Sgt
Henry Alexander Spalholtz
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1897 |
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Place of birth: Guildford, East Perth, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Shop Assistant |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Sergeant |
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Service number: 2402 |
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Enlistment date: 16/05/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 43rd Bn. (The Hindmarsh Regiment) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 04/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Hill 40, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 20 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 27 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Sergeant Henry Alexander Spalholtz was part of the 43th Battalion Australian Infantry Hindmarch Regiment (11th Australian Brigade, 3th Australian Division). Before enlisting, the 19 year old Henry Alexander worked as shop assistant in Woolgar, Western Australia. He was the second son of Henry Bernard Martin Spalholtz and Mathilda Rooke. His father was born in 1848 in Hamburg, Germany.
On the 4th October, the 43th Bn. Australian Infantry took part in the Battle of Broodseinde. The 11th Australian Brigade divided the task of the attack, where the 43th Bn. A.I.F. was responsible for the first wave. The 43th Battalion was to capture the line until Alma (D.22.c.20.40). It met its objective at 6.20am, after which it was immediately consolidated. However, the battalion suffered heavy losses before meeting its objective on Hill 40. The 42th battalion was to leapfrog through the 43th battalion. As one company missed its barrage, men from the 43th battalion joined. The second objective was reached fairly easy at 7.25 am.
According to his Service Record, Sergeant Spalholtz was buried 1400 yards Northwest of Zonnebeke, at Brick Kiln Yard (D.21.a.20.10.), close to the jump off line. His body wasn’t retrieved or identified after the war. He is remembered on the Menin Gate in Ypres.
On the 4th October, the 43th Bn. Australian Infantry took part in the Battle of Broodseinde. The 11th Australian Brigade divided the task of the attack, where the 43th Bn. A.I.F. was responsible for the first wave. The 43th Battalion was to capture the line until Alma (D.22.c.20.40). It met its objective at 6.20am, after which it was immediately consolidated. However, the battalion suffered heavy losses before meeting its objective on Hill 40. The 42th battalion was to leapfrog through the 43th battalion. As one company missed its barrage, men from the 43th battalion joined. The second objective was reached fairly easy at 7.25 am.
According to his Service Record, Sergeant Spalholtz was buried 1400 yards Northwest of Zonnebeke, at Brick Kiln Yard (D.21.a.20.10.), close to the jump off line. His body wasn’t retrieved or identified after the war. He is remembered on the Menin Gate in Ypres.
Sources 9
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Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10262508 Sources used |
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Australian War Memorial, Brigade Diary https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1339140 Sources used |
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Australian War Memorial, War Diary https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1344151?image=1 Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1601275/spalholtz,-henry-alexander/ Sources used |
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Mc Carthy C., Passchendaele Day-by-Day account, Unicorn Publishing Group, 2018, London, pp. 110. Sources used |
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National Archives of Australia https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=8088862&isAv=N Sources used |
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Photo https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/gallery/207086 Sources used |
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The AIF-Project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=283704 Sources used |
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The Long Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/3rd-australian-division/ Sources used |