S3612
RIESCHIEK, Walter Emil
| Service Number: | 2666 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 August 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 5th Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 4 July 1890 |
| Home Town: | Goodwood, Unley, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Glenunga, Norwood, South Australia, Australia, 25 March 1933, aged 42 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Aug 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 2666, 5th Pioneer Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Sep 1916: | Involvement Private, 2666, 5th Pioneer Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Commonwealth embarkation_ship_number: A73 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Sep 1916: | Embarked Private, 2666, 5th Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Commonwealth, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 2666, 5th Pioneer Battalion | |
| 20 Jan 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2666, 5th Pioneer Battalion |
Help us honour Walter Emil Rieschiek's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Charles Campbell College
Walter Emil Rieschiek, male of English descent, was born on the 4th of July, 1890. He was born the 7th of nine children from parents Marie Auguste Langer and Julius Emil Rieschiek. They lived in Goodwood, Unley, South Australia.
He worked as a clerk prior to his enlistment in 1916, and had not yet married.
Walter is described on his enlistment forms as a single, 26 year-old man of - complexion. He had grey eyes and brown hair, and was 5' 10 1/2" tall. Distinctive marks include multiple tattoos.
Service Events Summary
Walter Emil Rieschiek was enlisted to the 5/5th Pioneer Battalion, an infantry and light engineer unit as part of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). It served on the Western Front (France/Belgium) after it was transferred from Egypt, its original area of establishment. It fought in most major AIF battles.
Below is a basic timeline drawn from page 35 at the attatched link.
2 August 1916 || Enlisted in the A.I.F.
21 September 1916 || Embarked for Active Service Abroad.
14 November 1916 || Disembarked at Devonport.
15 November 1916 || M/in to Pioneer Tng. Battn., Perham Downs.
19 March 1917 || Admitted Mil. Hosp., Fargo, with Tonsillitis.
3 April 1917 || Disc. from Hosp. to Depot.
14 June 1917 || Proceeded O/seas to France ex England
7 July 1917 || Taken on the strength of the 5th Pioneer Battn., France.
14 August 1918 || Granted leave.
3 September 1918 || Rejoined unit ex leave.
16 February 1919 || Proceeded on leave to United Kingdom.
6 March 1919 || Rejoined unit ex leave.
16 May 1919 || Admitted 55th C.C.S. with V.D.
10 July 1919 || Transferred to 1st A.D.H., Bulford, with V.D. 42 ex France.
10 September 1919 || Disc. from Hosp. Total V.D. period - 115 days.
22 September 1919 || Left England for return to Australia per H.T. "Port Sydney."
10 November 1919 || Disembarked at Adelaide.
22 January 1920 || Discharged from the A.I.F. at Adelaide, Termination of period of Enlistment.
Events Following the War
Following the war, Walter met and participated in relations with Caroline Gertrude Easton. Upon engagement, Walter gave to Caroline a carved sewing box with her initials (an image of the sewing box is attatched). It has since been passed down to newer generations.
On the 24th of August, Caroline gave birth to their only child, Brian Peter Rieschiek. To him, a hotel set of glassware purchased by Walter in the war was passed down, eventually being dispersed among Brians five children in later years.
Walter died on the 25th of March, 1933 of unknown causes.
Click images to start slideshow.