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