Kenward

Kenward (Ken) Behrens

(16 March 1886 - 20 July 1934)

Kenward Behrens (known as Ken) was born on 16 March 1886 at the family home, 800 Elgar Road, Doncaster. Ken was the third child of German-born Frederick William Ellis Behrens (22 June 1841 - 12 June 1907) and his Australian-born wife, Alice Martha Powrie (5 Nov 1857 - 8 Nov 1933):

• Frederick (Fred) William Behrens (29 Oct 1882 - 5 Nov 1966)
• Ellis Behrens (16 Apr 1884 - 28 Apr 1965)
• Kenward (Ken) Behrens (16 Mar 1886 - 20 July 1934)
• Otto Behrens (29 Apr 1887 - 11 Nov 1963)
• Thomas (Tom) Behrens (25 Sept 1888 - 5 Nov 1970)
• Edmund (Ed) Behrens (20 June 1890 - 20 June 1933)
• Minna Behrens (3 Oct 1893 - 7 July 1973)
• Ruth Behrens (8 July 1895 - 19 Oct 1977)
• Nettie Behrens (8 Nov 1896 - 7 Oct 1937)

When Ken was born he had two older brothers. His name 'Kenward' came from the surname of his maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Alice Kenward (1837 - 23 Oct 1912).

Ken's parents, William and Alice, were baptised members of the Doncaster Church of Christ. (According to the Doncaster Church of Christ website, this congregation was first established in a church member's home in 1863, and then in 1864, they met in a weatherboard chapel on the church's present site at 680 Doncaster Road.) William and Alice regularly attended meetings with their two eldest babies, Fred and Ellis, and were respected and active members of their church. 

Around 1886, William became interested in the teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church which preached the imminent return of Jesus Christ. After hearing this message, William decided that if Jesus was really coming soon then he would not be needing an income and therefore he would not replace any of his fruit trees should they die. In early 1886, William also became convicted that Saturday was God's holy Sabbath, and kept the day as his day of worship. Alice, on the other hand, refused to join him and probably felt some humiliation when meeting up with the Church of Christ community. Alice eventually accepted that the Bible Sabbath was Saturday after receiving a vision of the Ten Commandments one night at the family home. She became a staunch believer.

Around 1886-87 both William and Alice were accepted into membership at the North Fitzroy Seventh-day Adventist Church. At this time, the church met on the second floor of the Echo Office.

On 29 April 1887, when Ken was one, his brother Otto Behrens was born.

William and Alice with Fred, Ellis, Ken and Otto (in order of age),
and possibly Alice's sister Margaret (known as Maggie).
Photo taken c1887
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

Ken and his siblings did their schooling at the Doncaster State School No. 197 which was constructed c1886 at 679 Doncaster Road to replace a previous timber structure.

Doncaster Primary School pre 1900
Some of the Behrens children may be pictured.
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

Ken's brothers Thomas Behrens and Edmund Behrens were born on 25 September 1888 and 20 June 1890 respectively. A little sister, Minna Behrens joined the family on 3 October 1893.

The Behrens family attended the first Seventh-day Adventist Camp meeting in Australia in 1893 which was held in the coastal suburb of Brighton from 29 December 1893 until 15 January 1894. At this camp meeting, the American Adventist pioneer, Ellen G. White, preached powerfully.

An early Seventh-day Adventist camp at Brighton, Melbourne.
Photographer and date unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

Ken's youngest sisters Ruth Behrens and Nettie Behrens were born on 8 July 1895 and 8 November 1896 respectively. Around this time, their father began to suffer from respiratory complications. Some relatives believe he also suffered from asthma. Respiratory ailments would affect William for the rest of his life.

Behrens family in early 1907 just before William passed away.

Back from left: Tom, Ken, Otto, Edmund

Middle from left: William and Alice

Front, from left: Ruth, Nettie, Minna

Absent: Fred & Ellis

(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

Kens father, William (65), died on the morning of 12 June 1907. When he was buried at the Box Hill Cemetery, Ken and his five brothers carried their father's coffin from the horse-drawn hearse to his grave.

Ken was an orchardist, and managed the family property after his father died.

Behrens boys scooping a dam on the family farm, early 1900s
From left: (possibly) Tom, Ed, Ken, Otto
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

The Behrens brothers and some of their friends were keen on science. A group of them formed the Auburn Science Club and together they shared their knowledge and fascination with things scientific.

Audurn Science Club, 26 Dec 1908
Back from left: Otto & Tom Behrens,
Front from left: Charlie Litster, Ken & Edmund Behrens.
Photo taken at The Ana Studios Burwood Rd Auburn, Victoria.
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

The Behrens family c1909
Back, left to right: Edmund, Otto, Fred, Alice, Kenward, Ellis, Tom,
Girls at the front, left to right: Nettie, Minna, Ruth
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

Ruth, Minna & Nettie Behrens in the buggy with Ken at the back.
Photographer and date unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

Ken with his mother Alice in the buggy.
Photographer and date unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

Ken Behrens 1913
Photo taken at The Burlington Studios, Melbourne.
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

On 19 October 1914, Ken was a groomsman the wedding of his sister, Minna to Charles (Charlie) Stafford (20 Mar 1900 - 4 Aug 1946). The wedding was held in Doncaster.

Wedding of Charles Stafford and Minna Behrens. 19 October 1914.
From left: Nettie Behrens, Tom Behrens, Charles Stafford, Minna Behrens,
 Ken Behrens, Ruth Behrens, & Fred Behren
Photo by The Burlington Studios, 294 Bourke St, Melbourne.
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

Ken's brother, Fred married Elizabeth (Lizzie) Green on 16 April 1912, at the original Seventh-day Adventist Church, Warburton. 

Ken married Isabella (Belle) Mary Simpson (6 August 1885 - 13 October 1963) in 1915. Belle was the daughter of  David Brown Simpson (19 Jan 1828 - 1902) and his wife Henrietta Sinclair Moar (1859 - 9 Aug 1925).

The wedding of Kenward Behrens and Isabella Simpson 1915
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

Ken and Belle became the parents of two sons and two daughters:

• Rae Eva Ruth Behrens (1916 - 7 Aug 1965)
• David Kenward Behrens (2 Sep 1921 - 8 Mar 2004)
• Vera Alice Behrens (2 Sep 1921 - 14 July 1926)
• Frank Stuart Behrens (31 July 1923 - 7 Jan 2001)

Behrens family picnic near Warrandyke c1915
From left: Charlie Stafford, Belle & Ken, Ruth, Nettie, Alice, Leo Stafford (boy)
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

Ken and Belle's first child, Rae Eva Ruth Behrens was born in Melbourne in 1916. 

Belle Behrens with her daughter Rae 1918.
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

On 25 March 1918, Ken would have attended the wedding of his brother Tom who married Lorrie Rhoda Paine (23 Oct 1887 - 5 Dec 1969). The wedding was held in Auburn, Victoria. 

Behrens family picnic c1918
From left: Lorrie & Tom, Ruth with Leo Stafford (boy), Alice, Nettie,
unknown woman & man, Belle & Ken (standing), four other unknown people
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

Twins, David Kenward Behrens and Vera Alice Behrens were born on 2 September 1921. Two years later, Frank Stuart Behrens was born on 31 July 1923 and completed the family.

Ken & Belle (standing at the back)
Front from left: Baby David held by Belle's mother, Henrietta Simpson, Rae, baby Vera held by Alice Behrens c1922
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

Ken Behrens with his children Rae, Vera (partially obscured) & David c1922
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

Ken's brother Ed married Agnes Victoria Parker (22 June 1897 - 26 July 1980) at the Mont Albert Seventh-day Adventist church, on 8 April 1925.

Ken's mother-in-law, Henrietta Simpson was staying with them when she died suddenly on 9 August 1925. The following death notice appeared in The Argus, 10 August 1925, page 1:

SIMPSON. -- On the 9th August (suddenly), at the
residence of her son-in-law (K. Behrens, Don-
caster), Henrietta Sinclair, relict of the late
D. B. Simpson (late Vic. Light Service), dearly
loved and loving mother of George (deceased),
Etta (Mrs. A. Cumming), David, Will, Bella 
(Mrs. K. Behrens), Leonard, in her 76th year.
(No flowers, by request.)
I shall be satisfied when I awake in Thy
likeness. Ps. xvii, 15.

Henrietta Simpson was buried in the Box Hill Cemetery, Baptist Section, Plot B-573, on 10 August 1925.

Little Vera contracted diphtheria when four years old. Sadly, she died of internal hemorrhaging caused by the disease, on 14 July 1926. The following day Ken & Belle buried her at the Box Hill Cemetery next to her maternal grandmother, Henrietta Simpson.

In 1927, Ken's brother, Otto, married Mabel Alma Thompson (1903 - 1959). The wedding was held in Albury, NSW. 

Ken? and his mother Alice picking violets for the Melbourne Market
Photographer and date unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

Ken developed tuberculosis which crippled his hip to the extent that he could only get around with crutches. Over time he deteriorated further and became bedridden for the last few years of his life. An extra room was built on the side of Ken's house to accommodate him during his illness.

Ken (on crutches) and Belle on the farm
Photographer and date unknown, but probably early 1930s
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

On 1 October 1930, Ken may have attended his sister Ruth's wedding to Edmund Martin (dates unknown) which was held at the Mont Albert Seventh-day Adventist Church, Melbourne. 

Ken's brother Ed died unexpectedly on 21 May 1933, aged 42, after an unfortunate accident in which a horse kicked him in the head. The family buried Ed at the Box Hill Cemetery. Six months later, his mother, Alice, died on 8 November 1933 in Doncaster, Victoria, and was buried in the same grave as her husband, in Box Hill Cemetery, Baptist Section, Plot B-40. 

Ken died on 20 July 1934 from consumption (tuberculosis) aged 48. He was buried at Box Hill Cemetery, Baptist section, Plot B-648. Three years later, his sister's 21 year old stepson, Leo Stafford (1916 - 1937) died and was buried in the the same plot.

Behrens family from left: Frank, Belle, Rae, Dave 1930s
Wanrerle Studio, Melbourne
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

Belle died on 13 October 1963 in Brisbane. Her death notice was published in the Australasian Record, Vol 68 No 3, 20 Jan 1964, p14:

          BEHRENS. A long life of fidelity to God
and the faith once delivered to the saints came
to a close on October 13, 1963, when Sister Isa-
bel Behrens passed to rest in Brisbane. She
was the widow of the late Brother Ken Behrens
of Doncaster, Victoria, mother of Rae, Dave,
and Frank, and sister of Brother J. L. Simpson
of Wahroonga (so well known for his long years
of service in our sanitariums) and of the late
Brother George Simpson of New Zealand. Dedi-
cating her life to the Lord in her youth, Sister
Behrens was for many years associated with
the sanitarium cafes in Melbourne and Christ-
church (N.Z.), and was engaged in missionary
service with the Lyndon family in Tahiti. Her
life was fragrant with the spirit of Christ and
her loved ones believe that she rests only till
the sounding of "the last trump." At the fun-
eral service, Pastor R. M. Kranz brought com-
fort to the mourners.




The family of Ken & Belle Behrens

Ken and Belle Behrens had four children:

• Rae Eva Ruth Behrens (1916 - 7 August 1965)
• Rae was born in Melbourne, Australia.
• When she was about 10 years old, her sister Vera died after contracting diphtheria. 
• Rae was an accomplished writer. She wrote the story, Red Roses under the pseudonym, Ruth Kenward (using one of her middle names and her father's name). This story was based on the facts of her grandfather's immigration to Australia and his subsequent marriages, as well as how her grandparents became Seventh-day Adventists. It was published in The Youth Instructor, an Adventist youth magazine, in December 1962. The accuracy of some aspects of the story are disputed.
• Rae never married.
• She worked as a secretary.

Rae Behrens
Photographer & date unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

• Rae died in Coorangbong, New South Wales, aged 49. Her death notice was published in the Australasian Record, Vol 68, No 33, 16 August 1965, page 15:

  

      BEHRENS. Rae Eva Ruth Behrens slipped 

quietly to her rest on Wednesday morning, July 

7, 1965. She will be greatly missed by her

brothers David (Brisbane) and Frank (New 

Guinea), together with all those who knew her 

sweet Christian nature. For many years she 

was a member of Mont Albert church in Mel-

bourne, and then of the Queensland Conference. 

Sister Behrens, who had not enjoyed good 

health, moved recently to Avondale and looked 

forward to living quietly in the Adventist com-

munity. However, it was not to be. The Lord 

let her sleep at the age of forty-nine years. She 

lies in the Avondale cemetery awaiting the 

morning.                                     Russell Kranz. 

• David Kenward Behrens (2 Sep 1921 - 8 Mar 2004)
• David was the twin brother of Vera. Born in Doncaster, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Sadly, Vera died in 1926 when they were almost five years old.

Vera & David Behrens c1924
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

• David enlisted for WWII while in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, giving his mother Isabella Behrens as his next of kin. David's military service number is VX142421.
• After World War II, David worked for the Seventh-day Adventist Mission in the Solomon Islands and also New Britain, where he served as an engineer. Later he captained a small boat around the Pacific. Some of David's experiences in the Pacific can be found at the website Anne McCosker - Poet, Historian, Writer.
• David married twice. His first wife was Joan Sylvia McLain (4 Dec 1928 - ?). They married at the South Brisbane Seventh-day Adventist Church on 12 June 1946. The announcement of their marriage was published in the Australasian Record, Vol 50, No.29, 22 July 1946, page 7:

BEHRENS-McLAIN.—On June 12, 1946, 

at the South Brisbane church, Queensland, 

Sylvia Joan McLain and David Kenward 

Behrens were united in holy wedlock. The 

bride is the eldest daughter of Brother and 

Sister H. W. McLain, highly esteemed 

members of the South Brisbane church; 

whilst the bridegroom is the son of Sister 

and the late Brother K. Behrens of Don-

caster, Melbourne. The church was 

beautifully decorated, and everything was 

carried out befitting a Christian wedding. 

At the reception good wishes were ex-

pressed by kind friends gathered together. 

In this life union we pray that the God of 

heaven will give Brother and Sister 

Behrens abundant joy and happiness. 

                                             W. W. Petrie. 

• David and Joan had two daughters
• D Behrens
• N Behrens

Belle Behrens with daughter-in-law Joan, grand-daughter D Behrens, and son Dave. c1948
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

• After David and Joan divorced, he married Sylvia Dawn Harris (20 Feb 1933 - ?) on 20 April 1959. Both David and Sylvia worked at the Brisbane Health Food factory. Their wedding was announced in the Australasian Record Vol 63, No 21, 25 May 1959, p15:

          BEHRENS - HARRIS. The tastefully 

decorated Central church, Brisbane, was the 

scene of a very pretty wedding in the even-

ing of April 20, 1959, when David Kenward 

Behrens received the hand of, and pledged 

his troth to, Sylvia Dawn Harris. These 

young people are members of the Brisbane 

Health Food factory staff and were re

cipients of good wishes by a wide field of 

relatives and friends. As this new home is 

established the prayers and goodwill of the 

Adventist community are showered upon 

them.                                         S. M. Uttley.

Dave Behrens with his wife Sylvia
Photographer & date unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

• David died in Greenslopes Private Hospital in 2004.

• Vera Alice Behrens (2 Sep 1921 - 14 July 1926)
• Twin sister of David. Born in Doncaster, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
• Vera attended the Mont Albert Seventh-day Adventist School. The picture below was taken on a school picnic at the Melbourne Zoo and is the last known photograph of her. She is seated in the front row, fourth from the right.

Vera Behrens (dark-haired girl, fourth from the right) with her class from the
Mont Albert SDA School while on a picnic at Melbourne Zoo 1926
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman) 

• Vera died of diphtheria just before her fifth birthday. She was buried at Box Hill Cemetery, Baptist Section, Plot B-573 (unmarked grave) next to her maternal grandmother, Henrietta (Hetta) Sinclair Simpson, nee Moar (1859 - Aug 1925) who had died the year previous. Another of her mother's relatives, Isabella Moar (69), was buried in the plot in March 1929. Vera's obituary appeared in the Australasian Record on 23 August 1926, Vol 30, No 34, page 7:

       BEHRENS —Died of internal hemor-

rhage caused by diphtheria, July 14, 1926, 

at the age of four years and ten months, 

Vera Alice Behrens, daughter of Brother 

and Sister Kenward Behrens, Doncaster, 

Vic. Little Vera was a most affectionate 

child and an earnest little Christian. The 

writer, assisted by Pastor Craddock, con-

ducted the funeral service in the Box Hill 

cemetery where on July 15, in the midst 

of a large number of sorrowing relatives 

and friends, we laid little Vera to rest be-

side her Grandma Simpson, until Jesus 

comes to awake His sleeping saints. "He 

shall gather the lambs with His arm and 

carry them in His bosom." 

                                       W. H. PASCOE.

• Frank Stuart Behrens (31 July 1923 - 7 Jan 2001)
• Frank was born in Melbourne. 
• He enjoyed singing, and while he was studying nursing at the Sydney Adventist Hospital, he was part of the Lynn Knight's Sanitarium Choir. His future wife, Gwen Morris was also a member. He also sang in a male quartet. Frank graduated in 1953. 

Frank Behrens's graduation class 1953.
Frank is sixth from the left in the back row.
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

• Frank married Gwen Morris (3 July 1930 - 16 July 2005), also a nurse, on 26 January 1954 in Wahroonga, New South Wales.
• Frank and Gwen had three children, all of whom were born in Papua New Guinea while they were missionaries there:
• J L Behrens
• J Behrens
• G L Behrens

Frank & Gwen Behrens and their children, J, G & J. 1967.
Photographer unknown
(Photo courtesy of A & N Holman)

• Frank died in Wahroonga, New South Wales in 2001. Gwen also died there four years later, in 2005.

Bibliography

Anonymous. (1925, August 10). Deaths. The Argus. 1. Retrieved from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2154070

Anonymous. (1964, January 20). Until the Day Break. Australasian Record, 14. Retrieved from  http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/AAR/AAR19640120-V68-03.pdf

Behrens, D. (n.d.). South Pacific Cross Currents. Anne McCosker - Poet, Historian, Writer. Retrieved from  http://www.annemccosker.com/empire-and-commonwealth/david-behrens/david-behrens-1/

Kenward, R. (1962, December 11). Red Roses. The Youth's Instructor. Takoma Park, WA: Review & Herald. 7-8, 15.  

Retrieved from http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/YI/YI19621211-V110-50.pdf

Kenward, R. (1962, December 18). Red Roses. Part 2 - Conclusion. The Youth's Instructor. Takoma Park, WA: Review & Herald. 8, 18-20. Retrieved from http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/YI/YI19621218-V110-51.pdf

Kranz, R. (1965, August 16). Until the Day Break. Australasian Record. 15. Retrieved from  http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/AAR/AAR19650816-V69-33.pdf

Pascoe, W. H. (1926, August 23). Australasian Record. 7. Retrieved from  http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/AAR/AAR19260823-V30-34.pdf

Petrie, W. W. (1946, July 22). Wedding Bells. Australasian Record, p7. Retrieved from  http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/AAR/AAR19460722-V50-29.pdf

Uttley, S. M. (1959, May 25). Weddings. Australasian Record, p15. Retrieved from  http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/AAR/AAR19590525-V63-21.pdf

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank K J Bland for supplying family records, and photographs for this project, and also for sharing his recollections about his grandparents.

Many thanks goes to A and N Holman for sharing their years of research, and for allowing me to use many photographs from their family collection.

Last updated by K Bland on 25 February 2018