CLAUSSEN, Eric Bruno
| Service Number: | 430 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 July 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 11th Machine Gun Company |
| Born: | Berne, Switzerland, 20 October 1877 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Renmark, South Australia, 24 March 1948, aged 70 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Renmark Old Cemetery, South Australia Old Sec. J, plot 106 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Jul 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 430, 11th Machine Gun Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 430, 11th Machine Gun Company, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '21' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 430, 11th Machine Gun Company, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 26 Jun 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, 430, 11th Machine Gun Company |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Paul Lemar
Eric Bruno CLAUSSEN was born in Berne Switzerland on 20.10.1877 although he has written on his naturalisation application in 1916 that he is Swedish.
He arrived in Australia in 1903 and resided at Port Pirie for 3 years then 2 years in Broken Hill. He has travelled around a bit and ended up in Blackall Queensland where he enlisted in the AIF. After the war, he is listed electoral rolls as an engine driver in Qld and WA
He married Bessie Mary MUDGE (1882) in Brisbane on 02.09.1916. There is a Bessie MUDGE aged 32 who arrived in Brisbane from England aboard the Euripides on 21.03.1915. She is listed as a domestic and she arrived alone. Possibly born Chiswick, Middlesex 15.04.1882 to parents Charles and Sarah Harriett nee DEAN.
In 1931, the couple were living in Broken Hill and were part of company that found silver lead. They registered a company with others know as the Treasure Chest. He has obviously become involved in mining and mining speculation around Australia and he and his wife’s names appear in numerous newspaper articles surrounding mining and interaction with BHP.
Eric CLAUSSEN died at Renmark on 24.03.1948 aged 70. He was buried at Renmark Old Cemetery.
MILITARY
Eric CLAUSSEN enlisted in the AIF on 07.07.1916 in Rockhampton, Qld and was given service no. 430. He was posted to the 11th Machine Gun Battalion and departed Australia arriving in England in December 1916.
His photo appeared in The Queenslander Pictorial newspaper on 03.03.1917.
Later in the war they were consolidated into Battalions of four Machine Gun Companies, attached to each Division. The 11th Machine Gun Company was later absorbed into the 3rd Machine Gun Battalion
The 11th Brigade comprised the 41st (Qld), 42nd (Qld), 43rd (SA) and 44th (WA) Battalions.
CLAUSSEN travelled to France in March 1917 and served on the Western Front with 11th Machine Gun Battalion taking part in the battles of Passchendale but was admitted to hospital with varicose veins. He was evacuated to England and invalided to Australia arriving in Sydney on 22 May 1919. He was discharged from the AIF 26.06.1919.
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