THURECHT, Norman David
| Service Number: | 3159 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 October 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 45th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Cordalba, Queensland, Australia, 7 August 1897 |
| Home Town: | Gympie, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Leichhardt Ward State School, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Telephone mechanic |
| Died: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia , 20 February 1981, aged 83 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens & Crematorium, Queensland |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Oct 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3159, 47th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1916: | Involvement Private, 3159, 47th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Demosthenes embarkation_ship_number: A64 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1916: | Embarked Private, 3159, 47th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Demosthenes, Sydney | |
| 5 Nov 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 47th Infantry Battalion | |
| 6 Apr 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 47th Infantry Battalion | |
| 25 May 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Corporal, 45th Infantry Battalion , Disbandment of 47th Battalion | |
| 18 Sep 1918: | Honoured Military Medal |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Corporal Norman Thurecht arrived in England in March 1917. Shortly after he was selected to attend a school of instruction at Tidworth (Salisbury Plains), where he passed as an instructor of physical training and bayonet fighting. Later he crossed to France and joined the 47th Battalion in the field in July 1917. He fought in Belgium, at Passchendaele, Polygon Wood, and in 1918 Dernancourt, Villers Bretonneux, and several other places.
He was reported to have had some remarkable escapes. While with a scouting party in the Passchendaele engagement, his wristlet watch was shattered by a piece of the shell which killed all but three of the party of eleven. Corporal Thurecht and two others alone returning. In the Battle of Dernancourt his steel helmet was punctured by a sniper's bullet and on 18 September 1918 he was wounded and gassed. He was then serving with the 45th Battalion because the 47th Battalion was disbanded after Dernancourt due to heavy casualties.
Under cover of his section's machine gun, of which he was in charge, he went forward and captured a German machine gun, which had been causing heavy casualties, and also took eight German NCO's, prisoners. The gun had been deserted by the men and the NCO’s had to take charge. For this feat Corporal Thurecht was awarded the Military Medal.
The recommendation reads,
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack West of BELLENGLISE on the 18th September, 1918. After being wounded he remained on duty and led his section through a very heavy enemy barrage. Despite his wound he showed admirable coolness and courage and refused to remain behind, but continued in the advance encouraging and rallying his men until wounded the second time.'
His brother, 3231 Lance Corporal Edward Peter Thurecht also served in the 47th Battalion AIF and was very badly wounded at Dernancourt where he was captured by the Germans. Norman spent days scouring the battlefield looking for his brother.
After the armistice Norman was put on duty in the Demobilisation Office at Horseferry Road, London.
Norman returned to Australia during July 1919. He married in 1922 and raised three children. He served again during WW2.
His son, 414102 Sergeant Norman Raymond Thurecht, the bomb-aimer in the crew of a Lancaster bomber, was lost with the reminder of the crew on a raid with No.156 Squadron, off the Dutch coast during 1943.
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