Kruger, Joseph Harvey (37/5173)
Place of Birth: Port Melbourne, VIC
Age: 19 years 2 months
Enlistment Details: Tuesday, 16 February 1915 – Melbourne, VIC
Service Number: 37/5173 view online service record
Address:
248 Bridge Street
Port Melbourne, VIC
Next of Kin:
Charles Kruger (father)
248 Bridge Street
Port Melbourne, VIC
Embarkation Details:
Date: Monday, 10 May 1915
Ship: HMAT Ulysses A38
Port: Melbourne, VIC
Unit: 22nd Infantry Battalion
Fate:
DOW: Monday, 26 February 1917
Place: France
Awards:
DCM
Private, 22 Infantry, died of wounds 26 February, 1917, France, aged 30, commemorated Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Parents: Charles and Mrs Annie KRUGER, born Port Melbourne, educated Graham Street SS. He enlisted as a 19-year-old labourer with his father at 248 Bridge Street, circular returned from there. Originally enlisted February, 1915, 22 Infantry, returned March, 1916 suffering from gas poisoning. He re-embarked July, 1916, again with 22 Infantry. Noted as one of three casualties at the unveiling of the City Mission Honour Board, Standard, 8 September, 1917, and again as paying the supreme sacrifice at the unveiling of a third panel of the Honour Board at the Graham Street Methodist Church, Standard, 23 March, 1918.
Additional research by Brian Membrey
J H Kruger, A H Howlett, A Banton and F Banton addressed the pupils of Graham Street School at the Anzac Day celebrations held at the school on Thursday 20 April 1916.
1916 ‘SCHOOL WORLD.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 29 April, p. 2. , viewed 06 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91164162
1916 ‘ITEMS OF NEWS.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 1 July, p. 2. , viewed 31 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91166020
1917 ‘LATE CORPORAL KRUGER. D.C.M.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 24 March, p. 3. , viewed 01 Mar 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88366105
1918 ‘MEDAL WINNER’S DEATH.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 12 January, p. 4. , viewed 12 Dec 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88368292
2 Comments
Brian Membrey
“During the rescue operations at C2 TUNNEL, ANZAC, of the 29th October, 1915 distinguished himself greatly by his plucky conduct in entering the tunnel and shaft repeatedly to rescue other, and though suffering from the effects of fumes succeeded with the aid of another man in bringing up Lieut. Bowra’s body” Recommendation for D.C.M. 14 December, 1915 (This incident in the tunnel appears to have been the cause of the gas poisoning mentioned above – gas was not used as a weapon at the Dardenelles)
Brian Membrey
Eyewitness reports suggest Kruger died of wounds after a “friendly” bomb sent up to the front exploded … “I saw him in a trench wounded at Warlencourt. He was wounded by one of our Mills bombs; his leg was almost blown off and had to be amputated. He died the next day … he was a D.C.M., gained the honour at Gallipoli. He was guide that night bringing the men up the trenches after the Germans had evacuated them that night, evidently leaving a trap for them No other man of the same name, quite sure of his number. I was in the battalion at the time” (Pte G.F. O’Brien, 6th L.T. Mortar Battery)