Pte
Roy Vivian Kirsch
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1897 |
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Place of birth: Auburn, Victoria, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Bank clerk |
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Religion: Roman Catholic |
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: 2347 |
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Enlistment date: 14/09/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 38th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 04/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Judah House - Wichmann-Hof, 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: Bay 25 stone E |
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 Roy Vivian Kirsch a 19-year old bank clerk from Auburn, Victoria, enlisted in July 1916 with the A.I.F. He served with the 38th Australian Infantry Battalion, part of the 10th Australian Brigade, 3rd Australian Division.
Roy, having a German surname, (his father was born in Germany and came to Australia when 13th years old) was the subject of an investigation by the Recruiting office in Melbourne before he was accepted. They were very concerned about his loyalty, despite him having a brother who was a Captain in the AIF at the front, and requested police reports and even character statements from the English Scottish and Australian Bank Limited, where Roy was employed.
On the 4th October 1917 during the Battle of Broodseinde (part of the Battle of Passchendaele) the 38th Battalion waited for Zero Hour near Judah House. Owing to the roughness of the track the approach march was very slow, the jump off was very poorly marked and there was a good deal of confusion, small parts of moppers up etc. being out of place.
At 06.00 a.m. (Zero) the British barrage opened and the soldiers immediately pressed forward. Owing to the darkness and the extreme roughness of the ground the advance was very confused and consisted of small groups of men all pressing forward. The objective of the 38th Battalion was the ‘Red Line’ near Bordeaux Farm and Springfield Farm. Although they were confronted with heavily fortified pillboxes, they managed to reach the objective on barrage time, around 7.15 am, and started consolidating. Roy was killed in action during this attack.
Private Kirsch, age 20, died on the same day as his brother Captain Rudolph of the 8th Bn. AIF, some two thousand yards north, in the same battle but serving with the 38th Bn AIF. After the war their bodies could not be recovered and both men are remembered on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial, Bay 25 stone E.
Roy, having a German surname, (his father was born in Germany and came to Australia when 13th years old) was the subject of an investigation by the Recruiting office in Melbourne before he was accepted. They were very concerned about his loyalty, despite him having a brother who was a Captain in the AIF at the front, and requested police reports and even character statements from the English Scottish and Australian Bank Limited, where Roy was employed.
On the 4th October 1917 during the Battle of Broodseinde (part of the Battle of Passchendaele) the 38th Battalion waited for Zero Hour near Judah House. Owing to the roughness of the track the approach march was very slow, the jump off was very poorly marked and there was a good deal of confusion, small parts of moppers up etc. being out of place.
At 06.00 a.m. (Zero) the British barrage opened and the soldiers immediately pressed forward. Owing to the darkness and the extreme roughness of the ground the advance was very confused and consisted of small groups of men all pressing forward. The objective of the 38th Battalion was the ‘Red Line’ near Bordeaux Farm and Springfield Farm. Although they were confronted with heavily fortified pillboxes, they managed to reach the objective on barrage time, around 7.15 am, and started consolidating. Roy was killed in action during this attack.
Private Kirsch, age 20, died on the same day as his brother Captain Rudolph of the 8th Bn. AIF, some two thousand yards north, in the same battle but serving with the 38th Bn AIF. After the war their bodies could not be recovered and both men are remembered on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial, Bay 25 stone E.
Connection to other soldiers 1
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Rudolph Norman Clive Kirsch
Brother |
Sources 7
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"Passchendaele, The Day-by-Day Account",McCarthy C., Arms&ArmourPress, London, 1995, page 98-99" Sources used |
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AIF Project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=166745 Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/924728/vivian-roy-kirsch/ Sources used |
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Service Records https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=7372802 Sources used |
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The Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?people_preferred_name=kirsch&people_service_number=2347&people_unit= 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 |
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War Diary https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1356455 Sources used |