Bergstrom, Herbert Harold (68536)
Place of Birth: Port Melbourne, VIC
Age: 19 years 7 months
Enlistment Details: Saturday, 13 July 1918 – Melbourne, VIC
Service Number: 68536 view online service record
Address:
60 Loch Street
Coburg, VIC
Next of Kin:
Oscar Franz Bergstrom (father)
60 Loch Street
Coburg, VIC
Embarkation Details:
Date: Wednesday, 23 October 1918
Ship: HMAT Boonah A36
Port: Adelaide, SA
Unit: 14th (Vic) Reinforcements
Fate:
RTA: Friday, 20 December 1918
Discharged: Saturday, 1 February 1919
Troopship recalled
Brothers: Albert Victor Bergstrom, Oscar Gilbert Bergstrom, Arthur Hubert Bergstrom and Charles Robert Bergstrom.
3 Comments
Cheryl Griffin
Herbert Harold Bergstrom, son of Frans Oscar Bergstrom and Catherine Unkles, was born in Port Melbourne on 6 December 1898. His father, a Swede from Gothenburg, arrived in Australia in the 1890s. His mother was born at Port Fairy.
By the time Herbert Bergstrom, a lead worker, enlisted in July 1918, he was living with his family in Loch Street, Coburg. He embarked on the ‘Boonah’ on 22 October 1918, but the ship was recalled due to the end of hostilities and he disembarked in Australia on 20 December 1918 having been away two months and seen no action.
No doubt his family was relieved to see him home again. They had already lost one son (Charley) that year and another (Oscar) had returned from the war in early 1918 due to his injuries. They were not to know that another son (Albert) was to return just weeks after Herbert with a heart problem from which died twelve months later.
Herbert’s brothers Charley (DOW 1918), Oscar and Albert also enlisted, as did his four Templeton cousins, all from Coburg.
David Thompson
Thank again Cheryl for the information on the Bergstrom family. Seems that the connection between Port Melbourne and Coburg is strong.
Brian Membrey
Second World War : Born 6 December, 1898, enlisted 24 February, 1943, served V358015, Private, 4 Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps, locality on enlisting Sandringham, Attested Middle Brighton, NOK Eleanor BERGSTROM. Discharged 8 October, 1945