Walter Herbert PROMNITZ

PROMNITZ, Walter Herbert

Service Number: SX8094
Enlisted: 6 July 1940
Last Rank: Corporal
Last Unit: 2nd/48th Infantry Battalion
Born: Waikerie, South Australia, AUSTRALIA, 6 January 1918
Home Town: Waikerie, Loxton Waikerie, South Australia
Schooling: Waikerie, South Australia
Occupation: Shop Assistant
Died: Killed in Action, Egypt, 22 July 1942, aged 24 years
Cemetery: El Alamein War Cemetery
Plot XVI: Row H: Grave 7.
Memorials: Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Waikerie War Memorial
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World War 2 Service

6 Jul 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, SX8094, 2nd/48th Infantry Battalion
17 Nov 1940: Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private
9 Apr 1941: Promoted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Corporal
10 Jun 1941: Transferred 2nd/3rd Field Ambulance
22 Jul 1942: Involvement Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Corporal, 2nd/48th Infantry Battalion, El Alamein, Killed in Action

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Biography

Walter Herbert PROMNITZ was born in Waikerie on 6th January 1918 to Hermann Rudolph and Anna Ida Elizabeth Promnitz of Waikerie.  Walter was the elder brother to Colin, who served in the “A M F”.  Walter and Colin were brought up and did their schooling in Waikerie.

He was single and working as a shop assistant when he enlisted at Waikerie for service in 2nd Australian Infantry Forces on 6 July,1940.

After his enlistment and training, Walter left for the fighting overseas on “HMAT Strath Eden”. He was posted to the 2/48th Battalion and embarked for the Middle East on 17 November 1940.

On 10th June, 1941, Walter was transferred into the 2/3rd Field Ambulance.  The Field Ambulance was a highly mobile unit whose role was the rapid collection of the sick and wounded, rendering of essential first aid treatment to casualties, their preparation and classification for further treatment. A field ambulance has no surgical capability. Those in the Field Ambulance unit often found themselves in very dangerous situations in order to assist those wounded.

PROMNITZ was Killed in Action on 22 July 1942. His service record has an annotation indicating he was considered to be attached to 2nd/48th Battalion when he was killed.

Walter PROMNITZ had awarded the following service medals; The 1939-45 Star, The Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Active Service Medal. 

Walter is interred in the El Alamein War Cemetery and is commemorated on the Australian War Memorial on the Roll of Honour.

Walter is also commemorated with a tree and plaque in the WAIKERIE War Memorial Gardens.

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