Gottlob Alfred Waetzig

Born in Brighton on 24 December 1822, Gottlob Alfred Waetzig was the son of Johann Gottlob Waetzig, who was born in Dresden in 1791. Waetzig père arrived in England on 18 June 1815 and became a naturalized citizen in 1850. According to Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper (26 October 1851), he was ‘an eminent composer and arranger, as well as a distinguished performer on the bassoon, in the private bands of George IV and Queen Adelaide, during a period of twenty-two years: and he afterwards held the appointment of master in the band of the above regiment [the 2nd Life Guards].’ In 1861 he gave his profession as ‘Retired Professor of Music,’ though classified ads show that he had also taught French and German. He died on 20 January 1875 (Liverpool Mercury, 3 February 1875).

Waetzig fils became a cook in the royal household. According to the website of the Royal Collection Trust, he ‘commenced royal service in 1838, became Yeoman of the Kitchen in 1853, Third Master Cook in 1869, and retired in 1876.’ A pencilled inscription on the album page reads: ‘Her Majesty’s Cook for dinner Mr Wertsig [sic], elevated from the Luncheon Cook in 1865 / Pensioned in 1876.’ He appears on the 1871 census, a ‘Master Cook’ (one of four) living at Windsor Castle.

Numerous newspapers mentioned his name as the person who first discovered a fire at Windsor Castle in 1853: ‘The first suspicion of something being wrong seems to have been entertained by a young man named Waetzig, a cook in the royal service, who, after the labours of the evening were over, retired to his room about 9 o’clock to change his coat’ (Morning Post, 22 March 1853).

He married, firstly, on 14 July 1846 Mary Anne Hardy at St Peter’s Church in Pimlico. She died on 26 January 1853 and was buried in Brompton Cemetery. He married, secondly, in 1857 Lydia Greatorex from Derby, who was one of the Queen’s dressers. She died, aged 66, on 2 September 1882 at 4 Dunford Villas, Merton Road, Surrey. She was also buried in Brompton Cemetery.

Waetzig died, aged 83, on 5 December 1906 at 344 Merton Road, Wandsworth, leaving an estate valued at £454. He was laid to rest in Brompton Cemetery.

Photographed by Symonds and Wheeler of West Cowes on the Isle of Wight.