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Service Record not fully integrated:

Service Number: 4299

Rank: Corporal

Unit: 32nd Australian Infantry Battalion

Service: Army

Conflict: First World War, 1914-1918

Award: Military Medal

Date of Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: 15 September 1919

Location in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: Page 1368, position 89

Date of London Gazette: 14 May 1919

Location in London Gazette: Page 6058, position 6

British War Medal: 18048

Victory Medal: 17849

Married Ina Polkinghorne on 16th April, 1923 at Silverton, NSW.

Died at Berri on 19th May 1986.

Moritz Wilfred Heuzenroeder is a solider that participated and fought within World War 1. Moritz hwas born 20th of January 1896 in Murray Bridge, South Australia. Moritz had previously had the occupation as a carpenter within his early life. Moritz brothers, Pte Gerhad Leopold Heuzneroeder, and Pte Herbert Hugo had joined the war efforts before Moritz. But they had unfortunately both been killed in action in 1916 while serving for Australia. Before the war Moritz  served in the 82nd Infantry Citizen forces allowing Moritz to gather experience and training due to the compulsory service scheme that Australian men had to partake in. It is assumed that Moritz was influenced to join due to his training, and in retribution for his brothers. Interestingly enough, Moritz was of German background and descent.

He embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, onboard the ‘HMAT A19 Afric’ on the 7th November 1916.

Moritz Heuzenroeder had landed within Plymouth, England within the 11th of January 1917. Moritz was admitted to a camp within England called ‘Hurdcott’ near Fovant, Wiltshire. This was a functional camp that was enlisted as both a hospital and a training facility for soldiers. Moritz would have had high frequency, difficult, and heavy training, although had been cut short due to Moritz possessing sickness on the 18th of January 1917. He was admitted hospital at Hurdcott. Mortiz recovered from his sickness and continued training for between 2 – 3 months. Moritz had finalized his training and marched into France from England on the 7th of April, 1917. He was admitted to a designated Battalion, the 32nd Battalion, on the 12th of April as he was taken on strength. Moritz had admitted the rank of Private.

Moritz’s first campaign he embarked within was the ‘German Spring Offensive’. The campaign lasted from March to the end of May.  Moritz was ‘wounded in action’ on the 8th of May, 1918 and had been evacuated to a Casualty Clearing Station (CCS). From the 32nd battalion’s May Unit Diary, it can be assumed that the 32nd battalion, and several other battalions, especially from the 5th Australian Division, had been holding a defensive position that held several sectors within trenches. It can be assumed that Moritz most likely would have been injured due to artillery, some sort of sort of sniper, grenades, or a gun wound. 

After Heuzenroeder’s injury, he returned to his unit on the 24th of May 1918. It is assumed that Heuzenroeder had significantly impacted and had done an action of importance as he had been promoted as the Rank Lance Corporal on the 28th of June 1918. This was most likely the result of showcasing significant efforts and roles in the ‘German Spring Offensive’ but is unknown on Heuzenroeder’s actions or reason of promotion.

Heuzenroeder fought at battle of Amiens the beginning of the successful Allied offensive against Germany. The Unit diaries, state that the 32nd battalion had started an armoured warfare offensive against Germany with the objective of advancing through no man’s land from lines of the Amiens Peronne Road and Harbonnieres. The advance began at 4:20 am on the 8th of August. Heuzenroeder had to strategically avoid bullets and have the sturdiness and bravery to withstand multiple artillery that was launched from the German barrage. There were minor casualties within the battalion buth they successfully reached Morcourt valley. Within the battalion 1 officer was wounded, 11 other ranks had been killed, and 10 had been injured. Among these 10 injured, was Heuzenroeder who was wounded in action on the 12th August whilst on field, although is unclear where the location was. He had most likely been injured by a gun’s man shot, sniper, or artillery launched by the German defensive.

Heuzenroeder had recovered and re-joined his unit on the 28th of August for the last campaign of 32nd Battalion, the 'Breaking the Hindenburg Line’. The campaign started on the 12th of September. The 5th and 3rd Australian and two American Divisions had planned to attack Germany in the Hindenburg line in the sector of NAUROY-GOUY. The 32nd Battalion had participated by attacking the St Quentin Canal Tunnel to eventually reach the Hindenburg line.

Unit Diaries state that Heuzenroeder strategically led the men in his Platoon on the 29th September, as the Commander had been injured. The events and actions throughout this operation showcased and reflected Heuzenroeders excellent skills, but also his Anzac Spirit. Heuzenroeder was able to show skill sets of leadership, initiative, and teamwork. Furthermore, He was able to show his Anzac spirit by showing his leadership qualities, braveness, willingness, and justice for his men and for himself to successfully complete the operation’s objective. The Allies had taken the Hindenburg line by heavy bombardment by bombs and artillery and taken a substantial and significant win against Germany.

Moritz Wilfred Heuzenroeder was promoted as a Corporal rank due to his efforts in the Hindenburg line. Heuzenroeder disembarked back to Australia in August 1919 and was discharged on the 25th of September. He later passed away at the age of 91, on the 19th of May 1986. He was buried in Berri Cemetery, South Australia. Heuzenroeder is a great image of the Anzac spirit and reflected that through his brave actions and experiences that he fought hard within.