Herbert Fuhrmann
From Our Contribution
 Sunday Times 2 Sep 1917 page 6S | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | c1878 |
| Place of Birth | Stawell, Victoria |
| Death | 8 Aug 1917 |
| Place of Death | Messines, Belgium |
| Age at Enlistment | 38 years, 5 months |
| Description |
5'6½" (1.69m) tall ; 128lbs 58.06 kg ; fresh complexion ; grey eyes ; brown hair |
| Occupation | Timber hewer |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Jarrahdale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr. Charles Fuhrmann |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 4805 |
| Date of Enlistment | 24 Dec 1915 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 16th Battalion, 15th reinforcement 9 Platoon, C Company / 4th Brigade, 4th Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 1 Apr 1916 ‒ 25 Apr 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A38 Ulysses |
| Fate | Killed in Action 8 Aug 1917 Messines area |
| Monument |
Jarrahdale Menin Gate Memorial Australian War Memorial |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Electoral Roll entries - 1909 a mill hand at William's Mill; 1912 a hewer with the State Mill, Dwellingup; 1916 a hewer at the 24 mile camp, Holyoake' Employed by the Millars Karri & Jarrah Company as a timber hewer, son of an American migrant to Victoria.
War Service
A month after commencing his basic training, Herbert was allocated to the 15th reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion and he trained and travelled with them to Egypt. In Egypt on 7 Jun 1916 he managed to be both AWOL for a few hours, and to then be admitted to hospital with Measeles. On 11 Jun 1916 he embarked with the 15th Training Battalion for England aboard HMT Aragon.
On 5 Jul 1916 in England Herbert was admitted to the Fargo Military Hospital with Influenza, and on 1 Sep 1916 he entered the Rollestone hospital before being sent on to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital Bulford> He did not return to the 4th Training Battalion until 143 days later on 22 Jan 1917. On 8 Feb 1917 Herbert proceeded overseas to France on HMT Princess Victoria, and on 13 Feb 1917 Herbert was finally taken on strength by the 16th Battalion.
From 3rd until 9th August 1917 A, B and C Companies were in the line in front of Messines, during which time they were on the receiving end of a lot of heavy German bombardments, and suffered heavy casualties. Herbert was reported as Killed in Action on 8 Aug 1917.
Herb's Red Cross file held at the Australian War Memorial provides us with a description of his death.[1].
"I was close to Pte Fuhrmann (16.C.IX) when he was killed instantaneously by a trench mortar bomb on Aug 8th at Messines (Gaspaard). He was buried the same night in the open near a pill box by the front line. I helped to bury him myself and put a wooded cross up with his name and all particulars." 6145 Pte John Sadlier.
"he was killed at Gaspaard by shell in the front line trench. I started to dig his grave but we were relieved by another Battalion and left them to finish his burial. The grave was being dug just behind our line. he was in my platoon. Very quiet dark chap, under 30, medium height, came from Western Australia. We held the position for days and there was no reason why he should not be buried." 1739 Sgt Rogers.
Post War
Herbert's father in Yarravile, Victoria received a pension of 15/- ($1.50) per fortnight from 25 Oct 1917.
Notes
His nephew 1573 Sgt Charles Franklin Fuhrman of the 10th Light horse Regiment died from Influenza on 13 Aug 1918.
- ↑ "Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files - Herbert Fuhrmann". Australian War Memorial. 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
External Links
