World War 1 - Gottlob Schafter - Alleged Spy
By 1914 over 100,000 Germans lived in Australia and they were a well-established and liked community. When Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914, it meant that Australia was also at war against Germany. For Germans in Australia, including those of German descent, life would never be quite the same again. Their former homeland was now the enemy and Australia had subsequently become a country of Britishers and non-Britishers.
In 1914, no-one with German heritage was above suspicion and every German; every person with a German name was under suspicion. Within a week of the declaration of war, German residents of Australia were forced to register with the police.
The German families residing in Doncaster were therefore seen potentially by some as a threat and Gottlob Schafter was not exempt from this when a concerned Australian resident of Doncaster sent a letter in 1914 on this threat to the Australian Intelligence Corps (3rd Military District) who were located in Victoria Barracks, St. Kilda Road Melbourne wrote:
“I have been informed that there are spies (3) at August Zerbe’s orchard at Mitcham.
They have a hidden wireless there, also probable rifles and ammunition. A fruit house would make a fine storeroom for large supplies of these things.
If this is correct then Doncaster should be thoroughly and secretly searched especially the German shops, with probable secret cellars.
An occasional search of the mailbags might also reveal how much money is being sent to Germany.
I cannot give my informants name and address, but he says there are many disloyal residents there, who would harm us if possible. Last week also strange flashlights were seen by Box Hill residents after midnight. So search quickly I beg you before too late
— (signed) Laura Loughsom."
In a subsequent report on the matter by Sergeant Patterson of Victoria Police Box Hill station - Bourke Police district dated 18 August 1914 relating to “Telephone message from CI Branch re August Zerbe a supposed disloyal German”, Sergeant Patterson wrote:
"I have to report that I have made inquiries about Doncaster, and saw August Zerbe an orchardist residing at Warrandyte Road East Doncaster. He is an Australian native, and a thoroughly loyal British subject, as are all of the Zerbe’s in Doncaster (two families). I am satisfied the complaints refer to a German named Gottlob Schafter, a poor orchardist residing next door to the August Zerbe mentioned. He is married with a large family, is 50 years of age and has been 20 years at East Doncaster.Ian Schafter, Facebook
He has been expressing himself favourable to Germany and has formally repeatedly declined to be naturalised. He states that his reason for this was that he has been receiving remittances from relatives in Germany and that these would be stopped if he gets naturalised here. He is now getting naturalised. Mr. Zerbe J.P. has got him the necessary papers and is fixing him up. He resides in the Mitcham Police district and has signed a parole form for the police there. I think he is perfectly harmless and has no intention of leaving the country
– (signed) R.A. Patterson Sgt. 3690"
Discarding German names (1916)
The petition received at the January meeting of the Doncaster shire council signed by F. Zerbe and 22 other residents of Bismark, Wilhelm, and Waldau roads, requesting that these roads be re-named, and suggesting that the names be substituted of King street, Queen's avenue, and Wetherby road, was dealt with at the meeting of that body on Tuesday night, February 8. - Cr. Pickering pointed out there was a Queen's avenue in Doncaster al-ready, though it had not yet been taken over by the council. He had spoken to some of the petitioners about that. There was a suggestion that the name should be George street, and they were quite satisfied with that. Since this petition had been received, similar action was being taken, not only in Doncaster, but in Box Hill, Heidelberg, Hawthorn, and other places, as those names were not much thought of at the present time, and it would be a good thing if these were changed.He (Cr. Pickering) moved that the request be acceded to, with the exception of Queen's avenue, to be replaced by George street. With regard to Wetherby road, it was foolish to have that name on one side, and Bismark street on the other. - ln seconding the motion, Cr. Crouch thought if they were going to change Bismark street, they should call it George street right through. The president (Cr. Zerbe) was also in favor of wiping Wetherby road right out, and suggested that some other name be fitted in - Cr. McNamara asked who the street was named after. There may have been some good reason for giving it that nomenclature. - Cr. Tully contended that no monarch had been held in greater regard than Victoria, and if that title were given to the street from the main road it would not clash with any other name. - Cr. Crouch likewise supported calling it Victoria road in lieu of Wetherby road, and the motion was altered accordingly and agreed to. The following names will now be substituted :- Wilhelm street to be called King street; Waldau road to be George street; and Bismark road to be Victoria road.
1916 'DISCARDING GERMAN NAMES.', Reporter (Box Hill, Vic. : 1889 - 1918), 18 February, p. 2. , viewed 22 May 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75164841
Victoria (Bismark) Street Information Board
Victoria St Information Board Ruffey Lake Park 2020
"Victoria (Bismarck) Street
The road we know today as Victoria Street has been known by various names over it's relatively short lifetime.The dirt tracks in this vicinity called Waldau or “a clearing in the forest” by it's mostly German-speaking settlers, were initially given German names.
Victoria Street was named Bismarck Street while on early maps it was shown as government Road.
George Street was Waldau Lane to the German settlers and German Lane to the English settlers.
King Street was known as Willhelm Street.
In 1916, during World War I, all German sounding names were changed following a petition to council by German Lutheran descendant, Mr Fred Zerbe who wanted to prove his allegiance to the British Crown.
The names of pioneer families are reflected in the names of many local streets and reserves: Aumann, Crouch, Dehnert, Fromhold, Hanke, Rieschiecks, serpell, Thiele, Tully, Zander, Zerbe"
Victoria St 2020 - showing the Sloyd Room, the Pines and the Rotunda within the Schramm's Cottage Museum Complex
Langwarrin Internment Camp
Langwarrin Internment Camp was situated on the Mornington Peninsula, south-east of Melbourne. It housed up to 500 internees in poor conditions. Most internees lived in tents and the facilities for washing and bathing were inadequate. Some internees built huts at their own expense. Internees worked to improve the camp, building fences, clearing ground and improving the water supply and they were paid for this work. |
| Langwarrin, Victoria: The entrance to the camp at the Venereal Hospital c.1915 – 1918. (Australian War Memorial) |
German, Austrian and Turks living in Victoria were detained at Langwarrin as ‘enemy aliens’. In November 1915 there were 769 Germans, 104 Austrians and 72 Turks in the camp. Initially they lived in tents, sleeping on straw mattresses and were given 5 gallons of water each per day as well as food. They were paid between 1 and 3 shillings (10 – 30 cents) a day if they chose to work. In April 1915 the Department of Defence approved the expenditure for the building of huts. The frames were to be built in Melbourne and the Internees were to complete the huts under the supervision of the Camp Commandant.
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| Holsworthy Internment Camp, c.1915. (Dubotzki collection) |
Langwarrin camp closed in 1915 and most of the internees were transferred to Holsworthy Camp in New South Wales. By December 1917 only 326 detainees remained at Langwarrin and some remained until 1919 to work at the nearby venereal diseases hospital. Langwarrin was used intermittently as a transit camp for internees transferring from other states to Holsworthy Camp.
http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibition/enemyathome/langwarrin-internment-camp/
WW1- The Home Front: Anti-German Sentiment
During the build up to and first World War, German settlers in South Australia and Australia became known as ‘the enemy within’ and extreme measures were put in place to deal with the threat felt by the predominately-British population.The names of places that had been named by Germans were changed and German settlers were interned or deported and taken to work camps on Torrens Island. Torrens Island dention camp was set up and held 400 german men during the First World War. German established schools were closed, the German language was no longer taught in schools and German’s lost the right to vote. Because of this German families began to change their name as a means of avoiding persecution and to prove their commitment to their new home.
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| Registration of Aliens Commonwealth of Australia Notice June 19117 |
http://the-homefront.tumblr.com/
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