Pte
Gustav Gottlieb Berthold Sporn
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 05/01/1896 |
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Place of birth: Yanyarrie, South Australia, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Day laborer |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 1948A |
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Enlistment date: 30/05/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 35th Bn. (Newcastle's Own Regiment) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 12/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Keerselaarhoek, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 21 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 25 |
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
Private Gustav Gottlieb Berthold Sporn, 20 years old and a former farm labourer from Yanyarrie Australia, was the youngest son of 10. His parents, Frederick Gottlieb Ernst and Johanne Karoline Konig were both born in Australia, but his grandfather (on fathers side) was of German descent. Johann Friedrich Sporn was originally of Seifersdorf, Christianstadt, Prussia, today Poland.
Private Sporn was part of the 35th Battalion Australian Infantry, 9th Australian Brigade, 3rd Australian Division. Before the Battle of Passchendaele, his battalion was active in the Battle of Messines. On 7 June 1917 Gustav was wounded in action, a shot wound in the left arm and eye. He recovered and rejoined his unit on 4 August 1917.
His battalion took part in the First Battle of Passchendaele on 12 October 1917. The 3rd Australian Division attacked at 5.25 a.m. The 34th Battalion Australian Infantry advanced but heavy shelling on the jump-off line brought confusion, as men could not determine which barrage was theirs and which was fired by the Germans. The 35th Bn. A.I.F., in support, overran Defy Crossing, Hillside Farm and Augustus Wood. They could go as far as the village of Passchendaele, where patrols entered the abandoned village. While going forward astride the Passchendaele road the soldiers found several wounded of the 66th Division still hiding in shell holes from the attack on 9 October. But the attack was not strong enough to secure it and they had to fall back almost to their jump-off line.
According to several witnesses private Sporn was hit by a shell near the jump off line (Cemetery-Keerselaarhoek). His remains were not recovered or identified after the war. He is remembered on the Menin Gate in Ieper.
Private Sporn was part of the 35th Battalion Australian Infantry, 9th Australian Brigade, 3rd Australian Division. Before the Battle of Passchendaele, his battalion was active in the Battle of Messines. On 7 June 1917 Gustav was wounded in action, a shot wound in the left arm and eye. He recovered and rejoined his unit on 4 August 1917.
His battalion took part in the First Battle of Passchendaele on 12 October 1917. The 3rd Australian Division attacked at 5.25 a.m. The 34th Battalion Australian Infantry advanced but heavy shelling on the jump-off line brought confusion, as men could not determine which barrage was theirs and which was fired by the Germans. The 35th Bn. A.I.F., in support, overran Defy Crossing, Hillside Farm and Augustus Wood. They could go as far as the village of Passchendaele, where patrols entered the abandoned village. While going forward astride the Passchendaele road the soldiers found several wounded of the 66th Division still hiding in shell holes from the attack on 9 October. But the attack was not strong enough to secure it and they had to fall back almost to their jump-off line.
According to several witnesses private Sporn was hit by a shell near the jump off line (Cemetery-Keerselaarhoek). His remains were not recovered or identified after the war. He is remembered on the Menin Gate in Ieper.
Sources 7
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AIF Project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=284742 Sources used |
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/ Sources used |
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Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?people_preferred_name=sporn&people_service_number=1948&people_unit= Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1601296/sporn,-gustav-gottlieb-berthold/ Sources used |
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Service File https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=8091292&isAv=N Sources used |
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Trench Maps https://maps.nls.uk/view/101464912 Sources used |
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War Diary https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1342686 Sources used |