Monrad Siegfried Metzgen (1894- 13 May 1956, Belize) was a well known national hero of
BelizeBelize , is a country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, composed of many cultures and speaking many languages. Although Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official language...
having been a leading citizen in the Colony of
British HondurasBritish Honduras was the former name of what is now the independent nation of Belize, when it was still a British colony.First colonised by Spaniards in the seventeenth century, the territory on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, became a British crown colony from 1862 until 1964,...
.
He was born in
BelizeBelize City is the largest city of the Central American nation Belize.Unofficial estimates place the population of Belize City at 70,800 or more people. It is located at the mouth of the Belize River on the coast of the Caribbean. Belize City is the nation's principal port and its financial and...
(Town) in 1894 and died, suddenly of poisoning, on 13 May 1956. Monrad was of humble parentage and a Belizean Creole. Monrad Siegfried Metzgen's mother, Esther Almira Bevans (born on 17 January 1869 in Belize and passed away in 1944), was the second wife of his father (the first one was Estelle Greene).
Monrad Siegfried Metzgen (1894- 13 May 1956, Belize) was a well known national hero of
BelizeBelize , is a country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, composed of many cultures and speaking many languages. Although Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official language...
having been a leading citizen in the Colony of
British HondurasBritish Honduras was the former name of what is now the independent nation of Belize, when it was still a British colony.First colonised by Spaniards in the seventeenth century, the territory on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, became a British crown colony from 1862 until 1964,...
.
Family
He was born in
BelizeBelize City is the largest city of the Central American nation Belize.Unofficial estimates place the population of Belize City at 70,800 or more people. It is located at the mouth of the Belize River on the coast of the Caribbean. Belize City is the nation's principal port and its financial and...
(Town) in 1894 and died, suddenly of poisoning, on 13 May 1956. Monrad was of humble parentage and a Belizean Creole. Monrad Siegfried Metzgen's mother, Esther Almira Bevans (born on 17 January 1869 in Belize and passed away in 1944), was the second wife of his father (the first one was Estelle Greene). His father, Karl Alexander Metzgen (born on 24 July 1860 and killed in Petén on 13 March 1930). His grandfather, Charles Alexander Metzgen, was born in
DenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe and the senior member of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries; southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and it is bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark borders both the Baltic and the North Sea...
. Monrad had three children: Louise, Humphrey and Frederick (Bill). He attended St. Mary’s Primary School, continued to private secondary education. Monrad became an erudite person by his own private studies.
Government Service
Monrad joined the Government Service in 1910 as a Copyist. After 10 years he was appointed an Internal Revenue Officer.
Subsequently he acted as District Commissioner in Orange Walk, an Auditor and then Director of Colonial Audits. He was Treasury Superintendent in 1932 and District Commissioner in Stann Creek in 1935. A serious, near-fatal accident eventually caused his retirement in 1939.
On 17 September 2009, Captain Metzgen was posthumously awarded the Order of Distinction from the Government of Belize in recognition of his dedication to Community and Public Service.
http://www.governmentofbelize.gov.bz/press_release_details.php?pr_id=5625
Military Service
In 1918 he was 2nd Lieutenant in the Territorial Army of
British HondurasBritish Honduras was the former name of what is now the independent nation of Belize, when it was still a British colony.First colonised by Spaniards in the seventeenth century, the territory on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, became a British crown colony from 1862 until 1964,...
and was promoted to full Lieutenant when the Defense Force was formed in 1928.
Following the Hurricane of 1931, he was put in charge of the rescue of the trapped, the feeding of the homeless and the burial of the dead. For that heroic work he was promoted to Captain and awarded the M.B.E. by King
GeorgeGeorge V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 1910 through World War I until his death in 1936...
.
In 1935 he was given the Military
Efficiency MedalThe Efficiency Medal was a medal of Britain and the Commonwealth awarded for long service in the Territorial Army of the UK, the Indian Volunteer Forces and Colonial Auxiliary Forces....
for
British HondurasBritish Honduras was the former name of what is now the independent nation of Belize, when it was still a British colony.First colonised by Spaniards in the seventeenth century, the territory on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, became a British crown colony from 1862 until 1964,...
.
Civil Society
Monrad Metzgen was one of the founders of the
British HondurasBritish Honduras was the former name of what is now the independent nation of Belize, when it was still a British colony.First colonised by Spaniards in the seventeenth century, the territory on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, became a British crown colony from 1862 until 1964,...
Agricultural Society; producing an Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition in 1928 and 1931. In 1927, he convened an Agricultural Conference which brought together Planters from all over the Colony. Subsequent to this conference, the Governor of
British HondurasBritish Honduras was the former name of what is now the independent nation of Belize, when it was still a British colony.First colonised by Spaniards in the seventeenth century, the territory on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, became a British crown colony from 1862 until 1964,...
appointed an Agricultural Advisory Committee with Monrad as one of its prominent members.
During World War II, he traveled the Colony making speeches on the dire need for agricultural development and become synonymous with his matra: “grow what we eat and eat what we grow".
Sporting legacy
In 1928, on a bicycle ride in the country on the Northern Highway, Monrad Metzgen conceived the idea of what became the first
Cross Country Cycling ClassicThe Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic, usually shortened to the Cross Country Cycling Classic or "Cross Country" for short, is a one-day amateur cycling race held in Belize every year during the Easter holidays...
having been struck by the number of bicycles Belizeans used to attend weekly cricket games in rural areas. He developed idea for a cycling "expedition" to San Ignacio in order to test cyclists' ability to cope with a then-badly built Western Highway. The Governor immediately pledged support and offered a cup as a prize to the winner of the race — a race that continues annually to this day. He enlisted the support of such notables at
MatronMatron is the job title of a very senior nurse in several countries, including the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, although the title Clinical Nurse Manager is now often used instead.-History:The matron was the most senior nurse in a hospital...
L.M. Roberts of the Public Hospital,
Royal Bank of CanadaThe Royal Bank of Canada is the largest financial institution in Canada, measured by deposits, revenues, and market capitalization. The bank serves seventeen million clients and has 80,000 employees worldwide...
local manager Charles Beattie, Frans Dragten, Reverend Cleghorn, medical officer
Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
James Cran and that of a young surveyor, Henry Fairweather. Within a month he had the whole programme together and launched.
On April 2, 1928, a parade and inspection of the cyclists was organized by Monrad Metzgen and attended by the Governor, Superintendent of Police and others, who congratulated the cyclists and sent them on a parade through the town's streets. The official race kicked off on April 5, 1928 from in front of the courthouse at 5:00 AM. The trail was along the Western Highway to Orange Walk (55 miles from Belize City). The first rider into Cayo (90 miles in total), Elston Kerr, was cheered for making it into town in about 13 hours. The men stayed through the Easter holidays, feasting, eating, playing cricket and soaking up the accolades of the Cayo faithful. They also visited
Benque ViejoBenque Viejo del Carmen is a town in the Cayo District in the country of Belize.-History:The town was established in the 19th century, mostly by immigrants from Guatemala. During the first years of the 21st century, the town experienced a rapid boom in population...
and San Jose Succotz, the westernmost settled areas in Cayo. On April 9, the expeditionists set off at 5:00 AM to return to the
CityBelize , is a country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, composed of many cultures and speaking many languages. Although Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official language...
, their progress reliably reported through of all things, the telephone service. Kerr, of Burrell Boom, finished first in 21 hours 29 minutes, 81 minutes ahead of second place Norris Wade, also of Boom. Race organizer Metzgen finished in 30 and a half hours.
Subsequent to the race, Monrad Metzgen formed and chaired the British Honduras Cyclists Association in June 1928. As a result of his experience in the race, he was a key proponent of improved public roads ensuring that successive Governors of the Colony became interested in road building.
Board positions
Metzgen served on numerous Boards and Committees, including:
Three terms on the
Belize TownBelize City is the largest city of the Central American nation Belize.Unofficial estimates place the population of Belize City at 70,800 or more people. It is located at the mouth of the Belize River on the coast of the Caribbean. Belize City is the nation's principal port and its financial and...
Board;
the Belize Electricity Board;
Chairman of the St. George’s Caye Day Celebrations Committee;
Secretary of the Welcoming Committee when Colonel
Charles LindberghCharles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor and explorer.On May 20–21, 1927, Lindbergh, then a 25-year old U.S...
flew into
BelizeBelize , is a country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, composed of many cultures and speaking many languages. Although Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official language...
in 1927;
Secretary of a committee to promote the building of a really first class hotel for the town;
President of the Native Jockey Club; and
President of the Eureka Band.
He belonged to the Belize Literary and Debating Society and gave speeches and wrote papers on the value of educating the masses, including campaigning for a Public Library in
TownBelize City is the largest city of the Central American nation Belize.Unofficial estimates place the population of Belize City at 70,800 or more people. It is located at the mouth of the Belize River on the coast of the Caribbean. Belize City is the nation's principal port and its financial and...
.
Further reading
- Handbook of British Honduras: Henry Edney Conrad Cain and Monrad Metzgen
- Monrad Metzgen: Notes on British Honduras.
- Monrad Metzgen: Shoulder to Shoulder or the Battle of St George's Caye, 1798.
External links