Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

David Charles Kuchel

2/48th Swimming Champion

Gottlieb Heinrich Kuchel a widower of Kanmantoo, married 32-year-old Wilhelmina Louisa Otto in July of 1904 in Callington, originally a small copper mining town that is on the Bremer River in SA. They had six sons, George Reimond, Albert Edgar, twins, Frank Edward and Norman Heinrich, David Charles born in 1910 and John Howard. Wilhelmina had a nine-year-old son William Luke Brown Otto who became part of the bigger family. In 1912, subsequent to David’s birth, the growing family travelled in a German wagon, to live in an area known as Lowbank on the River Murray, about twelve kilometres upstream from the town of Waikerie. It was here that David first attended school. Those well-worn wagons remained by the house gate for later generations to play in and on.

Their first home was constructed of rough, native pine uprights entwined with wire mesh, straw and mud. The house was very close to the banks of the River Murray, giving the boys an excellent chance to learn to swim and catch fish. There was a plentiful water supply at that time for growing grapes, fruit trees, almonds and for a home vegetable patch. The trees were watered by open channel irrigation, to pump water between the rows of trees. In later years, safer, more efficient underground pipes replaced the open channels.
The family also kept house cows where the separated cream would then be sent to the Murray Bridge cheese factory. Similarly, their vegetable garden produce, as well as catering for the family, was also sold to the Army Barracks at Keswick, so there was a year-round income of sorts. This was supplemented by the boys catching the freely available rabbits and fish. The boys’ involvement in hunting and fishing was of even greater importance to the family when Gottlieb died on the 31st August, 1922 leaving 50-year-old Wilhelmina to raise the boys, aged from seven to seventeen, on her own.

Like many Riverland children, David was a good swimmer, as were all his siblings, especially Frank. The boys were self-taught, laying one end of a ladder on the River bank with the other end in the water. Once in the water they would push off from the ladder rung, then swim back to the relative safety. Of course, it was not unusual for some of the siblings to throw others in the water in a sink or swim strategy! In an article published post war in the Murray Pioneer, David’s swimming background was summarised that he “has brought numerous titles to the district over a period of years. He is a self-taught swimmer, having learnt at the age of 7 years, when chasing wounded ducks in the River with his brothers.” On occasion the boys would play hooky from school, putting their school clothes in a barrel and sealing the lid before swimming to the opposite side of the Murray, dressing and enjoying the freedom from class. The procedure was reversed at the end of the school day with family being none the wiser.

Frank won both the swim across the river and 50-yard handicap at the Berri Swimming Carnival of 1935 where David won the Club Handicap, long dive and Open 100 yards. In swimming competitions along the Murray, David accumulated many medals, trophies, and prizes with his greatest achievement being his inclusion in the National Games held in Adelaide in 1936. Again, at the Waikerie Sports Carnival of 1938, David won the 125-yard handicap swim while he and Frank took out first and second places in the long dive, with Frank winning the 220-yard handicap swim. The Kuchel boys also won the flag race for Waikerie. By 1939 David again proved his skills in both the 50 yards men's breast stroke and 100 yards men's Open Championship.

David and Vera Morgan who lived at Ramco near Waikerie, became engaged in May of 1935, marrying a month later at the Waikerie Methodist Church on Saturday evening, June 22. Prior to the wedding, the Waikerie Methodist Girls’ Comradeship group held a social in Vera’s honour, presenting her with ‘many useful presents’, according to the Murray Pioneer. Older brother, Albert’s wife, Adelheid, lent Vera her ‘embroidered bridal veil of tulle, which merged into a train, held in position with a halo of orange blossom’ according to the Chronicle. The young couple lived in Morgan. Their daughters, Joan and Dorothy were born prior to the outbreak of War, then Patricia and Fay post war.

Wilhelmina’s first-born son, 46-year-old William Otto died on the 9th June 1941.  Prior to Christmas that same year, David, who listed his occupation as a labourer, enlisted on the 12th December 1941 at Waikerie, just before his 33rd birthday. At that stage, his two daughters were under the age of six. David was a kindly soul with a mild manner who was well respected. He had a great sense of family and sense of humour that won the hearts of many. He had grown up in an era where chopping wood was a man’s job so, before leaving for the war, he arranged for someone to cut the wood for Vera while he was away. Wood burners were Vera’s only means of cooking and heating the home and were one crucial aspect in raising two small children by herself. Life also proved challenging in many other aspects especially when Vera needed to have a significant operation for her health.

David became part of the 2/48th Division, as SX15841, one of so many Riverland men who enlisted and served in this newly formed battalion which was to become so highly regarded. Over the period of the war, David was involved in three campaigns: Middle East (26/8/42 - 5/2/43), New Guinea (3/8/43 – 20/2/44) and Tarakan (3/4/45 – 16/10/45).

His 69-year-old mother, Wilhelmina died in May 2nd 1942. She had single-handedly brought up the six boys for near on 20 years. Wilhelmina was buried at Waikerie, with her first-born son, William. It was a challenging time for David who arrived in the Middle East in October, 1942, to serve with the “Rats of Tobruk” an extreme change from the tranquillity of River life. He was initially promoted to A/Corporal but then chose to relinquished his promotion, reverting to being a Private. He was able to have home leave in early June. While serving in the Middle East, David formed a strong dislike for miserly Arab people whose attitudes were so different to the supportive community he had grown up in. One day, while a donkey was being led by an Arab over a rise, David and a mate positioned the donkey’s side bags to upend the oranges being carried within so they would fall out for the kids.

Post Middle East service, the 2/48th returned to Australia to undertake jungle training at Kairi, Queensland in 1943 in preparation for New Guinea. The rigorous daily drills were eventually followed by relaxation events. In ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’, John Glenn explains that as well as a barbeque and concert, a swimming carnival was also organised on the Barron River, near the eastern border of the camp where ‘there was an excellent stretch of water on which to hold such a function. Here Private Kuchel of B Company was easily the most successful swimmer, taking the 100 yards, 150 yards and 500 yards Battalion Championships.’ David’s exceptional swimming prowess and knowledge of rivers was also frequently utilised by his Battalion. Where the troops had to cross rivers, David’s expertise was invariably sought to find the safest crossing for non-swimmers who had to carry their rucksacks over their heads while wading through the river.

During an exercise in Milne Bay on the 1st December 1943, where the 2/48th Battalion was tasked to ‘clear up a number of Jap gardens and advance to Malahang airstrip and occupy the northern end’ David received a gunshot wound to his right forearm. In the same sharp exchange of fire during the day Privates Colin Jackson and Stan Ashenden were also wounded. David was later more ruefully forthcoming about the incident explaining that a tin and book in the breast pocket of his uniform saved his life. He surmised that it had not been an enemy bullet, but one accidentally fired from a mate’s gun! The bullet would certainly have entered his heart but was deflected by the tin, wounding him in the crease of his elbow. The conclusion to this miraculous incident was that he also contracted dengue fever in January 1944, then taking on the role as Grade II Cook in August ‘45 prior to returning to Australia via Queensland. One recollection David had of his time assigned to kitchen duty was of not realizing the potato peeling machine had broken down. His co-kitchen hand soldier, had used a knife to prepare the potatoes quickly, chopping the top, bottom and sides to avoid peeling. David was amused and stated, ‘It was the first time he’d ever seen square potatoes!’

He was finally discharged in November of 1945, returning to his family in Waikerie where he lived and worked out bush with his cat for some time. He also worked on the channels in Waikerie but continued to be affected when planes flew overhead, throwing himself in the channel in automatic self-preservation mode. These events were signs of post-traumatic stress which was not recognised at that time. David also worked at the pumping station at Waikerie. Today that pump is on display locally at Pioneer Park on Crush Terrace, placed there when the plant converted to electricity from diesel in 1965.

Post war, David returned to the water as a veteran winning the annual mile and 200 yards swim-through-Adelaide on the Torrens Lake in February of 1951 with about 105 other swimmers. The race started at the Torrens Weir, finishing at the pontoon near the Adelaide University Bridge. Similarly, he won the Swim Through Waikerie from scratch position of 14 minutes with the fastest time of 22.59 minutes. He continued competitive swimming until he was 38, winning over a hundred trophies from 1925 – 1957. He also returned to again teaching children to swim, including being involved in saving inexperienced youngsters from drowning in the River. His skills were also sought to locate people’s lost items in the River; this done without the use of any breathing apparatus.

For some years afterwards, Dave and his family lived at Nangwary, in the south-east, where he was employed at Forestry and Logging Company for a short time. The family then moved into Mount Gambier, where David had the inevitable vegetable garden to provide for the family. However, this move to a damper, colder climate had a detrimental effect on his health. The family then relocated to Elizabeth North in ’62 where David received a small army pension but was able to supplement this by also procuring work as a groundsman at two of the local Primary Schools as well as establishing his own successful mowing round. He continued to be generous where clients were not able to pay, establishing instead a bartering system receiving a range of ‘trades’ including several rabbits which quickly became family pets. After suffering many years with heart problems, Dave died at Daws Road Repatriation Hospital of a massive heart attack on the 28th January 1972 just prior to his 62nd birthday. Twenty years later, Vera died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital also of a heart attack. Both are buried in Centennial Park General AE, Path 3, Grave 166.
With thanks to Wyn Allen (née Weidenhofer) in her 2004 writing ‘A History of the Weidenhofer Families in Australia 1846 - 2004.’ for her detailed description of the family. Also, to Fay Groom for her personal insights and the extensive collection of photos from the family. Researched and written by Kaye Lee daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133 2/48th Battalion.