Alfred Daniel Andreassend
1 October 1905-19 February 1965 Marriage Ivy Georgina Long Children Noel Thomas Andreassend Gordon Alfred Andreassend `Alf had a minimal education - maybe to age 12 or 13.
First work, I think was as a gardener, and later as a farm labourer, a coal miner, and as a labourer in the construction industry.Times were extremely tough ! The Great Depression hit NZ very hard and Alf had to find work wherever he could. He joined the Territorial Army on a part-time basis, perhaps to gain experience, and maybethere was some slight monetary payment. He became a crack shot as a result of this army training. Must have seemed quite natural for him to enlist soon after war broke out.He was smoker, he enjoyed a glass of ale, and he was a very good billiard player,. Quite musical - played several instruments by ear - harmonica, accordion, piano - and a few others. The war took him out of circulation for 6 years or so and his injuries resulted in him having to undergo a total of about 120 operations in Italy, Germany, the UK an in NZ, at Burwood and Middlemore Hospitals. Post war, he underwent training at St Dunstans in Auckland where he learnt several new skills to add to the needlework creations he had picked up while a POW, and in England. He was very good with his hands, and could fix almost anything.His big regret after the war was that his skill as a billiard player was affected due to only having one eye ! Never had a driving license, but could handle a bike very well. I remember riding on the bar of his bike on many occasions pre-war. He was tough, and I'm sure he would have lived to a good old agehad he not been killed in a car crash at the relatively young age of 59.` Gordon Andreassend 1 October 2009 |
"Yes I well remember that photo I am sure it was an autumn day and Ch CH was the coldest time I can remember with an east wind that never seemed to wain BRRR. When we lived in Timaru only once can I remember a cold episode that the weather gave us as much discomfort and I would have liked to shift back to Timaru but hey ho life goes on.
The photo could have been 1939 I can,t remember the battalion 23rd Echelon I think and training was very rushed and I remember the discussion about Alf to have a commission as I have said earlier he was (38) much older than the the other fellows and I guess they would have looked up to him .Great pity that his schooling was so rudimentary" Noel Andreassend 2009 |
`Alf did territoral training 1937/8 had to find work as where or else no money (Govt unemployment payout 19/6pence per week rent 12 shillings WK try living on that) not sure about a lot of things in that era about adult requirements, I think that he was interested in the town boxing. There was gynasium down near the railway station. Other activties seemed to collecting scrap metals etc tuff times for many and Alf had been over to the west coast on some gold mining efforts but never heard much about that .Post war things were involved in rehabilitation care for him and Gordon would have better impressions about that Auckland era and where he worked between hospital equirements.`
Noel Andreassend 2009
Noel Andreassend 2009
This pic of Albert Andreassend 6 nov 1948 he went to Timaru after his wife passed away, His first wife`s previous name and son Ivy Comfort .Their son was overseas with Alf Andreassend and i have a photo somewhere of them in the western desert (Cairo) I think
The reason that this photo took place was our Alf was away having Plastic surgery and he was very reluctant to have photos splashed about too much ,Albert came (Alf`’s Brother) to officiate at my 21st can`t remember if his wife Ivy was well at that time and she had a pretty rough time with health. Ray her son {Comfort his name) had children one of them on the same day one of our Children ,his wife was a little reticent to keep touch and we all drifted apart A sad note for Ray he was a builder and great surfer very energetic member South Brighton surf club but the army service in Egypt must have affected his lungs and the old lung thing got him at a fairly young age age not known the year?? Hey you talk to Jim I don`t think they ever communicated too much and I might get a rocket for blabbing too much of the past Times were tough and scratching a living was about all you could ask for. An example of the times were the number of guys walking about the country with only the clothes on their backs looking for jobs ,mum and myself were living out back central Otago (Styx area) cooking for shearers and the tramps would come through to Alexandra and gold mining areas wow that was beyond I tell you enough Noel. (As we used to say put that in your pipe and smoke it) Noel Andreassend 2009 |
Albert presenting Noel with his 21st Key
Noel Thomas Andreassend 1927
Married Fay Winifred Retallic Children Jill Janet Shane |