Sylvanus Hagen Fernee1

#21328, (1887 - 1956)
FatherJoshua Fernee (1840 - 1911)
MotherMary Carraill (1852 - 1890)
Relationship2nd great-grandson of Samuel Fernee
Extended Family
ChartsSamuel Fernee & Mary Harris - collapsible 6 generation descendant chart
Joshua & Mary Fernee family - timeline chart

Children of Sylvanus Hagen Fernee and Bessie May Skead
  • Shirley Elizabeth Fernee11
  • John Lewis Fernee12
BirthSylvanus Hagen Fernee was born on 30 Jan 1887 in Echunga, South Australia.2
 
BaptismHe was baptized on 1 Mar 1887 in St Mary's Church, Echunga, South Australia. Information from the register: Born 30 January 1887, Sylvannus Hagen Fernee, parents Joshua and Mary Fernee. Born Echunga. Occupation - Licensed victualler. Reverend F.W.Sawwell.2 
(Mother died) DeathAlice, Edwin, Joshua, James, Jessie, Sylvanus and George was 3 years old when his mother died.3 
(Not mentioned) ObituaryHe was not mentioned in his father Joshua's 1911 obituary.4 
AIFSylvanus Hagen Fernee volunteered for the Australian Imperial Force on 27 Sep 1916 at Prahan, Victoria. The attestation papers included the following information: Sylvanus Hagen Fernee, born in Echunga, near Adelaide, South Australia, Natural born British Subject, age 29 years 9 months, Carpenter, not married, next-of-kin sister Mrs Jessie Felstead, 220 Albert Rd, South Melbourne, Victoria (which was the address he gave for himself), had no previous military service.
He was declared fit for service. Description: 5' 4" tall, 9 stone 10 pounds, chest 35/37", dark complexion, brown eyes, brown hair, religion Church of England, vaccination mark and scar on left arm, moles on left shoulder
**Images of his entire 37 page service file can be viewed at the National Archives of Australia.5
Sylvanus Hagen Fernee
Australian Imperial Force
attestation papers, page 1
Military Summary of service:
11 May 1817 embarked H.M.A.T. Ag Shropshire .
Disembarked Plymouth on 19 July 1917.
Technical training at Reading from 22 August 1917.
Joined 30th Flying Squadron at the depot Wendover.
Stationed at Caste Bromwich from 21 January 1918 , in number 4 Squadron Australian Flying Corp.
To France, ex Blandford Camp, on 28 December 1918. Still in France on 6 January 1919.
He was awarded 3 medals - 1914 Star, The British War Medal and The Victory Medal.5 
MarriageHe married Bessie May Skead on 9 Nov 1921 in St Alban's Church, Berri, South Australia.
Details from index: Sylvanus Hagen Fernee, age 34, single, father Joshua Fernee;
Bessie May Skead, age 28, single, father Frederick Henry Skead.6 
Newspaper Published 10 Dec 1921 in the Argus.
FERNEE-SKEAD.-On the 9th November, 1921, at St. Alban's, Berri, South Australia, by the
Rev. Durnford, Sid. H. Fernee, late A.I.F., to Bessie May, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Skead, of Ivanhoe. Present address. Carinya, Winkie, via Glossop, River Murray South Australia.7
 
DirectorySylvanus Hagen Fernee was listed in the 1934 South Australia directory as " Fernee S.H., horticulturist, Irrigation area, Glossop". That was the entry for each year until the 1946 directory, which reads, "Fernee S.H., fruit grower, Irrigation area, Winkie."8 
DeathSylvanus died on 8 Aug 1956 in Winkie, South Australia.
Details from index: aged 69 years, married, of Winkie.9 
BurialHe was buried on 9 Aug 1956 in Berri Cemetery, South Australia. He was buried in Grave 17 R7 in the Protestant section Block H. Sylvannus was noted to be 69 years old and the minister officiating was Rev P Hopton.1 
Note.Also buried in Grave 17 R7 in the Protestant section Block H was Bessie May Fernee. She was age 79 and her last residence was Berri.1 
GravestoneHis gravestone reads:
In Loving Memory of Sylvanus (Sid) H.Fernee. Beloved husband of Bessie May. Died 8 August 1956 aged 69 years . Also Bessie May . Died 4th December 1972 aged 79 years . Loved parents of Shirley , John, Joyce, Jenifer and Nona. Peacefully sleeping.10
 
Last Edited12 Nov 2008

Citations

  1. Berri, South Australia, Cemetery, data online http://www.berribarmera.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=153
  2. Register of Baptisms, St Mary's Echunga, viewed at the State Library of South Australia.
  3. Echunga St Marys Church of England Cemetery, data online http://www.australiancemeteries.com/sa/mount_barker/…
  4. Obituary of Joshua Fernee in [Adelaide] Observer, 6 May 1911. page 41, column A.
  5. Service Records of Sylvanus Hagen Fernee, Australian Imperial Force, 1916-1919 (National Archives of Australia, Service No. 1445).
  6. South Australia Marriage registration index, 1917-, Sylvanus Hagen Fernee & Bessie May Skead; Book 289, page 505.
  7. The Argus [Melbourne, Australia], 10 December 1921, page 17. Image online at Trove Digitised Newspapers. http://trove.nla.gov.au/
  8. Sands & McDougall Directory of South Australia, various dates, found every year from 1934-1946.
  9. South Australia Death registration index, 1842-1915, Sylvanus Hagen Fernee, book 847, page 5079 (district of Murray).
  10. Correspondence with Mary Dyer, who took a photograph of the grave.
  11. South Australia Birth Registration Certificates Index, 1842-1928. Text index viewed online at GenealogySA. Shirley Elizabeth Fernee, parents Sylvanus Hagen Fernee and Bessie May Skeard [sic]. Reference book 171a, page 237.
  12. South Australia Birth Registration Certificates Index, 1842-1928. Text index viewed online at GenealogySA. John Lewis Fernee, parents Sylvanus Hagen Fernee and Bessie May Skead. Reference book 211a, page 34.