Karl August Richard FRIEDRICHS

FRIEDRICHS, Karl August Richard

Service Number: Commissioned Officer
Enlisted: 27 May 1915, Adelaide, South Australia
Last Rank: Major
Last Unit: 27th Infantry Battalion
Born: Point Pass, South Australia, 19 February 1891
Home Town: Adelaide, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Clerk, Army Officer
Died: Killed In Action, Albert, France, 21 April 1918, aged 27 years
Cemetery: Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension
Plot VIII, Row H, Grave No. 5
Memorials: Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Gilberton Soldiers Memorial Swimming Reserve
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World War 1 Service

27 May 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, Commissioned Officer, 27th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1
27 May 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 27th Infantry Battalion, Adelaide, South Australia
31 May 1915: Embarked AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Commissioned Officer, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: ''
4 Sep 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 27th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli
9 Nov 1915: Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 27th Infantry Battalion
4 Aug 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 27th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières
12 Aug 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 27th Infantry Battalion
26 Mar 1917: Involvement AIF WW1, Captain, Commissioned Officer, 27th Infantry Battalion, German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line and Outpost Villages, Recommended for the Military Cross - Lagnicourt
10 Jul 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Major, 27th Infantry Battalion
4 Oct 1917: Wounded AIF WW1, Major, 27th Infantry Battalion, Broodseinde Ridge, Shell wound (shoulder)
21 Apr 1918: Involvement AIF WW1, Major, 27th Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918

Help us honour Karl August Richard Friedrichs's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Angus Heath

On 19 February, 1891, Karl August Richard Friedrichs was born in Point Pass, South Australia to Henry and Ellen Friedricks.  
Karl had a strong faith, and was a Methodist his entire life. Married to Bebee Friedriccs, they lived at 31 Hawker's Road, Medindie, South Australia at the time of his enlistment. 

Previous to joining the army, he served in the Australian Army Reserves, then known as the Citizen Military Forces.

Karl joined the 27th infantry battalion in Adelaide on 27th May, 1915. This left from Adelaide on 31st May 1915 on board HMAT A2 Geelong. This ship then left for Egypt, where Karl and many other recruits spent 2 months of training. At Gallipoli the 27th Infantry Battalion only suffered lightly, with Karl Friedricks not taking part. After another stint in Egypt, the 7th Brigade, containing the 27th Infantry Battalion, departed for France.  

On 21st April, 1918, in Albert, France, Major Karl Angas Richard Friedrichs was killed after emerging from the dug out. Eyewitnesses say a shell landed and burst beside him, Blowing apart most of his left side, including his left arm and leg. He died within half an hour of the explosion from blood loss. He was properly buried near the Albert Road. A named cross was erected in commemoration of his life by Private C A Carlson.  

Only 27 years old, Karl was respected and liked by his peers and was obviously sorely missed by those who knew him. His grave is now marked in the Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, France, VIII. H. 5.

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Biography contributed by Robert Kearney

His name has been frequently spelled incorrectly on a number of documents. Please see details from his birth certificate -  ID: I709155
Name: Karl August Richard FRIEDRICHS
Sex: M
Birth: 19 Feb 1891 in Point Pass, South Australia, Australia
Death: Y
Note: Birth record - Father : Heinrich FRIEDRICHS. Mother: Nellie FULLER. Source : South Australian Births 1842 - 1906 Book: 474 Page: 2 District: Kap.

Biography contributed

Karl August Richard FRIEDRICHS was born in Point Pass, South Australia on 19th February, 1891

His parents were Heinrich (Henry) FRIEDICHS & Ellen (Nellie) FULLER

He married Eva (Bebe) HOSKINS in St Matthews Church in Quorn, SA on 5th April, 1915