Herbert Fuhrmann

Herbert Fuhrmann

Sunday Times 2 Sep 1917 page 6S
Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known 1878
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 ; 128 lbs 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 Hospital with Influenza, and on 1 Sep 1916 he entered the Rollestone hospital before being sent on to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital Bulford, and did not return to his unit 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. 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..

"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.

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  Photo Linton Reynolds 2015
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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.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Memorial