SA164
HAUPT, Otto Aunt
| Service Number: | 2093 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 July 1916, at Adelaide, SA. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 38th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Houghton, South Australia, November 1886 |
| Home Town: | Houghton, Adelaide Hills, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Natural causes, 3 October 1969, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | South Australian Garden of Remembrance |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Jul 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2093, 43rd Infantry Battalion, at Adelaide, SA. | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Aug 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2093, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Adelaide | |
| 28 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2093, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Nov 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 38th Infantry Battalion | |
| 7 Jun 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2093, 38th Infantry Battalion, Battle of Messines | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2093, 38th Infantry Battalion, Broodseinde Ridge, GSW left side of head | |
| 7 Jun 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2093, 38th Infantry Battalion, Gassed |
Help us honour Otto Aunt Haupt's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by St Aloysius College
Private Otto August/ Aunt Haupt
Regimental Number: 2093
Otto was born in Houghton, South Australia in November of 1885, although the exact date is not recorded. Nor are his schooling, parents and siblings. Otto was fair in complexion, 5 feet and 2 inches tall, 134 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair. He had no important or distinctive marks and his vision was mediocre. He was a Methodist and, before the war, worked as a labourer. His next of kin was his wife Mary Ann Haupt who lived in Brompton. They had three children together.
At the age of 30 years and 9 months, Haupt enlisted in the A.I.F. (Australian Imperial Force) on the 10th July 1916. Roughly a month later he embarked on the HMAT A68 Anchises to Plymouth. Whilst in the UK he trained in Salisbury until early 1917 after which he fought in the trenches on the Western front. In June of 1917, Haupt's unit, the 38th Battalion, was present at the Battle Messines in Belgium.
From England, Otto proceeded overseas to the 3rd A.D.F. (Australian Defence Force) in Etaples, France and from there he continued to join his unitin the battle of Brooddseinde Ridge where he suffered from a G.S.W. (gunshot wound) to the left side of his head and his buttock on the 4th October 1917. That same day he was transported to the 11th Australian Field Ambulance. On the 5th he was transferred to the 13th General Hospital in Boulogne. After 6 days, his condition was not improving and he was transferred to England aboard the H.S. St Andrew where he was admitted to the Northampton War Hospital. It was not for another 18 days that he would be discharged from hospital and given 2 weeks furlough (leave).
After his two weeks leave, he was taken to Longbridge Deverill for rehabilitation/training in preparation for future deployment. From there he went to Rouelles in France where he marched out to the front. Six days after that on the 10th March 1918 he finally rejoined his unit. After surviving three more months in France, Otto was a victim of Mustard gas attack on the 7th June 1918 and he was evacuated from France and admitted to the Mile End Military hospital in London on the 24th June 1918.
On the 3rd of December 1918, he re-joined his unit. On the 4th January 1919, he was transferred from the 38th battalion to the 43rd. The very next day Haupt was “detached” to Brigade agriculture, meaning he was essentially a gardener. For two months he had this job before he re-joined his unit on the 14th March.
On the 8th of April 1919, Otto returned to England, to the barracks (in base) and he stayed there for a month. May 3rd, 1919 to May 5th, 1919 he was A.W.L (absent without leave) as a result of this not only was he told off by his commander, Mjr Ferguson but he also lost 2 days pay. 15 days later, the 20th of May Haupt departed from England on the H.T. Nestor, arriving in Adelaide on the 19th of June.
Whilst he was overseas his wife, Maryann would receive a letter every time he was sick or injured. She was also notified of when he would be returning home.
Finally, on the 24th August 1919, Otto was discharged from the A.I.F. as he was medically unfit.
After the war, he returned to regular post-war life with no trace or other records until his death in 1969 at the age of 83.
Like many other soldiers that fought in World War 1, Otto was awarded the British war medal and the Victory medal.
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