German Colonial Ships

[rayman]

Hello there, I have a distant relative who jumped ship in New Zealand in 1892, supposedly from a German Navy ship which was visiting N.Z. and was used to patrol german interests through the Pacific region.
his name was Gustave Otto Carl Kurzawa(Tetzlaff) age 22 and he had steam qualifications.
I believe there were several vessels of a class which appeared to have birds of prey names--Buzzard -Hawke-etc.
I know its a long shot but no harm in asking. Are there any deserter records anywhere??
regards Ray

[Grosser Kreuzer]

Ray,

My only suggestion is to try the Bundesarchiv Militärarchiv at Freiburg. However, others may have better and more accurate ideas.

GK

[Scupper]

Hello Rayman,
I think you will have a better chance of getting an answer on a German forum for example:http://forum-marinearchiv.de/smf/index.php
You can write them in English, good luck!

[patroclus]

Hello there, I have a distant relative who jumped ship in New Zealand in 1892, supposedly from a German Navy ship which was visiting N.Z. and was used to patrol german interests through the Pacific region.
his name was Gustave Otto Carl Kurzawa(Tetzlaff) age 22 and he had steam qualifications.
I believe there were several vessels of a class which appeared to have birds of prey names--Buzzard -Hawke-etc.
I know its a long shot but no harm in asking. Are there any deserter records anywhere??
regards Ray



Of the five members of the "Bussard" Class of light cruisers, BUSSARD, FALKE and SEEADLER are possibities. The others were completed too late to have been in the Pacific in 1892.

[ASSAIL]

Not quite answering the request but of interest is HMAS UNA ex KOMET.
She was a large yacht captured from the Administrator of German New Guinea in 1914.
She remained in service with the RAN as a sloop until 1924 and then had an illustriuos career as a pilot vessel until finally being scrapped in 1953.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Una (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Una)

Also some good photos at flickr in her wartime drab.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/3893911605/

[rayman]

Thanks for the replies, Gustave Carl Otto Kurzuwa (Tetzlaff) Stoker, definately jumped ship"SMS BUSSARD"in Auckland, April 1892, she was apparently there on a 1month R&R visit before going north on a patrol around the German Pacific Colonies. New Zealand had a very patronising attitude toward ship deserters as long as they kept out of trouble whereas in Australia a bounty was placed on them.A south pacific station was maintained in Sydney, East Africa in Dar es Salam, and Tsintao in China.

Gustave became naturalised as Joseph Tetzlaff (his mothers maiden name)
and raised a fairly large family. I only knew him as "joe"

There are a lot of photos around of her, she even features on a Marshal Islands stamp.
regards rayman

[patroclus]

Thanks for the replies, Gustave Carl Otto Kurzuwa (Tetzlaff) Stoker, definately jumped ship"SMS BUSSARD"in Auckland, April 1892, she was apparently there on a 1month R&R visit before going north on a patrol around the German Pacific Colonies. New Zealand had a very patronising attitude toward ship deserters as long as they kept out of trouble whereas in Australia a bounty was placed on them.A south pacific station was maintained in Sydney, East Africa in Dar es Salam, and Tsintao in China.

Gustave became naturalised as Joseph Tetzlaff (his mothers maiden name)
and raised a fairly large family. I only knew him as "joe"

There are a lot of photos around of her, she even features on a Marshal Islands stamp.
regards rayman



It is good to know that you have obtained this information. For some reason your thumbnail of the BUSSARD is not providing a larger version when clicked on - insufficient postage?:D

[rayman]

patroclus, I shall try another, my filing system leaves a lot to be desired,
so much to learn, so little time.

[rayman]

well, two out of three aint bad.
Old Joe must have joined the navy of the Kaiser when quite young, he did not like the way the navy was building in force and after seeing first hand the treatment of natives in the colonies he wanted out. If possible I would like to find his service records, I imagine they might still be around in archives.
regards ray