modified	11 Nov 2014
  Family ID	F205	Group Sheet