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The Morgenster Morkels
Pt. 3. Dooley (William) Morkel and his family The first son of the Morgenster Morkels, was 5th generation Daniel Johannes MORKEL 1803 – 1894 (e1), married to Maria Adriana VAN DER BYL. When his father Willem died in 1876, he inherited Morgenster. He sold it to his brother-in-law Alexander VAN DER BYL in 1885, and the family moved to Transvaal. Daniel and Maria with their six sons and five daughters trekked to Transvaal by mule wagon and settled in Pretoria (1, p19). Our story here is about the eldest son Willem (or William or Dooley) and his family. a1 Philip MORKEL 1677 – 1735 x Catharina PASMAN 1691 - 1764 b3 Willem MORKEL 1718 – 1788 xx Helena Catharina MALAN 1759 - 1825 c6 Daniel Johannes MORKEL 1764 – 1825 xx Maria Dorothea LOUW 1775 - 1807 d9 Willem MORKEL 1803 - 1876 x Isabella Margaretha ZEEDERBERG 1809 - 1886 e1 Daniel Johannes MORKEL 1832 – 1894 x 1863 Maria Adriana VAN DER BYL f1 Willem (Dooley) MORKEL 1864 – 1926 x Marguerite Alexandra VAN BREDA
g1 William Algernon Kingsmill (Algy) MORKEL ? – 1927 g2 Alexander van der Byl (Alec) MORKEL g3 Frank James Sievewright MORKEL 1895 -† 1976 Bulawayo x Maria Josephine DE KOCK
*22.9.1`901 Cape Town †1977 Bulawayo h1 William Francis van der Byl MORKEL * 8.1.1931 Mongu, Northern Rhodesia x †
16.4.1984 x Sheila Julia JEFFERSON * 24.5.1930 Miri, Malaysia i1 David Francis MORKEL *26.10.1956 Livingston, Northern Rhodesia, x Vicki i2 Michael Philip MORKEL *12.12.1957 Fort Jameson , Northern Rhodesia
x Gail STREVER i3 Claire Michelle MORKEL *24.6.1957 x Phil GARGAN i4 Peter van der Byl MORKEL * 16.9.1960 Umtali Southern Rhodesia, Vet x Estelle DE KLERK *14.7.1962 h2 Lorraine MORKEL *abt 1941 Bulawayo Southern Rhodesia x Tom LITHGOW. g4 Denys Paul Beck MORKEL 1906 – 1980
g5 Raymond Kenneth Bellville (Ray) MORKEL 1908 - 1953 Those featured in this story are marked in blue.
Willem (Dooley) MORKEL 1864 – 1926 x Marguerite Alexandra VAN BREDA William was born in Somerset West in 1864 and had a long record as a civil servant when he retired in 1923 to take up his abode on his farm at Princess Vlei. He was in the Public Works Department all his life, and retired as of Chief Clerk. He was a keen cricketer. He had played regularly in his younger days, and he continued to play occasionally, until quite lately. He never failed to give and excellent account of himself when he did (1. p26).
In his youth, Dr J.P, Duminy, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, and his brothers played cricket with the Bellville Cricket Club. In his memoirs he commented on the captain, Dolley Morkel (2). Willie Morkel, affectionately known as ‘Dooley’ lived in a large double storeyed house with his wife and five sons, Algy, Alec, Denys, Frank and Ray. Algy was a good fastish bowler and played for Bishops. Dooley Morkel gave a tremendous lot of his time and energy to make the most of the rather scanty resources which were available to establish the basic amenities of the Bellville Club. The most important and wholly fortuitous of these was a piece of fairly level and well-grassed ground on the Hardekraaltjie outspan. The grass was tough, Cape kweekgras variety and was well cropped by grazing cattle, and my (JP Duminy) farmer brothers and cousins lent Dooley a hand with the carting of gravel and white clay to lay down a good playing pitch. Dooley was a new-ball bowler and a grand captain, being always wise, helpful and inspiring. Under his leadership we were a willing and happy team (2). Mr. Morkel played in cricket match, Bellville against Western Province, only a few years ago when he was 55 years of age, when he took eight wickets for 24 runs. As lately as last year, when the villagers Club celebrated its Jubilee, he took part in the Old Crock’s match against Hamiltons. He was over 60 but he played throughout the game, and showed as good form as many of the far younger men. Mr. Morkel’s sons have all distinguished themselves on the playing fields and they owe their
Bellville Cricket Team 1914 (2). Circled: Dooley Morkel captain.
inspiration and their training to their father. He was particularly proud of Denis. He sat through three whole day’s play during the recent Currie cup match, where Denis did so well and he fondly recalled the days he bowled to “the little chap in the yard at Bellville when he was only six, and he shaped very well” (1, p26). See our Story “Cricket Morkels” for an account of Denys Paul Beck MORKEL (1906 – 1980) and his brother Raymond Kenneth Bellville MORKEL (1908 – 1953). Denys played first class cricket from 1924 to 1938, primarily as a bowler. A year after his father’s death, he played for South Africa against England in 1927-28 and again in 1929. Denys settled in England and ran a flourishing motor trading business in Nottingham (3). Ray was a left-handed bowler and batsman and played first class cricket from 1926 to 1940 (4). Dooley Morkel was a quiet, retiring man, who had many old staunch friends in both sections of the community. Though well over military age he went through the recent German East campaign (World War I, 1914 – 1918) and declined a commission as he wished to be with the young men. His was a most kindly nature, and the intimate affection between himself and his boys showed him to have been an ideal father. Mr. Morkel was married to a Miss van Breda whom he lost in 1917. Of his sons, the eldest (William Algernon Kingsmill Morkel) is now Assistant Director of Animal husbandry at Headquarters (Pretoria); another son Frank (Frank James Sievewright Morkel), is at the Potchefstroom Agricultural College in charge of the stock. Denis, the younger son, was living with him at Windsor Farm, Princess Vlei (1, p26). (The obituary would have been written before Denys departed for the UK).
Denys Morkel (3)
Frank James Sievewright MORKEL 1895 - 1976 x Maria Josephine DE KOCK 1901 - 1977 Veterinarian Pete Morkel has provided information about his grandparents, Frank and Maria and family (5). Frank was partially named after Sir James Sievewright of Lourensford, a neighbouring farm to Morgenster.
Francis James Sievewright Morkel (Frank) was born in Cape Town 23 Aug 1898, and died about 1976 in Bulawayo Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia). He married Maria Josephine de Kock 1901 - 1977. They had two children, William Francis van der Byl Morkel and Lorraine Morkel.
Frank had a diploma from Elsenburg Agricultural College. He worked at Potchefstroom Agricultural College, an agricultural college at Mongu on the Zambezi in Barotseland in western Zambia, Matopos Agricultural Research Station near Bulawayo and the Engacheni farm for mentally challenged people. Frank was a very kind hearted person who was also very keen on cricket and well do I remember him trying to improve our skills (especially my brother Mike) when they were retired at Essexvale outside Bulawayo. In the First World War he served as a medic in the 7th SA Infantry in German East Africa.
My father, William Francis van der Byl Morkel was born in Mongu, Zambia (then Northern Rhodesia) on 8 Jan 1931 and died 16 April 1984 in Pretoria. He married Sheila Julia Jefferson, born 24 May 1930, in Miri, Malaysia. They had four children, David Francis, Michael Philip, Claire Michelle, and myself, Peter van der Byl. My father was an agricultural expert. He did his basic BSc Agric degree at Natal University and subsequently he did a post grad at Cambridge, a diploma in tropical agriculture in Trinidad and a MSc at the University of Zimbabwe. He worked in Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. My mother was a nurse and worked most of her life.
My aunt, Lorraine Lithgow nee Morkel, teacher, was born about 1941 in Bulawayo Zimbabwe. She married Tom Lithgow and they have three children and are living in Cape Town.
Brothers and sister:
David Francis Morkel, chemical engineer, was born Livingstone, Zambia on 26 Oct 1956 and married to Vicky. They have two children and live in New Zealand and Vicky.
Michael Philip Morkel, town planner was born in Fort Jameson (now Chipata) Zambia and married to Gail Strever. They have two children and live in Johannesburg.
Claire Michelle Gargan (nee Morkel, teacher,) was born in Zimbabwe and is married to Phil Gargan, manager of a learge tea estate. They have two children, and live in the USA.
I am Peter van der Byl Morkel 16 Sept 1960, Umtali (now Mutare) Zimbabwe. Married Estelle de Klerk (Born 14 July 1962), with two children, Cheri and Benoit van der Byl. Estelle is a radiographer and I’m a vet and we live in Kakamas in the Northern Cape.
Pete has become widely known for his work as vet in saving wildlife in various parts of Africa. He has joined up with teams that have been featured in TV documentaries and magazine articles, for their efforts against poaching and protecting endangered large African species, including rhino, sable antelope and elephant. The following photos are from four articles about this valuable work, posted under Morkel Family Stories on this website.
Collaring an Elephant in Kazouma National Park, Chad. 2012 (6).
Pete Morkel prepares the antidote used to revive the elephant after the collar has been fitted (6)
Helping to lift the elephant to allow Pete Morkel to remove the tranquiliser dart (6)
Pete Morkel measures the anterior horn of the Rhino in preparation for the implantation of a transmitter. Luanga National Park, Zambia. (7)
Pete Morkel with his toolkit of tranquilisers, medical equipment and DNA sampling supplies while tending the giant sable in Angola’s Gandangala
National Park (8).
Pete Morkel the Vet in the team collaring elephants against poaching in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (9)
Compiled by André T. Morkel June 2011, revised May 2014
Sources and Notes:
(1) P.W. Morkel, 1961. The Morkels. Family History and Family Tree. Published privately. (2) J.P. Duminy, 1979. Twilight over the Tygerberg. Published by J.F. Midgeley. (3) Denys MORKEL http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/46246.html (4) Raymond Kenneth Bellville MORKEL
http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/14/14155/14155.html (5) Peter van der Byl Morkel. Email October 2013 (6) Zakouma National Park, Chad. Elephant Collaring 2012. (7) “Black is Back. Returning Black Rhinos to Luanga National Park, Zambia”. www. Africa
Geographic.com. November 2008. p34 - 40 (8) “Antelope from the Ashes. Saving the Sable Antelope at Cangandala National Park, Angola”.
www.africageographic.com June 2010. p29 – 34 (9) “Elephants. La Course contra des Mort”. Parismatch.com 30 April – 6 May 2014 p74-81
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