Gustaf Albin Gertson

1901 - 1990  (89 years)

• Name	Gustaf Albin Gertson
  Birth	27 Jan 1901	Konga, Kronoberg, Sweden   [1, 2, 3, 4]
  	Albin Gustaf Gjertsson Parents: Emil Gustaf Gjertsson, Born 17 April 1882 & Nelly Wilhelmina Andersson, Born 13 Nov 1872
  Gender	Male
  Naturalization	21 Jul 1928	New Zealand   [5]
  	GERTSON Gustaf Albin DOB: 27 Jan 1901, Konga Sweden Swedish, Seaman, Residence Port Chalmers Date of Naturalisation: 21 July 1928 File No: 20/1/3818, Cert Reg 79, Page No 116 (orginal held with son John Gertson)
  Obituary	Oct 1990	"Otago Daily Times", New Zealand   [6]
  	Mr G A Gertson Mr Gustaf Albin (Gus) Gertson, who took part in a pioneer whaling venture from Sweden to the Antarctica and New Zealand in the 1920's, has died in Port Chalmers. He was 89. Born in the town of Konga, in the south of Sweden, Mr Gertson was brought up mainly with his grandparents after his mother remarried. His working career began as a farm labourer, followed by three years as an apprentice electrician. He spent his compulsory military training with the Swedish Navy in Stockholm, working on minesweepers in the Baltic Sea and with the coastguard. After leaving the navy he tried a job as a seaman and eventually joined Captain C A Larsen's pioneer whaling venture to the Ross Sea and Antarctica. The expedition left Sweden in September 1923 and travelled to Hobart, then through the Southern Ocean to Discovery Inlet in the Great Ice Barrier. Mr Gertson operated winches and worked as a wireless operator during the expedition. The seamen returned to New Zealand where Mr Gertson and several other Scandinavians stayed in Port Chalmers to become naturalised New Zealanders. He met Winifred Kemp in Port Chalmers and they were married in Dunedin in 1933. Mr Gertson taught himself English from a dictionary and spent the years before World War II as a seaman, obtaining his second mate's ticket with the Union Co in 1928. His last seafaring work was with the Anchor Co of Nelson, where Mr Gertson obtained his first mate's ticket. After retiring from the sea in 1939, Mr Gertson worked on the waterfront. During the Second World War he worked on minesweeper construction. He later worked in the motor trade in Dunedin for some time before returning to Port Chalmers to be near the sea. He was employed as a storeman with the Union Co at the Port Chalmers Marine Repair Works. He finally retired at the age of 65. Mr Gertson is survived by his wife, Winifred, and son, John.
  Death	6 Oct 1990	13 Daly Street, Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand   [7]
  Death Notice	9 Oct 1990	"Otago Daily Times", New Zealand   [8]
  	GERTSON, Gustaf Albin (Gus) of 13 Daly Street, Port Chalmers. On October 6, 1990 at Clamis Private Hospital, Dunedin, dearly loved husband of Winifred Helen (Win), dearly loved father and father-in-law of John and Rose and very dear granddad of Carl. "At Rest" A service will be held in Iona Church, Port Chalmers, at 2pm, Today (Tuesday), October 9, the Funeral then leaving for the Port Chalmers Cemetery. Hope and Sons Ltd - Funeral Directors. FDANZ.
  Research Note	Fond Memories from his son John Gertson: I was always very proud of my Dad as he came to NZ with no knowledge of English. I think the local girls probably helped him learn quickly. According to Win, it seems like the daughter of the boarding house started the language proceedings. When he sat his Mate's Cert (1934 I think), the examiner complimented him on his English and Spelling, which was so much better than that of many of the Kiwis in the Class Dad had almost NO trace of the Scaninavian accent that so many others we knew ALL had. I recall only the odd name such as Eric (Gus said Eeric and rolled the "R"). Looking back over the years I realize just how fortunate I was to have had such wonderful parents.
  Burial	9 Oct 1990	New Port Chalmers Cemetery, Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand   [9]
  	[CENTER:]H/S KEMP Grass surface [:CENTER] Burial Records: KEMP, Helen, 13.12.1928, aged 54 KEMP, Riti, 31.12.1930, aged 22 KEMP, John, 06.11.1944, no age given KEMP, Irene, 15.06.1974, aged 76 Also Ashes of: GERTSON, Gustaf Albin, 6.10.1990, aged 89; GERTSON Winifred Helen, 2.8.1992, aged 86
  Person ID	I2304	Ailsa and Bill Family Histories

  
  

  Family	Winifred Ellen Kemp,   b. 3 Aug 1905, Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand d. 2 Aug 1992, 13 Daly Street, Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand (Age 86 years)
  Photo	1926	13 Daly Street, Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand
  Marriage	1 Nov 1933	Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand   [10]
  	Wedding photo consists of: Irene Esther Kemp, George Thorn, Winifred Ellen Kemp, Gustaf Albin Gertson, John Kemp and Jean Elizabeth Gunn
  Number of Children	1 child, still living
  Children	+ 1. Living
  Family ID	F141	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S71] John Gertson, Supplied by John Gertson, Recipient: Ailsa Corlett, Author Address: New Zealand, (Name: Various letters;). [S1] Certificate held on file:. [S205] Sweden, BDM Records, Compiler Address: Ancestry, 1901, Konga, Malmohus (Skane), Sweden - GID No 1280.39.800 - Fiche No CK3419 Vol SCB, via Ancestry. [S71] John Gertson, Supplied by John Gertson, Recipient: Ailsa Corlett, Author Address: New Zealand, (Name: Various letters;), John Kemp GERTSON, July 2000. [S219] NZ Naturalisation Records, Type: Naturalisation, Register of Persons Naturalised in NZ to 1948. [S10] Newspaper, Type: Various Papers, Otago Daily Times - possibly 12 Oct 1990 or somewhere close to this date. [S2] NZ BDM Indexes, Microfiche or Online, (Name: NZSRGO; Location: Lower Hutt, New Zealand;), 1990 NZ Online Database: 1990/48630 - DOB 27 Jan 1901 - 1990 Folio No 22291,. [S10] Newspaper, Type: Various Papers, Otago Daily Times - 9 Oct 1990. [S3] NZSG, NZ Cemetery Records, (Name: NZSG, Auckland, New Zealand & Online Council Databases; Date: 1988;), Dunedin City Council Online Database: New Port Chalmers Cemetery - Ashes - Block UO. Plot 173. [S2] NZ BDM Indexes, Microfiche or Online, (Name: NZSRGO; Location: Lower Hutt, New Zealand;), 1933 NZ Online Database: 1933/7935 - 1933 Folio No 9044.