KNAPPSBERG, Oscar Bruno
| Service Number: | 6096 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 September 1916, Bundaberg, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 25th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Svatro, Mustio, Nylands, Finland, 29 December 1889 |
| Home Town: | The Slopes, Hawkesbury, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Public School, Finland |
| Occupation: | Labourer / Seaman |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 7 May 1917, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
Grevillers British Cemetery Plot IV, Row B, Grave 11 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Sep 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6096, 25th Infantry Battalion, Bundaberg, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 6096, 25th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Marathon embarkation_ship_number: A74 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 6096, 25th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Marathon, Brisbane | |
| 6 May 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 6096, 25th Infantry Battalion, Gun shot wound on thigh & compound fracture of right leg | |
| 7 May 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 6096, 25th Infantry Battalion |
A MOTHERS THANKS
Story is taken from the Windsor & Richmond Gazette - Friday 2nd July, 1920
and is written as is with no spelling corrections of the english translation
Dear Sir,— I enclose herewith copy of a letter which Mr. John McCabe, of The Slopes, Kurrajong, received from Mrs. Knappsberg, of Finland, showing her appreciation of his kindness to her and her son. I may mention the son, Bruno Knappsberg was killed at the front in one of the big stunts, and prior to enlisting here spent most of his time about the Kurrajong Slopes, as an orchard hand, during which time he became acquainted with Mr, McCabe, and being a lad of good character, Mr. McCabe looked upon him as a stranger in a strange land, and tried to make life as pleasant as he could for him in many ways of hospitality. Naturally, for this he won Bruno's admiration, and prior to sailing for the front, he instructed Mr. McCabe to collect his pay, and to use his own words, 'If oi gets shot, Jocks, send my moneys to my modder.' This the genial “Jocks” carried out. Trusting you ' will find space in your valuable paper for this.
Yours truly, W. HORNERY, -manager 'Koowong,' Kurrajong Heights. Rodbergsgatan, Helsingfors, Finland,
16,- A.L., '13.
To Dear John McCabe.
Dear Sir, — Mrs. Knappsberg wants me to write to you and thank you for all the kindness you have bestowed her for letter waiting and for the money that she received, if course the £10/0/0 has she not become, but it was war time, when they was sent by post so they may have been loost, but in the same, time you have my warmest sympathy and best wishes from all of, us, for all the kindness you have showed Bruno and to Mrs . Kinappsberg the hevens shoisest blessing's to you and Mrs. McCabe is prayed of Mrs. Knappsberg and me.
Yours faithfully, MR. G. R. LINDROOS.
P.S. — It is because Mrs. Knappsberg can't write the English Langwitsh, that I am writing for her all that she wants, but excuse me if I myself is not so competent in it.
https://trove.nla.gov.au
Submitted 8 May 2018 by Elizabeth Allen
Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Oscar Bruno KNAPPSBERG was born on 29th December, 1889 in Svatro (Mustio) Nylands, Finland.
His parents were Frans Oscar KNAPPSBERG and Josefina Karolina LONNQUIST
Oscar arrived in Australia in 1914 & worked as an orchard hand at The Slopes in Kurrajong, NSW
He then moved to Queensland & enlisted in Bundaberg in Queensland on 7th September, 1916 to serve in the Australian Army as a russian subject and embarked from Brisbane on the HMAT Marathon on 27th October, 1916 with the 25th Infantry Battalion, 17th reinforcements - he proceeded to Folkestone in France on 5th April, 1917
Oscar was wounded on 6th May, 1917 with gun shot wounds to his thigh and a compound fracture of his right leg.
He died from his wounds on 7th May, 1917 in France at the No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station - he is buried in Grevillers British Cemetery in France
His name is memorialised on the Australian War Memorial & he was awarded the British War Medal & the Victory Medal.
Click images to start slideshow.