Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Carl was the son of Albert Sophus Carl Thomas BRADTBERG & Johanah Frederiche Wilhelmina Louise RITTER and was born on the 13th of February 1893 in Murray Bridge, SA.

His parents were married on the 2nd of November 1892 at the residence of E Grafton & BC Maulds in Moonta, SA.

His father was the son of Carl Charles Herrmann Joachim BRADTBERG and was born in 1862 in Cappela, Germany.
His mother was the daughter of Johann Heinrich Fredrich RITTER & Anna Dorothea KUCHEL and was born on the 18th of April 1868 in Callington, SA.

Carl was the eldest child born into this family of 3 children.

His father had immigrated to Australia on board the Fritz Reuter in 1883.

After his parents married they moved to Murray Bridge where his father became a fisherman and worked a small parcel of land near Swanport.

On the 10th of March 1903 his father met with a very painful accident while thrashing wheat heads with a stripper, to which three horses were attached. His right arm was caught in the beaters, which were revolving at full speed and his arm was frightfully mangled.

Carl was 12 years old when his father died on the 21st of September 1905 from diabetes and they buried him in the Murray Bridge Cemetery.

Carl joined the Rowing Club and was in many Regattas on the Murray River and after he completed his schooling he gained employment with the South Australian Railways as a trainee Fireman.

At the age of 24, Carl enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 26th of November 1917 in Murray Bridge and allotted the service number 56045 and posted to B Company in Mitcham Camp.
He trained in Adelaide and then with his impeding embarkation Carl married Leila Dorine WHITE on the 4th of May 1918 in Christ Church, North Adelaide, SA. Leila was 2 months pregnant when they married.
Leila was the daughter of Herbert Francis WHITE & Alice May STARR and was born on the 2nd of January 1899 in Quorn, SA.

The following month, on the 5th of June 1918 he was transferred to the 3rd General Reinforcements in Melbourne.

Carl embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A74 Marathon on the 23rd of July 1918, disembarking in London on the 27th of September and marched into the 1st Training Battalion in Sutton Veny and posted to the 10th Battalion, 18th Reinforcements.

He remained in England and never served in France and whilst he was in England, Leila gave birth to their first child; Horace Charles, on the 2nd of January 1919 in Murray Bridge.

Carl embarked from England on board HMAT Borda on the 9th of December 1919, disembarking in Adelaide on the 24th of January 1920 and met his little baby boy for the very first time.

Carl was discharged from the AIF on the 19th of February 1920.

Carl then regained employment as a labourer with the South Australian Railways and they were transferred to the Cockburn Line and lived in the Terowie Railway Cottages.

Whilst as Terowie Carl joined the Terowie Rifle Club and became the Captain.

After a few years they were transferred to Naracoorte and Carl was then a fitter’s assistant and they lived Railway Terrace, Naracoorte.

Carl played lawn bowls for Naracoorte and joined the Naracoorte Small Bore Rifle Club, where he was a crack shot in the A Grade and the range officer.

With the outbreak of WW2, at the age of 49, Carl enlisted into the 2nd AIF on the 4th of May 1942 in Naracoorte and allotted the service number S75390 and posted to the 9th Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps.
He was discharged on the 1st of September 1943 as he was unable to attend parades.

Their son Horace then enlisted into the 2/4th Field Company on the 13th of Match 1943 (SX30176). He served in New Guinea and the South West Pacific.
Horace married Priscilla Marie STEACKER on the 20th of January 1945 and then

Carl became a grandfather for the first time when John Charles was born on the 11th of October 1945.

Carl died on the 11th of December 1955 in Naracoorte and was buried in the Naracoorte Cemetery; Old Eastern, Plot 378.

Leila died on the 29th of May 1959 in Woodville, SA and is buried in the Cheltenham Cemetery; Section Y, Drive D, Path 34, Plot 265N, with her mother.

Military

WW1

At the age of 24, Carl enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 26th of November 1917 in Murray Bridge and allotted the service number 56045 and posted to B Company in Mitcham Camp.
He listed his mother, of Murray Bridge, as his next of kin.

On the 5th of June 1918 he was transferred to the 3rd General Reinforcements in Melbourne.

Carl embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A74 Marathon on the 23rd of July 1918, disembarking in London on the 27th of September and marched into the 1st Training Battalion in Sutton Veny and posted to the 10th Battalion, 18th Reinforcements.

On the 12th of October he suffered from Pneumonia and was admitted into the 1st Australian General Hospital in Sutton Veny.
He was discharged from hospital 2 weeks later and joined his Battalion where he spent Christmas 1918 before being transferred to the Army Pay Corps (APC) in Warminster on the 19th of January 1919.

The following day he was admitted back into the 1st Australian General Hospital in Sutton Veny suffering from Pneumonia again.
He was discharged to the 1st Training Battalion Command Depot on the 15th of February.
Carl remained here awaiting his embarkation back to Australia.

Carl embarked from England on board HMAT Borda on the 9th of December 1919, disembarking in Adelaide on the 24th of January 1920.

Carl was discharged from the AIF on the 19th of February 1920 and awarded the British War Medal.

WW2

At the age of 49, Carl enlisted into the 2nd AIF on the 4th of May 1942 in Naracoorte and allotted the service number S75390 and posted to the 9th Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps.
He was discharged on the 1st of September 1943 as he was unable to attend parades.