Pauline Nanny (Annie) OTTO
married Friedrich Wilhelm KARRASCH
Annie was born 11 January 1864 in Zwickau, Germany - she was nine years old when she sailed from Germany with her family in 1874. She died 4 July 1967, aged 103 years and is buried in the Hemmant Cemetery, Qld.
Friedrich sailed to Australia with his parents, Jacob & Eva Karrasch and sister, Eva, on the "Herschel", the same ship and voyage as Annie. Friedrich was 16 years old. He died 25 May 1931 and is buried in the Lutwyche Cemetery (as Frederick William Karrasch).
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Annie & Friedrich were married on 25 December 1881.
Children of Annie & Friedrich
Anna Clara b. 12 Nov 1882 d. 24 Jul 1949
m. William Henry Johnston 27 Apr 1903
William Henry b. 27 Feb 1884 d. 7 Feb 1945
m. Isabell Mabel Catchpoole 26 Feb 1908
Frederick Ernest b. 2 Dec 1885 d. 3 Jan 1887
Pauline Elsie b. 8 Sep 1887 d. 14 Jul 1969
m. Victor Robert Fleming 27 Jul 1904
(Lived at Erica Street, Cannon Hill)
Alfred Hugo b.2 Feb 1890 d. 23 Jun 1971
m. Maria Wilhelmina Otto 24 Apr 1916
Maria died on 3 September 1916
Ernest Edwin b. 23 Aug 1892
d. 7 Jul 1955 in Leichhardt, Sydney
m. Sarah Dobson 11 Jun 1913
Lillian Ida May b. 5 Dec 1894
d. 9 Oct 1952, Lidcombe, Sydney
m. Frederick Baty 5 Aug 1916
Frederick d. 28 Oct 1952, Lidcombe, Sydney
Lillian & Frederick are both buried in Methodist Section, Rookwood Cemetery, Lidcombe, NSW
William Edward Bernard b. 5 Feb 1897 d. 1899
Ida May Pauline b. 25 May 1900 d. 11 Jan 1947
m. Percy William St Clair 19 Jan 1927
(Lived at Fewings Street, Toowong)
Ivy Clara Selma b. 28 Sep 1902 d. 26 Aug 1935
​m. Edward Ernest Russell 1919
Pauline Nanny (Annie) Otto on her 103rd birthday in 1967
National Archives of Australia
Selection of Portion 35v
​In November 1887 Friedrich selected Lot 35V in Peachester at the same time as Heinrich Paul Otto selected Lot 37V.
(Note: A very early map shows the owner as JW Karrasch but Queensland State Archives search shows no record for JW Karrasch, only FW Karrasch. It is possible that Friedrich's father, Jacob, selected the land and very soon after selection transferred the licence to occupy, or lease, to Friedrich.
(Research undertaken February 2023)
At the time of selection in 1887 Annie & Frederick already had four children. According to the Electoral Roll their address was Coochin Creek, Beerwah from 1896 to 1905, their last child, Ivy, being born in 1902.
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It appears that Annie & Frederick parted ways. During 1909 to 1913 Annie was living in Ingham, Qld, and there is no reference to Frederick on the Electoral Roll. From 1912 to 1917 it seems Frederick was living with his son and daughter-in-law, Ernest & Sarah, in Zillmere, Qld. By 1925 they had moved to Lindsay Street, Hawthorn.
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From 1925 to 1939 Annie was living with her daughter, Ida, in Fewings Street, Toowong. Ida married Percy St Clair in 1927 and they continued living at Fewing Street, Toowong.
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In 1943 Annie lived with her son and daughter-in-law, Ernest & Sarah, who had moved to Leichhardt, NSW. She returned to Queensland and briefly stayed with her sister, Selma Goodfellow, in Newmarket, Brisbane Qld. She then moved to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Pauline & Victor Fleming at Erica Street, Cannon Hill, Brisbane. In 1954 she was at Montpelier Street, Wilston and in 1963 back with her daughter at Erica Street, Cannon Hill.
Annie Karrasch - Centenarian
Annie - 100 years
Whilst living to 100 years and beyond is still a remarkable feat, it was even more remarkable in the 1960's. At the time, the average life expectancy was 71 years.
Telegram from The Queen
Annie - 103 years
William Henry Karrasch
​Annie's eldest son, William, served in World War II. He enlisted 25 November 1940. His DOB was shown as 27 Feb 1898 (42y 9m), although his actual DOB was 27 Feb 1884 (56y 9m). His Mobilisation Enrolment Form describes him as "Unfit for active but fit for other service: Class II age".
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There is no mistaking that the person who enlisted was Annie's eldest son as his wife on enlistment was noted as Isabell Mabel and it was also noted he had tattoos on both arms - Faith Hope & Charity on left arm and Horseshoe on right arm.
This corresponds with what must have been an unfortunate mishap in 1928 when he was sentenced to 3 yrs (suspended) for "doing grevious bodily harm". The record notes "Horseshoe right forearm, Faith Hope & Charity left forearm".
William served in the Citizen Military Forces and trained as a Cook (his occupation on enlistment was 'labourer') On 5 September 1942 he was transferred from Enoggera to Cabarlah, Qld (near Oakey). On 18 November 1942 he fractured his leg and on 1 June 1943 he was transferred to 1AGH (comp fract rt leg).
In November 1943 he was declared medically fit for restricted duties. He was later declared medically unfit for military service and discharged on 12 January 1944.
(Refer NAA (National Archives Australia - Record Search) for military record.)
William died 7th February 1945 in the Brisbane Hospital. His Death Certificate from Qld BDM states the cause of death as "Carcinoma Pancreas" with a duration of "months". His date of death on the Roll of Honour form states 20 July 1945.
His name is recorded on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial. His military records bear the notation "Death due to war service".
