Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Name: William Hartmann / Friedrich Wilhelm Hartmann
Service Number: 1756
Place of Birth: Mt. Torrens
Date of Birth: 13 May 1890
Place of Enlistment: Oaklands
Date of Enlistment: 9 December 1914
Age at Enlistment: 23 years 5 months
Marital Status: Single
Next of Kin: Mother – M.M. Hartmann, Crowther Street, West Adelaide
Occupation: Labourer
Religion: Roman Catholic
Rank: Corporal 10th Battalion
Friedrich was the son of Johann Wilhelm Hartmann and Johanna Marea Schwartz.
Involvement with WAFC:
William made his debut on 18 May 1912 and played 2 games for WAFC that year. West Adelaide records list him as Friedrich Wilhelm Hartmann. German Australians commonly anglicized their names, as John. F. Williams states on Page 12 of German Anzacs and the First World War, “Yet fear of ‘special (and brutal) treatment’ at the hands of German captors was a factor in encouraging German Australians to anglicize their names or take pseudonyms.”
Biographical details:
William did his basic training with Base Depot Infantry at Morphettville Camp from 9 December 1914 to 1 March 1915. He was absent without leave from 17 March to 19 March. On 5 June his unit was sent to Gallipoli. William was docked 18 days’ pay for being absent without leave on a second occasion on 17 January. William was appointed Lance Corporal on 24 January 1916 and promoted as a Corporal on 1 March. After the evacuation from Gallipoli, William left Alexandria for Marsailles, France on board the Saxonia on 27 March. During action at Berteaucourt, the Somme, in Northern France on 6 August, he sustained severe gunshot wounds to his legs, and in particular, to the left leg. His condition necessitated being sent to England, where he was admitted to the 3rd Northern General Hospital at Sheffield on 7 August.
William was absent from duty for three months due to his wounds and was placed on a list of supernumerary NCOs on 23 October. During his period of treatment in England his left foot was amputated. While convalescing from surgery, he sent the following request to the Commanding Officer of the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, prior to being returned to Australia on board the Kanowna on 20 January 1917 and discharged as medically unfit on 26 April.
William received the 1914/15 Star on 7 June 1920; British War Medal on 25 April 1921 and Victory Medal on 25 April 1922. He died on 22 August 1957.

Source NAA; B2455; Hartmann W; Barcode 4735970.