August Bernhagen (1889 - 1918)

Biography

August Bernhagen was born on 8th August 1889 in Maroon, Queensland (Australia). He was the second surviving son of Albert Bernhagen and Matilda Münchow. ^[1]

The family operated a dairy at Maroon, in South East Queensland's Scenic Rim region.

On 2nd November 1916 August enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, his young nation's all-volunteer expeditionary force for the (First World) War. He did so knowing that he would be facing the German Army in Europe. ^[2] He embarked with other reinforcements for the 9th Infantry Battalion on 24th January 1917 in Sydney aboard HMAT Ayrshire A33. ^[3] The 9th Battalion was among the first infantry units raised for the AIF during the First World War and was part of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division. August joined the battalion after its Gallipoli Campaign and that first Western Europe Winter in the trenches of the Western Front. Famous battles in which he participated include Menin Road, Broodseinde Ridge, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Messines and Hazebrouck. ^[4]

Aged 27 years, August died of his wounds on 25th July 1918 ^[5] in France and is buried in the Longuenesse (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, Longuenesse, France. August Bernhagen's name is located at panel 55 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra and on the War Memorial at Maroon. ^[6]

Following the war his family was issued his 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Sources

1. ↑ Queensland Birth Index #1889/C/10657
2. ↑ Australian War Memorial nominal roll: 7190 Private August Bernhagen; accessed 2 Dec 2022
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial embarkation roll: 7198 Private August Bernhagen; accessed 2 Dec 2022
4. ↑ Australian War Memorial unit record: 9th Australian Infantry Battalion; accessed 2 Dec 2022
5. ↑ Queensland Death Index #1922/F/640
6. ↑ Australian War Memorial roll of honour: 7198 Private August Bernhagen; accessed 2 Dec 2022