Person:Walter Thiem (1)

He was a farmer, wholesaler and bookseller.

Intensely interested in church affairs, he was a Deacon in the Congregational Church, a lay preacher and Hon. General Secretary of the Congregational Union.

Walter was a boarder at Whinham College. He won a senior level bursary for ongoing tertiary education but was wanted in the family's Kapunda store (his Maths and English prizes are held by David Maurice THIEM). Subsequently, he worked on the Kadina farm which he then bought from his father -- it is still called Kambula.

Later he went into a wholesale confectionery business in Adelaide but was defrauded. He then moved to Western Australia, before travelling to South Africa to manage one of his brother's farms after the Boer War. The family had been there for several years when one of the Boer overseers on the farm killed a 'kaffir'. Walter naturally reported this murder to the police. The police, while perceiving it to be murder, also saw the racial ramifications and recommended that Walter and family leave South Africa as quickly as possible. This was difficult due to ships transporting victims of Somme from World War battle fields. Eventually, a Japanese boat was found\footnote{The Japanese being allies in World War I.} and the family caught the {\itshape Nikko Maru} to Kobe, Japan, via Singapore and then travelled on the passenger cargo ship {\itshape Fuji Maru} to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. From there it was the {\itshape Karulla} to Adelaide, South Australia, to see the family. The journey concluded by going to Fremantle, Western Australia, where Walter had bought a farm on the escarpment South East of Perth between Pengilly and Brookton. However, the family had poison weed and the venture failed. They moved on to another rented farm soon after which was successful.

The family eventually settled in Adelaide, where Walter later died.

He was a happy family man of great ability who was well respected in the community.

The following is from his obituary on 1-Oct-1938 and covers the life of the family :

\begin{quotation} The British-Israel world has suffered a severe loss in Australia through the death of Mr W.E. Thiem, who was President of the Adelaide Branch for ten years, and resigned from that position a few weeks before his death.

Adelaide was not alone in the enjoyment of the profound knowledge and sterling worth of this stalwart soldier of Christ; he was known in at least four States, and his powerful influence is felt all over Australia.\\

Mr Thiem had the vision glorious of Australia united to the glory of God, and its souls won for Christ. He worked with that end in view, beginning in Adelaide.\\

Desiring to spread the Gospel of the Kingdom and of Salvation far and wide, the genial President opened a book room at 16 Peel Street, Adelaide.\\

This centre proved to be a happy meeting ground of many Christians throughout Australia, and from overseas; a solace for rest and refuge to many who were perplexed and in difficulties, and a clearing house for many centres in South Australia.\\

At a conference of delegates from the various States, that was held in Melbourne in August 1936, Adelaide's President was unanimously elected to the chair. At the conference a Constitution was drawn up for the formation of an Australian Council, with Mr Thiem as its first President. The Constitution was not ratified by the States, because, at an Interstate Conference, held in Sydney later in the same year, over which Dr Goard presided, it was felt that, in view of the recent developments, an Australian Organisation, with greater range, was needed and Dr Goard undertook to sponsor its formation from London. That was not to be.\\

Mr Thiem has done much towards laying the foundation of a United Australia on which others, who have a vision extending beyond their own State boundaries, will be able to build.\\

Walter Edward Thiem was born at Kapunda, South Australia, in 1877. He was educated at Whinham College, North Adelaide. He married Nora Mabel Naughton in 1903.\\

For a number of years, Mr Thiem was farming at Kadina, where he was Deacon on the Congregational Church, also a Seal Holder. He then lived in Adelaide for several years, during which time he was Financial Secretary for the Congregational Union. Laster, he was farming in the Narrogin District, Western Australia. Having been rejected for service in the A.I.F., Mr Thiem managed a farm for his brother, in Transvaal, South Africa. Eighteen months later he returned to Australia, and again took up land in Western Australia. He was in Brookton District, and while there, learned of the B.I. Truth\footnote{The principal belief of British Israelism is that the British (and by extension Australians, Americans, Canadians and others) are the spiritual and literal descendants of the ancient Israelites.}. An old lady told him something of it and, a few weeks later, he discovered Edward Hind's book on the shelves of a Danish Gentleman. From that time, Mr Thiem became keenly interested, and never lost his enthusiasm.\\

Finally he returned to South Australia, and was Country Party Organiser for many years.\\

After a six month trip to India in connection with an invention of his own, of a cooling system, Mr Thiem opened the British-Israel Book Room, at 16 Peel Street, Adelaide. This he retained until his death on the 17\textsuperscript{th} of August, 1938. It is still being retained by his successors. The results of his labours stand as his memorial.\\

Mr Thiem leaves a widow, three daughters and one son. \end{quotation}

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Correspondence with Maurice Stephen Thiem and Dorothy (Davidson).
2. ↑ SA Births, Deaths and Marriages.

   Birth Register, at Kapunda, District of Kapunda, Book 179, Page 141

3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Dean Nash. Descendents of Johann Benjamin Traugott Thiem.
4. ↑ Correspondence with Maurice Stephen Thiem and Dorothy (Davidson).