Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Married in London

Wife: Gladys Elanor ALTSCHWAGER - nee Smith ( of 121 Sindar Road Woodgreen London)

Served in Eygpt & France. Wounded in Action in France

Returned to Australia; 20 September 1919 per "Katoomba"

Son of William Bernhard ALTSCHWAGER and Elizabeth Ellen nee BIRD

Bernard William Altschwager was born in Adelaide on 17 February 1891. He lived in the town of Millicent, located in the Wattle Range region of South Australia, with his mother, Elizabeth Altschwager who he listed as his next of kin on his enlistment forms and he wasraised in a Roman Catholic household. He had a fresh complexion, with blue eyes and brown hair. Bernard weighed 75.3 kilograms and had an average chest measurement of 35 cm. He stood 176.7 cm tall (5 feet 8 1/2 inches) and had an "R" tattoo on his forearm, which could serve as identification if he died or got injured in the upcoming war. Single and working as a farmer when the Great War started, he decided to enlist in the A.I.F. at the age of 24 years and 9 months. He enlisted at Adelaide and was sent to Maribyrnong in Victoria for war training.

He enlisted into the 3rd Squadron, 1st Australian Remount Unit as a Private on October 12th, 1915. A month later, on 12 November 1915, he embarked while also being promoted to the rank of Corporal. He left Melbourne Victoria on HMAT Orsova A67 and embarked at Port Suez Egypt arriving sometime in December 1915.

During October 1916 marched into Details Camp at Moascar where he was shuffled between camps.  Then on 19 October 1916, he moved from the Australian Remount Depot in Heliopolis to the Details Camp at Moascar. He also spent time in Heliopolis over this period.

On the start of his 2nd year in war, on 1st January 1917, Bernard was detached and marched into the Australian Depot Stores at Gezirah from the Detail Camp at Moascar. The next day, 6 January 1917, he was further detached to the Australian Imperial Force Quarters in Cairo from Moascar. On 7 January 1917, he marched into the Australian Depot Stores at Gezirah, where he continued to serve as per the nominal roll until 24 April 1917. On 25 May 1917, Bernard marched out to the Details Camp from the Australian Depot Stores at Gezirah and joined the Details Camp at Moascar from Kit Stores on the same day.Later, on the 13th of July 1917, he was transferred from Egypt to the Holdings & Discharge Depot at Perham Downs. Perham Downs was one of four Australian command depots in the UK dealing with soldiers who had been discharged from Hospital and needed training before being sent back.

On 23 June 1917, Bernard marched out from the Details Camp at Moascar to proceed overseas. The following day, 24 June 1917, he embarked on the H.T. "Saxon" for Europe from Alexandria. On 2 August 1917, he was transferred to the unallotted Infantry reinforcements and sent to England, as authorized by the Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General.

On 21 March 1918, at the age of 27, Bernard William Altschwager married Gladys Elanor at St. Peter's Church. Gladys was aged 20 years old. Their wedding took place in St. Peter's Church, a Roman Catholic Church 12 Womersley Road, Hornsey in North London. Days later, he was admonished for being absent from 27 to 29 March and was forfeited one day's pay as a result. On 15 July 1918, he was transferred overseas to head to France. He transitioned from the reinforcement unit of the Remount Unit to the frontline unit of the 10th Battalion. Seven days later, on 30 July, he was wounded with a sharpnel wound to his left foot. Due to the severity of his injury, he was transferred from France back to England to be hospitalized. He was transferred between hospitals and once treated marched in to the No 2 Command Depot to convalesce.

Bernard returned to Australia on the H.M.A.T. "Katoomba." He embarked on 8 August 1919 and arrived in Australia on 20 September 1919, accompanied by his wife. He was discharged from the AIF 21st November 1919.

Many years later 12 October 1974, at the age of 83, Bernard passed away. He was laid to rest in Cypress Garden at Carinya Gardens Cemetery in Mount Gambier, where his memory continues to be honored.