Adolphus Fredrick Schmahl
Private Adolphus Frederick Anton Schmahl, who served under the name George Albert Edward Fraser, Victoria, c. 1915.
Adolphus Fredrick Anton (Adolph) Schmahl was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1864 and immigrated to Australia in 1887 when he was 22 years old. In 1911 he applied for naturalization. He went on to marry Ada Dent from South Australia; they settled in Victoria, and had eight children.
When the First World War broke out in 1914, like many other Australians, Adolph was eager to enlist. He was aware that he may be rejected on the grounds of his German heritage, and felt it would have been “impossible to join the forces under the name of Schmahl”. At 51, he was also well above the maximum enlistment age of 45. Desperate to join, Adolph enlisted under the name George Albert Edward Fraser, claiming to be 43 years old. He stated that he was a natural born British subject born in Dublin, Ireland, and that his profession was a chemist. Adolph and his son Gottlieb (serving as George Schmahl) were accepted for service in 1915. Two more sons, Gordon and Victor, joined up in 1917 using the surname Schmahl.
Adolph sailed for Egypt on 5 October 1915 with the 21st Battalion. After initial training, he was sent to France and transferred to the 7th Battalion. After a promotion to corporal, Adolph took part in one of the costliest battles of the First World War at the small village of Pozières in July 1916. Over a period of six weeks, Australia suffered 23,000 casualties during bitter encounters with the Germans. Adolph, now a sergeant, was one of those wounded during the battle. After recovering in hospital, he rejoined his battalion in September.
Adolph was later wounded again, this time suffering from shell concussion at Gueudecourt. He succumbed to the pressures that the war was placing on his body, with records stating that he was “short of breath on taking exercise, and gradually became unable to take any exercise”. He was sent home to Australia in February 1917, due to “excessive age and cardiac debility”. Before he left, Adolph tried to confess to his commanding officer the details of his real age and identity, but received the curt response, “I have no time for private conversations, I only know you as Fraser, you will do me.”
Back in Australia, Adolph wanted to continue working for the Australian Imperial Force. He wrote a letter to Senator George Pearce, giving details of his story and offering himself for further service. His request was declined on the grounds of his age. Undeterred, he continued his attempts to enlist, finally joining the Home Service as a clerk, again using the name “Fraser”.
At a time when Germans in Australia were viewed with suspicion, it did not take long for Adolph’s real identity to be discovered, and he was accused of being a German spy. Rejecting the accusations, Adolph signed an affidavit asserting that his previous military service, along with that of his three sons, was proof of his loyalty to the allies. He was not prosecuted for using an alias. From 1924–1930, and 1933–1936, Adolph was appointed to translate German files for the Public Service, Territory of New Guinea.
George, Victor, and Gordon were all wounded during the war, but did return home. George’s service records show that he was charged for multiple offences during his time in the army, including insolence, disobeying commands, drunkenness, and careless handling of a revolver. He was also awarded a Military Medal for “bravery in the field”.
Ada Schmahl was given a Female Relatives badge with three bars, recognising her family’s service in the First World War.
Schmahl Family Portrait, Victoria, c. 1919 (back row, left to right) Leopold, William, George and Gordon (front row, left to right) Vera, Victor, Clive, Ada, and Sylvia.