Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Hugh Graetz enlisted to fight in World War One, at the age of 20. His date of birth and birth place is unknown. John’s services number is 2184. John enlisted on the 31st of May, 1915. He worked as a labourer which is a contusion tradie. Before John had enlisted for war he was living in Murray Bridge, South Australia. John’s closest family member before he left was his Mother, Mrs Bertha Amelia Graetz, who also lived in Murray Bridge, South Australia. John was one of seven children in his family. John’s unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board the RMS Morea on the 26 August 1915. John’s AWM embarkation roll number was 23/44/2. John was a Presbyterian. John’s unit number was the 27th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement.

The 27th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. The infantry battalion is soldiers marching or fighting on foot. The battalion was initially raised in 1915 as part of the First Australian Imperial Force for service during World War 1. The 27th battalion was raised in South Australia in March 1915, from recruits previously labelled for the 24th battalion. The battalion left Australia in June, after two months of training in Egypt. They landed in Gallipoli on the 12th of September. The 27th battalion had a relatively quiet time at Gallipoli. The 27th battalion departed the peninsula in December, having suffered only light casualties. The 27th Battalion entered the front-line trenches for the first time on 7 April 1916. Two months later the 27th battalion took part in their first major battle at Pozieres between 28 July and 5 August. The 27th Battalion took part in two attacks to the east of Flers in the Somme Valley, both of which got really muddy and dirty. John was also a part of the 3rd reinforcement. The 3rd Reinforcements departed Sydney on the 11th February 1915. 

John Hugh Graetz was the age of 20 when embarked for World War One. John enlisted on the 31th of May 1915. He was in the 27th battalion and his closest family at the time was his mother Mrs Bertha Amelia Graetz. Tragically John Hugh Graetz was killed in action a year later from embarking. He was killed in action on the 4th of August 1916, in France. As his birth date is unknown there is research say that he died at the age of 21. John was a brave man who went to war at a young age to fight for his country and who tragically died at a very young age.

"THE LATE PRIVATE J. H. GRAETZ. Private John Hugo Graetz, whose death was reported in action in France on August 4, was the seventh son of Mrs. B. A. Graetz, of Murray Bridge, and was 21 years of age on July 9 last. He enlisted in May, 1915, was drafted into the 3rd Reinforcements of the 27th Battalion, and left for the front in August, 1915. He was well-known in Murray Bridge, and was well respected." - from the Adelaide Chronicle 23 Sep 1916 (nla.gov.au)

Bibliography

·     Aif.adfa.edu.au. N.p., 2016. Web. 9 May 2016.

·      "Australian War Memorial". Awm.gov.au. N.p., 2016. Web. 9 May 2016.

·      Graetz, John. "First World War Embarkation Rolls: John Hugh Graetz | Australian War Memorial". Awm.gov.au. N.p., 2016. Web. 9 May 2016.

·      "John Hugh GRAETZ". Rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au. N.p., 1915. Web. 9 May 2016.

·      "John Hugh Graetz - Google Search". Google.com.au. N.p., 2016. Web. 9 May 2016.

·      Legion, The. "I’Ve Remembered Private John Hugh Graetz". Every Man Remembered. N.p., 2016. Web. 9 May 2016.

·      "Synonyms And Antonyms Of Words". www.thesaurus.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 9 May 2016.

"THE LATE PRIVATE J. H. GRAETZ.

Private John Hugo Graetz, whose death was reported in action in France on August 4, was the seventh son of Mrs. B. A. Graetz, of Murray Bridge, and was 21 years of age on July 9 last. He enlisted in May, 1915, was drafted into the 3rd Reinforcements of the 27th Battalion, and left for the front in August, 1915. He was well-known in Murray Bridge, and was well respected." - from the Adelaide Chronicle 23 Sep 1916 (nla.gov.au)