AHNALL Karl
About Karl Ahnall
Karl was born in Stockholm, Sweden on the 15th December 1887 to Adolf & Ida Ahnall. In 1907, when he was 19, Karl emigrated to the USA, arriving in New York directly from Sweden aboard the the Lusitania. By 1908 Karl was in Omaha, Nebraska working as a clerk, a few years later he was living in San Fransisco working as a seaman on a steamship. In 1911 he was working as a Station Agent for the Kahului Railroad Company in Kahului, Hawaii.
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Broome Connection
Karl travelled to Australia by ship in 1912 to engage in the pearling industry. He worked for Streeter & Male, one of the largest pearling firms in Broome. In 1915 he applied to become a Naturalised Australian so he could join the war effort. Karl enlisted in Broome on the 16th March 1915, and his attestation papers were signed by the Mayor of Broome Mr. Walter Clarke-Hall.
War Service
Karl entered the AIF as a private but was rapidly promoted and was a 2nd Lieutenant by December 1916. His unit (28th Battalion, C Company) embarked from Fremantle to Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in September 1915. After the general Gallipoli evacuation in January 1916, the unit was transferred to Marseilles, France in March 1916.
Karl was wounded in action (gunshot wound to left shoulder and chest) in July 1916. It was during this campaign that he was awarded a D.C.M. for conspicuous gallantry in action. After recovering from his wounds Karl rejoined his Battalion as a scout officer in October 1916. On the night of 28th February 1917, Karl’s battalion was on a bombing raid when he was wounded and left lying in a shell hole. When men returned the next day only his pocketbook and cap remained. Karl was taken as a German prisoner of war, but died of grenade wounds to the chest, abdomen, and arm on the 2nd March 1917. He was buried in Morchies Soldier’s Cemetery.
Distinguished Conduct Medal
[su_quote cite=”Source: ‘Commonwealth Gazette’ No. 184 Date: 14 December 1916″]‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. Though badly wounded in the attack, he remained with his company and directed and assisted wounded men to the dressing station under heavy shell and machine gun fire. Though again wounded and shot through the chest, he still assisted in carrying wounded men.’ [/su_quote]
Enlistment Details
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Date of Enlistment:16/03/1915
Place of Enlistment:Blackboy Hill, WA
Age at Enlistment:27
Occupation:Pearler
Registration Number: 555
Unit: 28th Battalion, C Company
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Fate: Killed in Action
Place of Death: France
Date of Death: 02/03/1917
Burial Place:Douchy-les-Ayette, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France
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