KURZ, Frederick Charles
| Service Numbers: | QX46036, Q116509 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 March 1942, Cairns, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 10 Advance Workshop |
| Born: | Herberton, Queensland, Australia, 21 January 1912 |
| Home Town: | Herberton, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Herberton State School, Herberton. Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Salesman |
| Died: | Cancer, Innisfail, Queensland, Australia, 26 January 2000, aged 88 years |
| Cemetery: |
Innisfail Cemetery, Qld |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 20 Mar 1942: | Enlisted Private, QX46036, Cairns, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Mar 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, QX46036 | |
| 21 Mar 1942: | Involvement Q116509, also QX46036 | |
| 21 Mar 1942: | Involvement Private, QX46036, also Q116509 | |
| 31 Dec 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, QX46036, 10 Advance Workshop, enlisted 'in the field' at Mataranka NT - graded Technical Storeman | |
| 13 Mar 1944: | Discharged Corporal, QX46036, 10 Advance Workshop | |
| 13 Mar 1944: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, QX46036 |
Frederick Charles Kurz
Born in Herberton on 21 January 1912 to Fritz and Elizabeth Kurz. His father was German and his mother was a British subject. During WW1 his father was interned as an alien and then deported back to Germany in 1919. His mother had to look after 3 children on her own which was very difficult at that time.
Frederick served in WW2 along with his brother Len and his half brother Norman.
He was an active member of the RSL for many years being president and secretary of the Innisfail branch numerous times. Fred passed away on Australia Day in 2000.
Submitted 1 November 2017 by Helen Hensler
Biography contributed by Chris Buckley
The eldest of three brothers (Len and Norman) who served in WWII, Corporal Frederick Charles Kurz (Service Nos:Q116509/QX46036) initially enlisted in the ACMF on 20 March 1942, and was a Private attached to Mt Isa Ordnance Workshop on 31 December 1942 when he enlisted in the AIF 'in the field' at Mataranka, Northern Territory. Graded Technical Storeman, Corporal Kurz was attached to 10 Advanced Ordnance Workshop AEME at Discharge on 13 March 1944.
Fred was born in Herberton, QLD in 1912, eldest of four children of Fritz Gotlieb Kurz (b1874 in Germany) and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Mary Golder (b1889 in London, England). Fritz immigrated in 1881 on board the Arthur Stone, and Lizzie arrived in 1910 on board the Salamis. Fritz worked in Hughenden as a Carter, and was a Baker in Herberton in 1911 when he and Lizzie married in Cairns. They settled at Wondeela via Herberton, where they raised their family and Fritz was a Baker. Arrested in Herberton in 1917 as an 'enemy alien', Fritz was interned in Brisbane and his business and goods sold. Lizzie remarried and settled in Brisbane.
Fred worked in Cairns in the early 1930s as a Tyre Remoulder, and was a competitive cyclist and member of the Cairns Glider Club. In 1938 he was working in Innisfail as a Salesman when he married his first wife Honora (Nora) Sylvia Bartlett (b1914 in Brisbane, QLD) - Nora was a Nurse at Cairns Hospital. Fred and Nora settled in Innisfail, where Fred was a Salesman in 1942 when he enlisted in the Army. Following his Discharge, he and Nora divorced - Nora moved to Sydney where she re registered and worked as a Nurse. Fred was Manager of Northern Tyre Service Pty Ltd, and in 1947 became proprietor of SK Motors in Innisfail. In 1950 Fred remarried to Nancy Margaret Lacaze (b1920 in Innisfail, QLD) - Nancy was a Typist in Innisfail. Fred and Nancy settled in Innisfail, where they raised their family and Fred was Proprietor/Manager of SK Motors and a member of the RSL. Fred died in 2000 and Nancy in 2009.
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