The New Zealand Naturalisation of Jorgen Jorgensen

 

 

Naturalisation records through the New Zealand archives can be interesting records especially when they can provide more information about the family member and their origins. One such naturalisation record occurred during the war years of World War One in New Zealand. One such person was Jorgen Albert Jorgensen. Jorgen's relationship to me as I probably should point out is Father in law of 1st great grand uncle, which would be a mouthful

 

Jorgen Albert Jorgensen applied for citizenship in June of 1914 for New Zealand. At the time he was 36 and had arrived in New Zealand on the 2^nd of March 1904 onboard the SS Athenic and he was from Denmark. At the time he made the application he was a builder in Palmerston North. Jorgen was in business with Frederich Wesche also from Denmark had been naturalised in June 1908. When claiming to be naturalised in New Zealand people needed to provide details about their origins including place of birth and where they were currently living. Then they needed a letter from a magistrate or Justice stating they were a person of good character. As the war progressed naturalisation applications were suspended by the Massey government.[1]

 

 

An interesting note I came across within the naturalisation record of Jorgen, was that apparently no naturalisations took place during the war years in New Zealand though the letter was in November of 1914. A J. W. Black stated no exemptions could be made about naturalisations due to the war.[2] Upon further reading it turns out that During World War One applications had been placed on hold. In August 1914 There were newspaper reports that naturalisation papers would be delayed during the continuation of the war.[3] During the period of world war one, a person’s origins could work against them even if they were naturalised in New Zealand. They were considered to be enemy aliens by the government with restrictions that include having to report to the police or even removed from place of employment if it was considered to be sensitive towards the countries security.[4] People who had parents born of German origins were also turned down during the war for military service. People were harassed and denied employment during the war period. The view was ‘once a German, always a German’.[5]

 

 

Amongst the naturalisation file there was a group of names of other people including on John Alfred Gustavson that was apparently hostile towards the British at the beginning of the war, so his application couldn’t be recommended. I couldn’t find any information about the man in the newspapers, or even through the parliamentary papers, although he does have a file between 1914 and 1922. He was naturalised in November 1922. Another name that came across as really familiar was a Charles William Borreson who also lived in Palmerston North and had married another family member not related to the Jorgensen’s.

 

 

During the war period he wasn’t granted citizenship, but there were letters sent between 1914 and 1919 asking about his status. A letter sent to the Department of internal affairs states that Jorgen was a Dane who was respected and a builder in Palmerston North desired to become a British subject. An interesting note in June 1914 is that Jorgen’s wife isn’t required to apply for citizenship of New Zealand as it automatically occurs when the husband is naturalised. The last letter in 1919 from the magistrate states the police informed him that Jorgen Jorgensen had passed away in June 1917.

 

Jorgen Albert Jorgensen passed away due to an illness in 1917, so he didn’t end up becoming naturalised in New Zealand. His wife Fanny would go on to be remarried in 1918 to Frederich Wesche who was also a business partner of Jorgen’s.

 

 

Sources

Jorgen Jorgensen naturalisation New Zealand Archives

 

Frederich Wesche Naturalisation New Zealand Archives

 

Baker, Paul ‘King and Country Call New Zealanders, Conscription and the Great War’, Auckland University Press, Auckland, 1988.

 

Francis, Andrew ‘To be truly British we must be anti-German New Zealand, Enemy Aliens and the Great War Experience, 1914 - 1919’, Peter Lang, Bern, 2012.

 

Naturalisations Grant of letters may be delayed, Otago Daily Times, 7 August 1914, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19140807.2.21, accessed 13/02/2025.

 

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[1] Andrew Francis, ‘To be truly British we must be anti-German New Zealand, Enemy Aliens and the Great War Experience, 1914 - 1919’, 2012, p.69 – 74.

[2] Jorgensen Jorgensen naturalisation, page 7.

[3] Naturalisations Grant of letters may be delayed, Otago Daily Times, 7 August 1914, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19140807.2.21, accessed 13/02/2025.

[4] Andrew Francis, ‘To be truly British we must be anti-German New Zealand, Enemy Aliens and the Great War Experience, 1914 - 1919’, 2012, p.70

 

[5] Paul Baker, ‘King and Country Call New Zealanders, Conscription and the Great War’, Auckland University Press, 1988, p. 223.

War Poems from English class in the 1990s

West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide WW1 section

 

 

Recently I came across a series of small school assignments on my computer that I had made a copy of from when I was in school during the 1990s. I officially finished my HSC in 1999. I remember collecting a series of war poems for English and one or two I wrote out from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra when I went on a family trip around the same time.

I do still remember the English teacher marking the assignment and using red ink to correct some of the language even though I tried explaining it was written as spelt in the books and at the AWM. The teacher being an older gentleman probably didnt care, who knows. Wouldnt you want the exact spelling for historical context?

 

I do remember looking through some books at the same time as I only needed three. I am pretty sure two out of three are from the AWM. There was a book involved. I think the running commentary at the bottom of the poems might be my interpretation, It has been so long that I cant quite remember myself.

 

War is like a disease

spreading into minds of young people

turning country against country

 

 

 

Anti Gas Corporal’s Lullaby

 

If you get a choking feeling and a smell of musty hay

you can bet your bottom dollar that there’s phosgene on the way,

But the smell of bleaching powder will inevitably mean,

that the enemy we’re meeting is a gas we call chlorine

 

When your eyes begin twitching and for tears you cannot see

It’s not mother peeling onions but a dose of C.A.P.

should the smell resemble peardrops, you better not delay

It’s not brother sucking toffee, its that awful K.S.K.

 

If you catch a pungent odour as you’re going home to tea,

You may safely take for granted that they’re using B.B.C.

If for garlic or for onions you’ve cultivated taste

When in war you meet these odours, leave that area in haste.

 

It’s mustard gas, the hellish stuff, that leaves you in one big blister

and in hospital you’ll need, the kind of attention of the sister.

While geraniums linger pleasant, in a jar beside the bed.

You must shun the hell in war time. If its lewisite you’re DEAD.

 

  This poem reminds us how Australian soldiers in adversity drew on their sense of humour.

 

 

Sword Stories

 

 To win a sword that was taken from a Nippon’s son

 You had to be in the unit before August forty one.

 They look like bits of hoop iron and very badly dent.

 With scabbards made of timber stuck to together with cement.

 

 They have to be handled gently, maybe they’d fall apart.

 And if that should come to happen t’would break the owner’s heart

Emery paper to the fore Brasso applied to skill.

For every one of those Nip Swords has sure been through the mill.

 

Carefully wrapped in calico and placed beneath the bunk

They’ll sue be Ammunition for some ear bashing punk

Those swords will win some beer in pubs down south awhile.

The owner will spin the yarns and not even crack a smile.

 

They will hang it in the dining room above the fireplace there

And the relations all will come and look and point and stare

The tales about the sword the neighbours ears will baffle

But they’ll never tell the listeners they won it in a raffle.

 

It will probably be exhibited in every country pub.

And maybe down at yand J’s and up the city club.

It will pass from hand to hand among the patrons there.

But by the time that some get home the sight will not be rare.

 

When Reunion Day comes round as it will every year

And clashing swords and rifle shots is all that you can hear

One of the mob will wonder up and look very bored

Will try to tell us tales about a captured Nippon Sword.

 

“Sword Stories”

 

   The Australian Soldier’s enthusiasm for souvenir collecting

as well as for the telling of tall stories are sent up in this anonymous poem, believed to be written by an Australian Soldier who served in the south west pacific.

 

 

 To one at Home

 

Do not be saddened for my sake

for I shall keep my trust with you

Some morning when the dawn shall break

upon a world where is hope is new.

Yes I shall keep the rendezous,

Beloved one, which we have made

and all the past shall fade into

A dim and dream like cavalcade

of half remembered griefs and fears

which we shall doubt were ever true

and love shall fill the golden years

with sweetness - when our pain in through.

VX36684

 

Private G.H. Morrison.