WERTHEIM, Rupert Carl
| Service Number: | 1990 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 June 1915, Melbourne |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 22 December 1893 |
| Home Town: | South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Melbourne Grammar School and the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Hardware Merchant - later Stockbroker |
| Died: | Natural causes, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 12 October 1933, aged 39 years |
| Cemetery: |
Brighton General Cemetery, Victoria Church of England V 163 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1990, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Aug 1915: | Embarked Private, 1990, 23rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Melbourne | |
| 26 Aug 1915: | Involvement Private, 1990, 23rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1990, 23rd Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 15 Nov 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 23rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 12 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2nd Pioneer Battalion | |
| 1 Apr 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 2nd Pioneer Battalion | |
| 23 Jul 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 2nd Pioneer Battalion | |
| 22 Jan 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 2nd Division Headquarters, Intelligence Officer | |
| 25 Mar 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 2nd Division Headquarters | |
| 25 Dec 1917: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches | |
| 28 May 1918: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches | |
| 12 Aug 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Captain, 1st Division Headquarters, Intelligence Officer | |
| 18 Apr 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Captain, 2nd Pioneer Battalion | |
| 11 Jul 1919: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Michael Silver
Born in 1893, Rupert Carl Wertheim was the son of Hugo [1854-1919] and Sophie Emilie Wertheim (nee Ballin) [1864-1953], both emigrants from Germany, who settled in Melbourne in the 1880s. His father founded, Wertheim Pianos, a highly successful piano manufacturing company that operated from 1908 to 1935 and made the family a well known name across Australia.
He had four siblings, two brothers and two sisters. One of his sisters being the grandmother of former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett.
Educated at the Melbourne Grammar School, he left school in 1911, and went into his father's business. A talented tennis player, he first competed in the Australasian Championships in 1911 as a 17 years old. Subsequently, he represented Victoria in interstate matches. In 1914 he was beaten in the semi-finals of the singles competion by the eventual champion, Arthur O'Hara Wood.
On the outbreak of war he enlisted, and after serving in the last month of the Gallipoli campaign he was drafted to England, and was promoted Lieutenant in the 2nd Pioneer Battalion. He took part in the Battle of Pozieres, and later he was seconded for duty with the Intelligence Corps. He was three times mentioned in despatches.
After the armistice he returned to Australia and his appointment was terminated April 1919. Rupert Wertheim subsequently entered into partnership with Mr Clive Williams as stock and share broker.
After the war Wertheim resumed his tennis career and represented Australia in the doubles in the Davis Cup tie against Czechoslovakia in London in 1922. He was a good all round sportsman, also excelling at billiards in which he won a Victorian championship, as well as at Royal tennis.
Illness ended his tennis career in 1929 and for two years he remained bedridden as a result. He recovered well enough to return to his business but on 12 October 1933 he died at a hospital in East Melbourne after collapsing in the city. He was survived by his widow (formerly Marjorie Felstead) and three young sons.
References:
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11701255
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Wertheim
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