I am seeking further information about a branch of my family in Australia.
My Great Great Granfather was Johannes Heinrich Hansen who was born in Flesbourg? Schleswig-Holstein about 1862 when it was part of Denmark but which became part of Prussia (Germany) two years later. I beleive that his father Jess Peter Hansen was a farmer. I have been told that the Hansen family was Danish.
Johannes Heinrich married Caroline Voisin/Woisen (from Ratzbourg, Mecklenburg, Germany) in Bega around 1885. I have read that the owner of the Bega Cheese factory encouraged many germany immigrants to settle in Bega.
Johannes Heinrich seems to have altered his name to John Henry Hansen and worked as a photogarapher who travelled to many different towns.
It seems that he had a daughter Annie Caroline born in Bega in 1886, Lily Johanna? born around 1888 in June, possibly Flolda? born around 1891, my Great Grandfather Harold Charles who was born in Bendigo in 1893, possibly Elsie P born in Balmain South in 1895, Ivy H born in Germanton, NSW in 1902 and Neta A born in Adelong, NSW in 1904.
Harold Charles' son was Norman Reginald Hansen my Grandfather who was a High School Science teacher and later a physics lecturer at the University of NSW.
I would like to find out more about this family as noone I have spoken to seems to know much about them. I am particularly keen to find out more about John Henry Hansen's photographic career and also whether or not my Great Grandfather Harold Charles Hansen fought in World War I.
If anyone here can help me I would be very grateful.
Thanks
Geoffrey