Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Karl Anton Fuhrer Regimental Number 6320 was the youngest of 6 children born to Alexander Fuhrer and Sophie Scheiferdecker in Brunswick in 1889. Alexander was a carpenter, born in Klagenfurt Austria and is believed to have emigrated to Australia in 1882 arriving on the Kishon from Stockholm, Sweden.  In 1894 the family moved to Bendigo, where Sophie died in 1898.  Karl (aged 9) was made a Ward of the State.  In August 1904 he was charged for being a neglected child, having been found sleeping in a doorway in Bendigo.  Further investigation confirmed that he had been made a Ward of the State in 1901, had sent to the Industrial School and had recently been let out on probation.  It is unclear when Karl moved to the Allambee district, save to say it was prior to WWI.  The 1914 Electoral roll lists him as a Labourer in Allambee East.  He worked for a number of local farmers including the O’Bryan’s, Cooks and Mr Arnie Hall (Hallston Through the Years). John Cook purchased Lots 13A and 13B along the West Branch of the Tarwin in 1911 and later purchased Lot 44, Myriong.  Karl is known to have lived in a hut on this property.  In January 1943 the hut burnt to the ground, with a complete loss of all of Karl’s possessions.  Karl is reported to have been one of the first to purchase a motor car in Hallston; he was a good photographer and violinist, often accompanying pianist Clarrie Clark at local dances.

Karl enlisted on the 24th October 1916 aged 27 in Warragul and joined the 21st Battalion, 18th Reinforcements.  He embarked from Melbourne on 23rd November 1916 on the Hororata, arriving in Plymouth 29th January 1917. He was initially posted to Larkhill in England before being posted to France 2nd May 1917 with the 21st Battalion.  He was wounded in action 9th May sustaining a gunshot wound to the right arm.  He rejoined his unit 9th June before again being wound in action, receiving a severe gunshot wound to the buttock in October 1917.  He was transferred to Brook War Hospital in Woolwich England for treatment.  He returned to Australia March 1918, receiving an early discharge on medical grounds.  He was welcomed home at a function at the Allambee Reserve Hall on 28th June 1918, where he was presented with a gold medal.  Sometime between 1943 and 1949 Karl moved to Highett to live with his brother Walter Fuhrer (a dry cleaner) and his family. In 1963 the Electoral Roll lists Karl as living in Raglan St. St Kilda and working as a printer.  He died in 1965 and is buried in the Cheltenham Memorial Cemetery.

Courtesy of Avenel Jane