What started my interest in Ferdinand 20 years ago
is a relative in Germany named Gerhard Ruff. He uncovered some documents
showing Ferdinand was in Australia. He managed to find us and contact
my dad 20 years ago. I
have now found Gerhard Ruff.
BirthPlace of Ferdinand Dietrich & Francis Beale
Click on the image to get the whole certificate.
(Source Marriage Certificate)
Cause of Death, Duration, and Date
Click on the image to get the whole certificate.
(Source Death Certificate)
Ferdinand Dietrich was born in Hefigkofen, Wurttemberg, Germany in 1851.
He was the son of Martin Dietrich and Cresencia Rist. Ferdinand came out
to Australia on the Sommersetshire.
The captain on the ship was H. FARQUHAR HOLT and it departed GRAVESEND
(LONDON) on the 22nd of May 1875, arriving in Melbourne on the 19th of
July 1875. The ship was carrying 197 passengers. When Ferdinand arrived
in Australia, he must have set up his house at Jeeralang, Victoria, Australia.
While he was farming in the Jeeralangs, he met a girl named Francis Beale.
She went by the name Fannie. They Married 21st April 1887 in Morwell.
The witnesses of the Wedding as per the marriage certificate were John
Beale & James Tulloch. After they were Married they had 11
children. He lived at Jeeralang farming until he was tragically killed
by a bull on the 7th
of December 1913. Note: On
the grave stone his name is listed as Frederick.
She Married Edward John Hogan in 1934. As she Married later in
life she had one adopted child Joyce.
Mary Dietrich
Mary Dietrich was known as Aunt Molly to my Dad but according to a birth search
and Ferdinand's death certificate her name was Mary. Mary married Herbet Butlet
in 1911. In life she lived in Joy St. Morwell.
Frederick Dietrich
Frederick was born in Jeeralang as were the rest of the children. During the
first war world war Frederick enlisted to serve his country. Frederick
Service No 5673. Frederick's war documents have been digitised and can be
accessed via the internet. To see Frederick's war documents go to http://www.naa.gov.au/
and do a Records search on Dietrich and the year 1915. When Frederick came back
with bad health the Australia goverment granted him and other returned soldiers
land on prime farming real estate on Hazelwood Estate Road, Yinnar, Victoria,
Australia. Frederick farmed on Hazelwood Estate Road up until his death in 1954.
Albert Dietrich
Albert is my Grandfather and he was born in the Jeerlangs. He serverd in the
first world war. His service number was 960. He to was granted a piece of land
on Hazelwood Estate Road. While his health was good enough he farmed. Like many
returned soldiers after the first world war his health was very bad and he died
just before my dad's 14th birthday. When he Died he was living in Yinnar which
is a small country town. Albert
Dietrichs tombstone.
George Martin Beale
George Martin Beale was born George Martin Dietrich. He never went to war as
he had a bad leg which made him walk with a limp. During the first world war
time he must have had troubles with being a Dietrich and changed his name to
Beale. He worked as a board of works inspector. Dad did not keep in touch with
George and recently I got his Death
Certificate. I was able to work out that he Married Gertrude Evans
with whom he had two children Eileene b: 1920 and Frances b:1922.
Eileene Dietrich married H. E. (Don) Witherow in Queensland, Victoria, Australia
1943 they had one female child.
Frances Dietrich married Walter Andreson they had one female child together.
Frances Dietrich then married Desmond A. Smith they had one male child together.
Francis Rose Dietrich
Francis was known as Aunt Rose to my Father. Dad says she had two children.
I have recently been able to locate her Married certificate and her Husbands
Death Cerfiticate. This has given me the names of her two children!
Emma Florance Dietrich
She died at age 31. She Married but had no Children.
Henry James Dietrich
Henry like his other two brothers Albert and Frederick enlisted in the first
world war. Tragically he died in Belgium. His service number is 833. His is
listed on the YPRES
(MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL. Henry died October 9th 1917. Below is an excerpt
from the Commonwealth war graves commision:
There was little more significant activity on this front until 1917, when in the Third Battle of Ypres an offensive was mounted by Commonwealth forces to divert German attention from a weakened French front further south. The initial attempt in June to dislodge the Germans from the Messines Ridge was a complete success, but the main assault north-eastward, which began at the end of July, quickly became a dogged struggle against determined opposition and the rapidly deteriorating weather. The campaign finally came to a close in November with the capture of Passchendaele.
Arthur Charles Morgan Dietrich
According to my Auntry Alma, Arthur Charles Morgan went missing in 1921. No
one knows what happened to him to this day! I've started working on this mystery
by applying at the registry to see if he had a name change. The registry just
got back to me and he never had a name change. He did not go to the first war
as he was too young at the time. He may have suffered during the first worl
ward with the Dietrich surname. According to his mothers death certificate he
was alive in 1947!
Earnest Edward Dietrich
Earnest serverd in the second world ward. His service no. was VX39338. He lived
over in Yarram, Victoria, Australia. He married Hilda Cust 1957 in Yarram Victoria.
I have since met up with one of the Step Children who had Earnies Awrds, Paper
Clippings and Medals.
Alice Irene
I know very little about Alice. I do know she died at age 6 and she is buried
in the Hazelwood Cemetary.
