FRITSCH, Martin Theodore
| Service Number: | 4149 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 August 1915, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 42nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Salisbury, South Australia, 13 January 1884 |
| Home Town: | Salisbury, Salisbury, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Salisbury Public School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 25 August 1918, aged 34 years |
| Cemetery: |
Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery, Bray-sur-Somme Plot 1, Row D, Grave 5, |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Salisbury & District Roll of Honour, Salisbury Eternal Flame Honour Board, Salisbury War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4149, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Jan 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4149, 12th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Jan 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4149, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Adelaide | |
| 16 May 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 52nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 3 Sep 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 4149, 52nd Infantry Battalion, Mouquet Farm, Shell shock | |
| 16 Apr 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 52nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 10 Jun 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, 4149, 52nd Infantry Battalion, Battle of Messines, 2nd occasion - Shell wound (left leg) | |
| 18 Dec 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 52nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 29 Jun 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Sergeant, 42nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 25 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 4149, 42nd Infantry Battalion, "The Last Hundred Days", --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4149 awm_unit: 42nd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1918-08-25 |
Help us honour Martin Theodore Fritsch's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of Frank Emil Fritsch and Julia (nee Chapman) Fritsch; brother of Amelia Rebekah Fritsch, Frank Emil Fritsch, William Thomas Fritsch, Hannah Fritsch, Tabitha Fritsch, Edwad Oscar Fritsch, Florence Fritsch, Bertha Fritsch, Julia Fritsch and Victor Roy Fritsch
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Biography contributed by Julianne Ryan
Born 13/1/1884 in Salisbury, South Australia
Father Franz (Frank) Emil Fritsch (b. 1842 – d. 8/12/1922)) and Mother Mrs Julia Fritsch (nee Chapman b. 11/11/1846 – d. 24/3/1929), lived in Salisbury, South Australia
Family:
Sister Amelia Rebekah Fritsch b. 23/3/1866 Para Plains, SA
Brother Frank Emil Fritsch b. 11/7/1867 Salisbury, SA - d. 25/10/1925 Adelaide
Brother William Thomas Fritsch b. 7/10/1869 Salisbury, SA
Sister Hannah Fritsch b. 25/10/1871 in Salisbury, SA
Sister Tabitha Fritsch b. 13/6/1874 Salisbury, SA – d. 12/7/1953 Eastwood
Brother Edward Oscar Fritsch b. 12/5/1876 Salisbury, SA, then lived in Fernbank, Victoria
Sister Florence Fritsch b. 3/3/1878 Salisbury, SA
Sister Bertha Fritsch b. 26/5/1880 Salisbury, SA
Himself: Martin Theodore Fritsch b. 13/1/1884 Salisbury, SA
Sister Julia Fritsch b. 31/12/1885 Salisbury SA
Brother Victor Roy Fritsch 16/6/1887 Salisbury, SA
Martin attended Salisbury Public School, Salisbury, South Australia
Worked as a Labourer
Described on enlisted as 31 years 8 mths of age, single, 5’ 9.5” tall, 146 lbs, fair hair, blue eyes, Methodist
26/08/1915 enlisted into WWI in Adelaide, South Australia
31/08/1915 G Company, 2nd depot battalion, Adelaide, South Australia
1/11/1915 as a Private with 13th reinforcements, 12th Infantry Battalion
11/01/1916 embarked from Outer Harbour, South Australia onboard HMAT A30 Borda
20/3/1916 sick with bronchitis / influenza admitted to hospital
3/9/1916 wounded in action, shell shock, in the field, France
10/9/1916 transferred to No.1 Canadian Field Ambulance
16/9/1916 rejoined unit in the field, France
16/4/1917 promoted to Corporal with 52nd Infantry Battalion
10/6/1917 wounded, gunshot wound to left leg in France
14/6/1917 embarked onboard HS St Patrick for England
15/6/1917 admitted to Military Hospital, Eastbourne, England
14-28/8/1917 furlough (leave) in Codford, England
20/10/1917 proceeded overseas to France, via Southampton
1/11/1917 rejoined battalion in France
18/12/1917 promoted to Sergeant with 52nd Infantry Battalion
24/1/1918 sick to hospital, France
16/2/1918 admitted to General Military Hospital, Colchester
29/6/1918 promoted to Sergeant and transferred to 42nd Infantry Battalion
10/7/1918 proceeded overseas to France
25/08/1918 in charge of a patrol operating near Bray, he was struck by a piece of enemy shell and
killed instantaneously
25/08/1918 killed in action at Bronfray Farm, River Somme, France (34 years of age)
Buried by members of his battalion at
Bronfray Farm Military Cemetery
Plot I, Row D, Grave No. 5), Bray-Sur-Somme, France
His name appears on Panel 135 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT.
Medals: British War Medal (28572); Victory Medal (28392); Memorial Scroll and Plaque (350905)
Submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 23/07/2019. Lest we forget.
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Sergeant MARTIN THEODORE FRITSCH, who was killed in action in France on August 25, was the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Fritsch, Salisbury, and was born there. He enlisted on September 1, 1915, and sailed for Egypt in January, 1916. He was sent from Egypt in March, 1916, with the first contingent of Australian soldiers to land in France. He was wounded in the battle of Messines in 1917, and spent some time in an English hospital. After returning to duty in France he was again transferred to England owing to chest trouble. He went back to France in June, 1918, and remained on duty till he met his death. He left Australia as a private, and gained promotion on the battlefield. He was prominent in football, cricket, and gymnastics, and was very popular. He was a member of the Oddfellows' Lodge of long standing, and was universally esteemed.
Biography contributed
Biography written by Neve O'Grady from Salisbury High School, attached as a document. Winning entry for 2024 Premier's Anzac Spirit School Prize.
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