LELLMAN, KARL VERNON

1910 - 2010 from Falkland Islands


town clerk, was born on 25 January 1910 in Stanley, the second son of Albert Lellman and Frances, née Rowlands.

His grandfather Josef jumped ship in 1870 to avoid the Franco-Prussian War, in which he had a brother in each of the opposing armies. His maternal grandfather Franz Rylander was a Swedish sailor, shipwrecked in 1866, who later anglicised his name to Rowlands.

214 In retirement.

Lellman was evacuated to Camp in the war scare at the outbreak of World War I, but returned to Stanley just four days before Admiral STURDEE's fleet arrived, closely followed by von SPEE. Lellman recalls the guns of HMS Canopus literally shaking Stanley as they engaged the German fleet.

Otherwise the war had little impact, though a popular, and sometimes violent, game at school was 'pickets' in which the boys 'coaxed' drunken sailors to their liberty boat. School was compulsory up to age fourteen, but in 1924 it was extended to two years voluntary continuation, largely thanks to the efforts of the Headmaster, AR Hoare, respected by pupils and public alike.

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A self addressed cover (dated 13...

After the continuation years, Lellman was offered temporary employment in the Secretariat at £24 p.a. in 1926, later made permanent at £66. The work entailed daily visits to the governor's office and others and the general handling of 'the records' - an antiquated system unchanged for about 70 years.

In 1929 the Falkland Islands Company, which was in the throes of new management, offered him a job covering importing, costing and local shipping. He visited Britain in 1939 and was on board when war was declared. During the homeward journey he was involved in the supervision of enemy passengers.

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Karl Lellman was instrumental...

Lellman served with the Defence Force for 25 years, reaching the rank of sergeant and earning the efficiency medal.

In 1941 he was posted to Darwin, the largest farm on the Islands, and worked as bookkeeper, store manager and school teacher. He was also authorised by government to act as registrar and meteorological observer.

He returned to the civil service in 1946 and in 1948 was appointed town clerk to the newly instituted and democratically elected Town Council.

In 1953, dissatisfied with the educational possibilities for his two young sons, he emigrated to New Zealand where he spent 20 years in the public service.

In 1936 he married Malvina Reive: they have two sons, Michael (b1941) and John (b1946).

Karl Lellman died in Auckland, New Zealand, on 5 August 2010.

Editorial comment: Karl Lellman was one of the main participants in 1948 Petition to the Colonial Office asking to have Governor Sir Miles CLIFFORD removed from office. Along with Arthur HARDY Lellman was a leading light in the protest. He never became reconciled to Clifford and his reforms. (For details about Lellman's clash with Governor Clifford see:  Stephen Palmer; 'Sir Miles Clifford, a much much maligned Governor, and the petition for his removal 1948'; Falkland Islands Journal; 2020)

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Karl and Mally Lellman's wedding day...


Authors

Karl Lellman

References

Karl Lellman; The Berkeley Sound Treasure Story; Falkland Islands Journal; 1988

Karl Lellman; Falkland Story - Part 2; Falkland Islands Journal; 2003

Kall Lellman; Falkland Story - Part 3 Some shipping tales; Falkland Islands Journal; 2004

Karl Lellman; Falklands Story. Part 5 – More Shipping Tales; Falkland Islands Journal; 2006

Karl Lellman; Falklands Story: Part 6 The Crew were picked up; Falkland Islands Journal; 2007

Karl Lellman; Falklands Story: Part 7 - In the shipping register; Falkland Islands Journal; 2008

Karl Lellman; Shipping losses around the Falklands;  Falkland Islands Journal; 2009

Karl Lellman;  The SS Great Britain; Falkland Islands Journal; 2010

Karl Lellman; The Battle; Falkland Islands Journal; 2011

Comments

Revisions

2006 - Original version
2017 - Updated by David Tatham
December 2019 One additional photograph added; nine references added
February 2020 One additional photograph added
March 2020 An editorial comment added
September 2020 One additional photograph added