SOMMER, Emil Nicolai Martin
| Service Number: | 771 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 March 1917, Enlisted at Adelaide SA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Copenhagen, Denmark, September 1885 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Fireman |
| Died: | Gas Poisoning, Warrington War Hospital, United Kingdom, 26 January 1919 |
| Cemetery: |
Warrington Cemetery, Lancashire, England Plot C, Row NC, Grave 762, |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Mar 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 771, 8th Machine Gun Company, Enlisted at Adelaide SA | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Nov 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 771, 8th Machine Gun Company, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '21' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Nov 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 771, 8th Machine Gun Company, HMAT Nestor, Melbourne | |
| 17 Apr 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 771, Shell wound to the right shoulder - fractured scapula. Invalided to England on the 25 April 1918 | |
| 26 Jan 1919: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 771, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 771 awm_unit: 10 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1919-01-26 |
Help us honour Emil Nicolai Martin Sommer's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Next of kin was given as a friend Nellie Wells of the Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA later known as Mrs. J. O'Leary; brother of Mrs Madsen of Rancauvgade 29, Copenhagen, Denmark
3 October 1918 admitted to Tidsworth Mental Hospital for observation
28 October 1918 - transferred to the Lord Derby War Hospital
1 January 1919 - dangerously ill
June 1921 - Nellie wrote a letter to base records saying he told her that this family had shunded and despised him all his life because he liked to roam. Emil had told her that his parents had died before he came to Australia.
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK
Died on this date - 26th January........Private Emil Nicolai Martin Sommer was born in Copenhagen, Denmark around 1887. He came to Australia when he was 23 years old & had served in the Danish Military Service & was also a Sailor (information provided by his sister for the Roll of Honour). Emil Sommer enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 21st March, 1917 as a 29 year old Fireman from Adelaide, South Australia.
Private Sommer was posted to Egypt then transferred to England for further training before joining 10th Battalion at the War Front on 11th April, 1918.
Private Sommer was wounded in action on 17th April, 1918 & invalided to England on 24th April, 1918 where he was admitted to Middlesex War Hospital, Clacton on Sea with GSW to right shoulder & fractured Scapula. He was discharged from Hospital on 5th June, 1918 & marched in to No. 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott, Wiltshire then transferred to No. 4 Command Depot at Hurdcott, Wiltshire on 20th July, 1918.
Private Sommer was sent sick to Group Hospital at Hurdcott, Wiltshire on 14th September, 1918 with Influenza & discharged on 18th September, 1918. He was Absent without leave form 25th September, 1918 & returned on 1st October, 1918.
Private Sommer was admitted to Military Hospital at Tidworth, Wiltshire on 10th October, 1918 under Mental Observation. The Hospital Admissions form recorded the following details :- “Acute Delusions. Manic ___ & very violent. Denies his nationality (he is Dutch) says at one time he is an Australian & at another that he is Scotch. Dangerous to himself & others.”
Private Sommer was transferred to Welsh Metropolitan War Hospital, Whitchurch near Cardiff for Mental Observation on 12th October, 1918 with Acute Mania then transferred to Lord Derby War Hospital, Warrington, Lancashire, England on 28th October, 1918. Private Emil Sommer was reported as dangerously & seriously ill at the Warrington War Hospital on 1st January, 1919.
Private Emil Nicolai Martin Sommer died at 11.45 am on 26th January, 1919 at The Lord Derby War Hospital, Warrington, Lancashire, England from G.P.I. (General Paralysis of the Insane). (Note: A memo from the Commandant A.I.F. Headquarters states Pte Ernie Nicolai Martin Sommer was listed as having died from the effects of Gas poisoning, as a result of enemy action.)
Private Sommer was buried in Warrington Cemetery (Manchester Road), Warrington, Cheshire, England where 9 other Australians from WW1 are buried.
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/warrington---cheshire.h…
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