Studio portrait of 3652 Private (Pte) Gustav Alfred Gerhardy, 32nd Battalion. Gustav and his ...

Studio portrait of 3652 Private (Pte) Gustav Alfred Gerhardy, 32nd Battalion. Gustav and his older brother 3556 Pte Johannes Arthur Gerhardy, both farmers from Black Hill, South Australia, prior to enlistment, embarked from Adelaide with the 8th Reinforcements aboard HMAT Ballarat on 12 August 1916 for Devonport, England. They received training in England then proceeded to France where they attended wireless training at Campagne-les-Hesdin before joining their battalion on the Western Front near Bapaume, France. Pte Gustav Gerhardy was wounded in action near Dickebusch, Belgium, on 1 October 1917 and was evacuated to No 2 Australian General Hospital, Wimereux, France, where he died of these wounds on 14 October 1917. He was aged 23 years. Pte Johannes Gerhardy continued to serve with the 32nd Battalion until 7 February 1918 when he was detached to the Assistant Provost Marshal, 5th Australian Division. He was wounded in action as the result of a gas attack and was evacuated to England for treatment and recuperation. Pte Johannes Gerhardy continued to serve with the Provost Corps in England and in France until he returned to Australia for discharge in July 1920.