GYMPIE’S Helga Sives was amazed, proud and surprised when she received a photo in the mail of her father dressed in full German Kaiser Cavalry uniform.
The original photo of Mrs Sives’ father, Karl Bottger, is now 100 years old and she is calling for any military enthusiasts who would be interested in obtaining the special piece of memorabilia to contact her.
In 1954 Mrs Sives left Germany with her husband, their sights on a better life in Australia.
“We decided to move for a better future – we believed Australia would offer us that,” she said.
When she moved she lost close contact with her parents, and while she knew her dad was in the military and fought in the First World War, she didn’t know any details of his service.
“I received several photos from my mother after my father had passed away and a whole lot of family history was uncovered that I didn’t know about,” Mrs Sives said.
The caption on the back when translated into English reads “your daddy”.
When Mrs Sives and her husband John arrived in Australia, they began working at a dairy farm on Hope Island before moving to Brisbane to work at the Paul’s milk factory.
The couple stayed there for 23 years.
After her husband’s death she decided to move to Gympie with her son George, who now lives in Kingaroy.
While the photo of her father is special to Mrs Sives, she recognises the value it might have to military enthusiasts and would like to be able to pass it on to someone to whom it may be of particular interest.
This article was written while undertaking work experience at The Gympie Times. The original version of this article can be viewed on the Gympie Times website: http://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/capturing-war-history/1949312/
Rebecca Campbell - Reporter 