Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Name: Richard Herbert Reincke
Service Number: 32499
Place of Birth: Blyth
Date of Birth: 16 March 1893
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide
Date of Enlistment: 14 August 1916
Age at Enlistment: 23 years 5 months
Next of Kin: Father – William Frederick
Reinke
Occupation: Farmer
Religion: Church of England
Rank: Corporal 45th Battalion
Richard was the son of Wilhelm and Lina Reincke [nee Boeckmann]. There
appear to have been two accepted forms for the spelling of Reincke. The
Freeling Institute Honour Roll and the National Australian Archives list the
name as “Reincke”, whereas several other references, including the Australian
War Memorial and The Advertiser use “Reinke”.
The Advertiser of Tuesday 14 November 1916 stated a farewell social was held
for Richard .H. Reinke from Blyth, “ who is shortly leaving for the front.” He
left Melbourne on RMS Osterley on 14 February 1917. After further training in
England Richard went to France with his unit on 4 October. On 9 October he
was appointed a Corporal with the 12th Field Ambulance. Richard fought in
87
Belgium during January 1918 and was made a Temporary Bombardier on 15
March 1918.
On 18 October 1918 he sustained a severe gunshot wound to the abdomen
and died two days later. Richard was buried at Roisel Communal Cemetery at
the Somme, France, some 6.75 miles East –North – East of Peronne with his
Victory Medal, Memorial Scroll and Memorial Plaque sent to his father
between December 1922 and August 1923.
The following article appeared in The Register on Tuesday 5 November 1918
Late Dvr. R.H.Reinke - Blyth, Nov 1- News was received today that Driver
R.H.Reinke, son of Mr. W. Reinke, had died of wounds in France. Sincere
sympathy is felt throughout the district for Mr. Reinke and his family, who are
old and respected residents of Blyth. The family settled in the district in the
early days of the town. Driver Reinke was about 22 years of age, and enlisted
from here about 2 years ago. He served in England and France in connection
with the training of the artillery horses and their drivers, for which his
excellent horsemanship made him eminently suited.