Frederik Spackler, known as Fred, was born in Tjepoe, now Cepu, in Indonesia on 19 October 1923. He trained and worked as a marine engineer.
During the German occupation of the Netherlands, Spackler was arrested by the Sicherheitsdienst in Apeldoorn on 1 December 1944. He was subsequently imprisoned at Kamp Amersfoort. On 15 January 1945, he was transported to Vienna, Austria. The precise circumstances of this transport and his experiences during the final months of the war require further research.
Five years after the war, Spackler travelled to Australia. He departed from Schiphol Airport aboard the KLM flight to Sydney on 22 July 1950, occupying seat C3. His technical and maritime background placed him among the skilled workers who travelled to Australia during this period.
Spackler later returned to the Netherlands, but his connection with Australia continued. On 1 September 1965, he again departed from the Netherlands for Australia. In November 1972, a further journey to Geelong recorded him as an Australian citizen, indicating that Australia had become a permanent part of his life.
The available records therefore trace a life extending from colonial Indonesia and wartime Europe to post-war Australia. Further research into his imprisonment, migration, employment and family circumstances may provide a fuller account of his experiences.
This account is based on family-history and migration research undertaken by Fred Stuij. The supporting document is held by the National Archives of Australia.
Related DACC research
Read the broader story in From Sliedrecht to Williamstown: Dutch dredging workers in post-war Australia.
For related personal stories, migration accounts and company histories, visit the Dutch Dredging in Australia Research Portal.
