About Charles Fuhrmann
Charles Fuhrmann was born in 1879 in Droin, Victoria, to William & Emilia Fuhrmann. He was the second born son to the couple and attended Wesley College in Melbourne. Charles was a community minded person, and took part in many social and charitable movements in Droin, including serving as secretary for the Progress Assocation. He was a keen footballer, and volunteered for 12 months in the Australian Light Horse. In 1912 he joined the Office of the Railway Superintendant in Darwin as an accountant.
Broome Connection
Charles moved to Broome between 1912-1914 when he secured a position with the large pearling farm of James Clark & Co as an accountant.
War Service
Charles travelled to Perth to enlist, arriving at Blackboy Hill camp in September 1915. He was appointed to the 10th Light Horse regiment, which was the only Light Horse Regiment recruited in WA during WWI. Charles embarked with the rest of his unit, the 10th Light Horse, 12th Reinforcements from Fremantle aboard the RMS Mongolia on the 22nd November 1915. They arrived in Egypt in January 1916, after the withdrawal from Gallipoli. Charles received his first promotion, to Lance Corporal around this time. The 10th Light Horse remained in Egypt throughout 1916, and along with the rest of the Australian Light Horse Brigades, defended Egypt from the Ottoman Army advancing on the Suez Canal, and drove the Turks across the deserts of Sinai, participating in the battles of Romani and Magdhaba. Fuhrmann was promoted again in October 1916, first to Temporary Corporal in October 1916, the Corporal two months later. In 1917 the 10th Light Horse were part of the Desert Column that advanced into Palestine. The regiment participated in the bloody battles to break the Gaza-Beersheba line and helped capture Jerusalem. They participated in the Es Salt Raid in May 1918. Charles was once again promoted to Sergeant in July 1917, but became ill a month later. He was hospitalised on the 3rd August 1917, but succumbed to pneumonia 10 days later.
Enlistment Details
Newspaper Articles
Other Online Resources
View Charles Fuhrmann at the National Archives of Australia
View Charles Fuhrmann at the Australian War Memorial
View Charles Fuhrmann at The Soldiers of Barrack Street
View Charles Fuhrmann at Territory Stories