GEORGE BERNARD BERGDAHL

Image courtesy of the Ling family.

Born: 22nd December 1878, Gällivare, Norrbotten, Sweden.

Baptism: Gällivare, Norrbotten, Sweden.

Died: 21st September 1918; age 39; KiA.

Residence: 14, Curriers Lane, Ipswich.

Occupation: Journeyman Stove and Range Fitter.

Enlistment Location: Ipswich.

Rank: Private; Service Number: 44848

Regiment: Essex Regiment, 10th Battalion.

Formerly 51831, Suffolk Regiment.

 Medals Awarded: Victory & British War.

In August 1919, the body was exhumed by the 83^rd Labour Coy, identified by the cross marking the grave and reburied at Unicorn Cemetery.

Grave Reference:

11.B.26.

Unicorn Cemetery,

Vendhuile,

Aisne,

France.

Stepbrother to ELLIS GEORGE GOTTFRID BERGDAHL.

CENSUS

1891   45, Priory Street, Ipswich.

George was 12 years old and living with his widowed mother, brother and stepbrother.

Rebecca Bergdahl (nee Whybrow), 38, Living on her Own Means, born Ipswich.

Erik William Arvid Bergdahl, 13, born Gällivare, Norrbotten, Sweden.

Ellis George G. Bergdahl, 6, born Ipswich.

1901   19, Castle Street, Ipswich.

George was 23 years old, a Range & Stove Fitter. He was married and head of the household.

Phoebe, 32.

mother-in-law Sarah Cook (nee Haddock (1st marriage Garrod)), 58, a widow, born Rishangles, Suffolk.

1911   14, Curriers Lane, Ipswich.

George was 33 years old, a Range and Stove Fitter – Builder. He was married and head of the household.

Sarah, 30.

Sarah’s son Frank Noakes Lawrence, 11, born Ipswich.

Eric, 4.

John, 2.

George’s father, Erik Bernhard Albin Bergdahl, was born in February 1846 in Pajala, Norrbotten, Sweden, and was a sailor. He died in October 1878 in Gällivare, Norrbotten, Sweden.

Beatrice Rebecca Bergdahl, born 28^th February 1873, Ipswich, was George’s eldest sister. Beatrice died on the 20^th May 1899, at her home, at Watts Court, Foundation Street, Ipswich, and was buried in Section U, Ipswich Old Cemetery.

Gertrude Elise Bergdahl, born 24^th January 1875, Ipswich, was George’s youngest sister. Gertrude died on the 25^th May 1894, at Piteå, Norrbotten, Sweden.

Beatrice and Gertrude were baptised on the 4^th July 1875, at St. Stephen’s Church, Ipswich – family home at Dog’s Head Lane, Ipswich.

EMIGRATION   14th July 1883. George was 4 years old when he and his widowed mother, brother, and two sisters left Koivukyla Hietaniemi, Norrbotten, Sweden.

In 1899, in Ipswich, George, a journeyman stove fitter, married widow Phoebe Donnelly (nee Garrod), a staymaker, born 1868, Ipswich – daughter of William Garrod, a grocer’s porter, and Sarah Cook (nee Haddock (1^st marriage Garrod)), a staymaker, of 3, Queen’s Street, Ipswich.

Phoebe was first married in November 1892 in Ipswich to John Donnelly, a Bombardier in the Royal Artillery. On Saturday, 19^th March 1898, 37 year old John Donnelly went missing from his home, 4, Wright’s Yard, Castle Street, Ipswich. He had been ill and out of employment for some time, and very depressed of late.

Evening Star – Saturday, 8^th April 1898 – EX-SOLDIER DROWNED IN THE GIPPING – The inquest on the body of John Donnelly was held at the Higher Grade School on Thursday, 7^th April. Phoebe Donnelly, the widow, said that her husband had been in the 45^th Regiment. He left the Army four years ago, having served his full time. She last saw her husband alive about 2:30 on the 19^th March, when she left him in his house. She had kept the home going for some time by working as a needlewoman; her husband had suffered a good deal from the effects of a blow on the head, received some years ago. It had been fifteen weeks since her husband was employed. John had been an out-patient at the Hospital until a month before he was missed, his ticket having then expired. They had not disagreed. David Pinner and Henry Laughlin, bargemen, in the employ of Messrs. J. Fison and Co., deposed to finding the body. They had been up and down the river daily for the last week or so, but had not noticed any vestige of the body before. Police-constable Chinery said he found on the body a purse, with three pence in coppers, a pouch, a knife, and a tobacco box. No steps had been taken to search the river, as they had no grounds for supposing the deceased had been drowned. Phoebe said her husband had been under the delusion for a few days previous to his disappearance that someone was after him with the intent to do him harm. He had never threatened to make away with himself, and she was certain that no person bore him any ill-will such as to cause him any bodily fear. The Coroner, in summing up, said that the body appeared to be unusually decomposed. He also pointed out that there was no evidence whatever to show how the deceased had got into the river. A verdict of “Found Drowned” was returned.

Phoebe Bergdahl died after 8 days of suffering from typhoid fever, on the 13^th August 1902, at her home, 23, Castle Street, Ipswich. George was present at the death of his wife. Phoebe was buried on the 16^th August in Section GG, at Ipswich Old Cemetery.

In 1905, Ipswich, George married Sarah Mahala Lawrence, born October 1881, Ipswich.

Sarah and George had seven sons:

Eric George Bergdahl, born November 1906, Ipswich.

John Frederick Bergdahl, born January 1909, Ipswich.

Walter George Bergdahl, born January 1911, Ipswich.

Edward Arvid Bergdahl, born January 1914, Ipswich.

Arthur Peace Bergdahl, born May 1916, Ipswich.

Harry Plenty Bergdahl, born May 1916, Ipswich.

Leonard Bergdahl, born January 1918, Ipswich.

George became a stepfather to Sarah’s son, Frank Noakes Lawrence, born in March 1900, Ipswich.

Soldiers’ Effects to Sarah M. Bergdahl – widow.

Evening Star – Thursday, 28^th December 1899 – DISORDERLY CONDUCT – Eric Berdahl, a labourer, of 17, Handford Road, Ipswich, and George Bergdahl, a stove fitter, of the same address, were each charged with disturbing the peace in Elm Street, on Saturday evening. In King Street, Eric and George were rolling about the pavement and annoying foot-passengers. This conduct brought a rebuke from Police-constable Morris, who had to arrest the two men in Elm Street. The defendants pleaded Guilty and were each ordered to pay 5s. costs, and were ordered to be bound over in the sum of 40s. each to keep the peace for six months.

THE ESSEX REGIMENT 10th (Service) Battalion: