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| Burra and District Fallen Soldiers Memorial |
Walter Ehrenfried Arnold was born on 28 June 1889, Yalpara SA and he was killed in action on 29 Sep. 1918 in France. His parents were Freidrich H & Augusta Helena, nee Obst This area was settled by Germans hence these names.
Arnold, a blacksmith, enlisted on 17 April 1916 in Port Pirie he left for France 12 Aug. 1916.
He as awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack near Moriancourt, South East of Albert on the night 28th/29th July 1916. This N.C.O. led his section throughout the attack with considerable ability and rendered to his own section and also to those on his flanks. Later in the morning when his position was being heavily shelled by minenwerfers he rallied his section and re-organised them, though himself somewhat shaken.He then set to work and dug out two of his men who had been buried and wounded by the minewerfer fire, and when unable to obtain stretcher bearers he personally carried the two men back to the relay station through a very heavy barrage. The tenacity with which he stuck to his work through very severe circumstances showed great bravery and devotion to duty and is worthy of recognition. (Information supplied by the Burra Historic Society)
Good heavens - first again????
ReplyDeletePerception upon perception of when to look?????
Yes - Burra has got a REAL history from the days of settlement in that area. Mines, and now farming, and of course the heritage.
C'mon SA government give the town help with grants to assist the promotion of this area.
Colin (HB)
What a brave and dedicated soldier to have rescued his men in the face of such danger. Thanks for sharing his story. That is a fine looking monument to the fallen soldiers.
ReplyDeleteLike so many whose names are not known, an incredibly brave man. And how sad this happened 6 weeks from Armistice day.
ReplyDeleteWhat a waste.
Lovely post and makes you realise that behind every name - and there are so very many - there's always a gripping story.
ReplyDeleteVery nice post and photo.
ReplyDeleteRegards and best wishes
Great entry on the meme and interesting information.
ReplyDeleteWhat a dedicated person!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this.
Sending you wishes for a wonderful day.
Diane, I did not realize that you'd linked-up at The Creative Exchange, and I wanted to stop back to say thank you so much for sharing with us!
ReplyDeletelisa.
now i have to go google the word Taphophile never heard that before.
ReplyDeleteI think it's really nice that you looked up his history.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the saddest things about death is people are forgotten...even if a statue if made of them.
But when we remember their lives in someway; it's kind of like we're bringing them to life for a little while.
Great informative post! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment on my blog... as you live in brisbane, you must take a look. It's a lovely church on the corner of Vulture & Cordelia Streets in South Brisbane.
Following your blog now so I can enjoy your photos and information.
I would love to visit Australia! Reading your blog is like having a virtual tour. I am following you from Rome! Thank you for stopping by! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThe memorial seems quite tall. To carry the fallen soldiers in the wake of personal danger is indeed cause for celebrating his bravery.
ReplyDeleteTaphophile was a new word to me today but after clicking on your link I've discovered it fits me and I'm glad to know I'm not alone. :)
I'm glad you looked up his name, and that there was so much information on him.
ReplyDeleteHi, Sorry I haven't been around this week. We have bee traveling and taking more photos... Hope you are having a great week.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and I enjoyed the history of Burra... Thanks, Diane.
Hugs,
Betsy
Diane, Mr. Arnold was a very caring and brave soldier. The war memorial is very tall, is so it will be noticed from far away? Great post and photo.
ReplyDeleteThis is a remarkable story of bravery and devotion to duty. It's good that his bravery has been remembered. The memorial is very elegant.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what a 'minenwerfer' was, some sort of 'bomb', I guess from the context.
ReplyDeleteThat statue is particularly high, but what I noticed most was the ... mmm ... cam't think of the word. Not a sword. But the sharp thing you stick on top of your rifle. I guess the rifle itself runs along his arm and up under his armpit. Hand to hard combat must really have been the pits. To see the whites of their eyes ... mmm ... I don't think so! Bayonet ... knew it would come to me.
'Though himself somewhat shaken' ... that is what sorts the leaders from the followers, I guess. The ability to continue on when others look inwards.
He had been a blacksmith, which shows being able to cart his wounded comrades into relative safety. And yet, he had another two years of battles before meeting his own untimely end.
I will go down to Woronora, it is on my list. I have just jumped it up a bit. However, in the meantime, send me the surname and I will see what I have find in some online sites I have discovered. One never knows ...
Thanks for contributing once again. Yours are always off on a tangent, and so very much welcome.
Julie.
ReplyDeleteThis is what they were:
"Minenwerfer ("mine launcher") is the German name for a class of short range mortars used extensively during the First World War by the German Army. The weapons were intended to be used by engineers to clear obstacles including bunkers and barbed wire, that longer range artillery would not be able to accurately target."
Your comment got me interested.
Colin (HB)
what a great tribute, and an interesting and informative post.
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing.
the photo is truly beautiful, too.
This is not your usual style of War Memorial, so for me interesting just for that.
ReplyDeleteA tribute to his bravery!
ReplyDeleteAmazing how brave people can be in such times. An great memorial. We have here many as well. many NZ soldiers died in Gallipoli in Turkey in ww1
ReplyDeleteSo sad, but he was very caring and brave. Thank you for investigating and writing his history. He should be remembered as should they all.
ReplyDeleteLovely Diane,
ReplyDeleteStayed at Burra (your other post)it's lovely scenery through there.
Such an interesting post, and your photo is beautiful!
ReplyDelete