Herbert Walter (Bill) RETTIG

Herbert Walter (Bill) RETTIG Update Details

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RETTIG, Herbert Walter

Service Number:	556
Enlisted:	4 February 1916
Last Rank:	Lance Corporal
Last Unit:	43rd Infantry Battalion
Born:	Norwood, South Australia, 18 November 1893
Home Town:	Norwood (SA), South Australia
Schooling:	Norwood School
Occupation:	Tailor
Died:	Highgate, South Australia, 19 November 1978, aged 85 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Payneham Cemetery
Memorials:	Norwood Primary School Honour Board, Quorn District Roll of Honor WW1 Board, Quorn Roll of Honor

World War 1 Service

4 Feb 1916:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 556, 2nd Depot Battalion
9 Jun 1916:	Involvement Private, 556, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: ''
9 Jun 1916:	Embarked Private, 556, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide
25 Jan 1917:	Promoted Lance Corporal, 43rd Infantry Battalion
6 Jun 1917:	Wounded 43rd Infantry Battalion, Battle of Messines, Severe gunshot wounds to face, neck, right arm and shoulder. Admitted to Reading War Hospital in England on 10 Jun and discharged on 10 Aug 1917
26 May 1918:	Wounded 43rd Infantry Battalion, Villers-Bretonneux, Gassed
2 May 1919:	Discharged AIF WW1, Disembarked 24 Mar 1919 travelled from England to Fremantle WA on board "Karmala" then from WA to SA on board "Wyandra" Reason for discharge: cessation of hostilities

Help us honour Herbert Walter Rettig's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Kathleen Bambridge

HW Rettig 43rd Battalion and Syd Ingerson Mounted Member of South African Soldiers went in to business as tailors at 86 King William St Adelaide.

Biography contributed by Jennifer Harris

H W RETTIG, known as Bill, was the youngest son of Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Rettig and CFW's second wife Louisa Rettig nee Till, formerly Ramke. HW was born on 18 Nov 1893 at Fisher Street, Norwood.

Before he enlisted, HW had completed a five year apprenticeship as a tailor. He initially attempted to enlist for His Majesty's Service at Quorn but was rejected due to problems with his knee.

Bill served with the 43rd Battalion. He was seriously wounded twice in battles on the Western Front. In Nov 1918, he was admitted to Connaught hospital in England following bouts of influenza and severe broncho-pneumonia. He returned to Australia on board "Karmala". In Feb 1919 his near accidental drowning was reported in The Western Australian: a returned soldier named Herbert Walter Rettig, who was "gassed" while on active service, collapsed while bathing in Crawley Bay [on the Swan River] and sank beneath the surface. His plight was fortunately noticed in time and a passing police constable rendered first aid and saved his life. He arrived at Port Adelaide from Fremantle on board "Wyandra" on Mon 24 Mar, 1919.

In May, 1919, HW Rettig opened a business as tailor and costumier at 105 King William Street, Adelaide. In 1925 HW became a business partner in Ingersons Limited, a tailoring, cutting and gentlemens' outfitters business. By Apr 1939, HW had left Ingersons and set up a "high class tailoring establishment" at 76 King William Street, next to the Imperial Hotel.

On 18 Nov, 1919, HW married Florence May Sonnemann at St. Paul's Church, Adelaide. Florence was the sister of Frederick Henry Sonnemann, a former member of AIF 43rd Battalion. Two of his sisters, Clara Gertrude [born 27 Dec 1894] and Elsie Linda [born 26 Sep 1899] were married to comrades in the 43rd Battalion.

HW Rettig was an active member and office bearer of 43rd Battalion AIF Club for many years. He was involved in organizing social functions including bridge parties and smoke socials. He was also involved with Legacy. In Sep 1946, HW was a delegate to the Federal Legacy Conference held at Adelaide Town Hall.

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