Stories from the Collection
94/SW/07
Bravery Medal
Tucked away in a corner of the Museum is a small silver painted, wooden frame that holds the contents of a special item. It is a Bravery Medal awarded to F. W. Jantke.Friedrich Wilhelm Jantke and his wife Anna Dorothea nee Schneider, lived in Schonborn, Brandenburg, Prussia. It was this Friedrich Wilhelm Jantke to whom the Bravery Medal was awarded dated 1813 -1814. He was Great-Grandfather to former well known Lobethal resident Friedrich Wilhelm 'Bill' Jantke. The medal, struck from captured enemy French canons was issued to those Prussian soldiers who served in the Wars of Liberation from Napoleon’s rule. Also, the medal is noted for being one of the first Prussian/German medals to feature thecross pattée (Iron Cross) design.
The Rogsen Church painting
In the SE corner wall of the LAHM is a colour/painted photo of a church. It has an inscription in its corner indicating that it was donated by Gottlieb and Friedrich (Fred) SPERLING.
Why is it in the Lobethal Museum?
Best guess is that the Sperling family had immigrated from the Rogsen, Posen and settled in the Sandleton arera. One can suppose that Johann Wilhelm SPERLING was a nephew to the Wilhelmine Konstantine FELSCH nee SPERLING that settled in Lobethal and took over the family land holdings after her husband, Johann Gottlieb died. The Felsch couple were original pioneer settlers of Lobethal.
It may seem that two of Johann Wilhelm Sperling sons, Gottlieb and Friedrich (Fred) donated the painting to the Museum in honour of their great aunt who arrived in SA in 1841 onThe Skjold.
