Charles Franklyn Fuhrmann
From Our Contribution
 Studio portrait - AWM photo P09489.001 | |
 Late 1917 - courtesy Ancestry | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | c1889 |
| Place of Birth | Drouin, Victoria |
| Death | 13 Aug 1918 |
| Place of Death | Jerusalem, Palestine |
| Age at Enlistment | 26 years, 9 months |
| Description |
5'7½" (1.711m) tall ; 148lbs 67.132 kg ; fresh complexion ; grey eyes ; brown hair |
| Occupation | Accountant |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | 183 Park street, Subiaco, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr. William Charles Fuhrmann |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 1573 |
| Date of Enlistment | 18 Sep 1915 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit/Formation | 10th Light Horse Regiment, 12th Reinforcement |
| Date of Embarkation | 22 Nov 1915 ‒ 14 Dec 1915 |
| Ship Embarked On | RMS Mongolia Fremantle to Port Suez |
| Fate | Died of illness in Palestine |
| Monument | Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll |
| Medals |
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal |
Contents
Pre War
Previous experience as a Sergeant with the 13th Australian Light Horse, Gippsland Regiment for two years. One of nine children to William Charles Fuhrmann and Fredricka Wilhememena Rees
War Service
Entered the Blackboy Hill camp on 18 Sep 1915, where he was allocated to the 3rd Depot Squadron the day he entered camp. Charles received limited training in Australia before he was embarked on 22 Nov 1915 with the rest of the 12th reinforcement draft for the 10th Light Horse Regiment, destination Port Tewfik, Egypt aboard RMS Mongolia. They disembarked on 14 Dec 1915 too late to participate in the Gallipoli theatre. On 22 Jan 1916 Charles was appointed Lance Corporal at Heliopolis. On 26 Feb 1916 he marched out of Serapeum to join his unit.
On 11 Jun 1916 he was admitted to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade Field Ambulance with debility, but recovered and rejoined his unit. Promoted temporary Corporal on 11 Oct 1916 at Willegha, Egypt, he had his rank confirmed on 29 Dec 1916 at Masaid.
On 27 Apr 1917 he was promoted temporary Sergeant in Abasan-El-Kebir, before being admitted to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade Field Ambulance for a second time on 19 Jun 1917 in Shellal suffering with synovitis to his knee. He had recovered and rejoined his unit at Sueilma, Egypt two days later. On 19 July 1917 Charles was promoted Sergeant and was sent to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade Training Regiment on 23 Sep 1917, from where he was transferred to the School of Instruction on 21 Oct 1917. Charles returned to his unit on 31 Oct 1917. Five days later he was admitted to the 14th Australian General Hospital with diarrhoea. Recovered he was released to the Moascar Reinforcements Camp on 3 Dec 1917, and at the end of the month had rejoined the 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment. On 16 Jan 1918 Charles was at last back with his unit the 10th Light Horse Regiment.
On 2 Aug 1918 at Jerusalem he was admitted to the Desert Mounted Corps Rest Station with debility, before being transferred to the 66th Casualty Clearing Station on 8 Aug 1918, listed as dangerously ill. As at 9 Aug 1918 his illness had yet to be diagnosed, but his death on 13 Aug 1918 was recorded as being due to pneumonia. Charles was buried the next day in the Jerusalem British War Cemetery on Mt Scopus, Section B, Grave No 99.
Notes
Uncle was 4805 Pte Herbert Fuhrmann of Jarrahdale. Link to Gosnells not established but is the most likely match to C Firman who is listed on the Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll.
While Charles records show him as single, he made an allotment of 3 shillings a day to a Mrs Adelaide Rees who he was living with at the time of his enlistment. This was later increased to 5 shillings per day when he was a Corporal.
For more information about the history and heritage of the City of Gosnells and this individual, please contact the Heritage Coordinator on 9391 6011.