Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Albert Schlumpf was born in Zug, Switzerland just south of Zurich. His wife; Paulina, when completing the Roll of Honour circular reported that he had emigrated to Australia at age 20 and was a naturalized citizen. She also reported that he had attended school in Switzerland and France.

When Albert enlisted on 15th January 1917, he stated he was 30 years old and employed as a labourer. He lived with his wife and one child at Mary Street, Johnston Estate, Sherwood.

After a period of training in a depot battalion at Enoggera and a period of home leave, Albert travelled by train to Sydney where he embarked on the “Hororata” on 14th June 1917 as part of the 25th reinforcements for the 9th Battalion. A note in red pen on Albert’s attestation papers indicates that a second child was born between the time he enlisted and the time he embarked.  After arrival in Liverpool in late August, Albert spent some time in the training battalions at Sutton Veney interspersed with periods of hospitalisation due to mumps.

Albert was posted overseas to the Bullring at Havre in March 1918 and then was transferred to the 15th Battalion on 17th April 1918. This period of time coincided with the German Spring Offensive; Operation Michael, which drove the British Army on the Somme all the way back to within gun range of Amiens. In an effort to stem the German onslaught, Haig called the Australian divisions in Flanders south to meet the advance. The five Australian divisions had been formed into a single corps, under the direction of Lieutenant General John Monash. On the 25th April, two divisions of Australians drove the Germans out of the village of Villers Bretonneux.

While Monash planned his first counter attack (which would come at Hamel in July) the Australians pursued a period of what was called “peaceful penetration”. This entailed establishing forward listening posts and trench raids to gather intelligence.

While manning one of these listening posts out in front of the main defensive line at Hamel, Albert Schlumpf was killed instantly by an artillery shell exploding directly in the post. Numerous Red Cross Wounded and Missing reports confirm the facts of his death but reveal some other curious details. A number of witnesses described Albert as “Norwegian or Swede”. This may have been just a case of ignorance but may also have been Albert’s way of diverting attention from his Swiss German pedigree (many citizens of German descent, including John Monash himself, had their loyalty questioned, some to the point of internment). One witness described Albert as a “regular toff” which probably is a reflection on his speech as a non native speaker of English. It may also have been a reference to his stature; he was over six feet tall. Several witnesses reported that he “could speak any language you asked him.” It is most likely that he spoke French and German fluently due to his upbringing, and he would have been a valuable asset to his battalion when it came to communicating with the French inhabitants.

While Albert was in England, his mother had died in Zurich and left a bequest of 8000 Swiss francs. Albert had dutifully added a codicil to his will stating that in the event of his death, the Swiss bequest would go to his wife Paulina and their two children.  There are several letters from the Swiss Consul in Brisbane directed to the military authorities requesting copies of death certificates so that the inheritance could be progressed.

Albert was buried in the military cemetery at Corbie, not far from where he fell and photographs of his grave were sent to his widow. Paulina Schlumpf and her children were still living at Sherwood when medals were distributed in the 1920’s.

Courtesy of Ian Lang

Mango Hill