Henry Campbell Vivian Rauch AKA John Conlon

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Mon, 19/12/2016 - 12:23

First Name:

Henry

Middle Name:

Campbell Vivian

Last Name:

Rauch

Date of Birth:

Sunday, January 27, 1889

Mother's Name:

Julia Raunch nee Beatus

Father's Name:

Henry Rauch

Date Enlisted:

Monday, April 3, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

52nd Battalion

Company:

D Company

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

1914/1915 Star

Date of Death:

Wednesday, April 24, 1918

Place of Death:

Villers- Bretonneux, France

Cause of Death:

Killed in Action

Details:

Henry Rauch was born in Wollongong and went to school in Milton and Nowra.

Henry went to England to enlist in the Royal Flying Corps, but due to eye problems was deemed unfit to fly, so he enlisted in the British Army.

Henry was wounded in France and discharged medically unfit from the British Army.

Henry returned to Bowen, Q.L.D. where enlisted in the Australian Army using the name John Conlon (Service No 2146) on 3 April 1916.

At the time of enlistment, Henry indicated that he was single, 27 years of age and was employed as a painter. He nominated his father Henry Rauch as his next of kin.

Henry embarked from Brisbane, Q.L.D. on HMAT A42, Boorara with the 52nd Battalion, 4th Reinforcements on 16th August 1916 arriving in England on 13th October 1916.

Henry joined 52nd Battalion, D Company in France on 25th January 1917.

Henry saw service on the Western Front until he was killed in action during the second battle for Villers-Bretonneau on 24th April 1918.

Henry has no known grave but is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial - Villers-Brettoneaux.

His brother Herbert Rauch (Service No 5211) also served during World War One in 1st Battalion, 16th Reinforcements.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, CONLON J