Moschetti, PTE Bertram Francis

Bertram Francis Moschetti (1899-1950), electrical engineer, mail officer, sailor and soldier, was born in Perth, son of Bertram and Mary Moschetti. He had two brothers. Bertram’s father had migrated to Western Australia from Victoria, one year before his birth and was of Italian heritage. Bertram grew up in Perth, York and Maylands. In 1914, tragedy struck when Bertram’s father died, he then moved to West Leederville along with this mother. He joined the Royal Australian Navy in March 1915 at the age of just 15 and served as a boy rating for 4 months. He then joined the Australian Army Reserves at the age of 16 and was posted to the 87th Battalion. During this time, he began an electrical engineering apprenticeship.

Bertram enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on the 15th of May 1916 and was posted to the 5th Reinforcements, 44th Battalion. He claimed to be 18 years old but was actually still just 16. He embarked for overseas service on the 9th of November 1916 and arrived at the front line on the 5th of May 1917. Bertram constantly suffered from sickness and was sent to hospital no less than 6 times for a period totaling 11 months. He served throughout the battles of 1917 and 1918. In the final battle of the war for the 44th Battalion, whilst breaching the Hindenburg Line on the 29th September 1918, Bertram was shot in the right leg. His wound was so severe that it had to be amputated.

He was discharged to Australia in April 1919. During the war, Bertram had fought in 12 battles and spent 245 days in the trenches. He received the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Wound Stripe, Active Service Badge, 1 Good Conduct Stripe and 2 Long Service Stripes.

Upon returning to Australia, Bertram migrated to Victoria, where the rest of his family had also moved. Here, he married Florence in 1921 and together they had one child. In 1929, he was appointed as a mail officer and worked in this role for 18 years until he retired in 1947. Bertram passed away in 1950 at the age of 51.

*AWL in September 1918 (loss of 14 days’ pay).

Sources

The W.A. Record, 14th of February 1914, Page 12

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 5th of September 1929, Page 1926

The Herald (VIC), 17th of March 1948, Page 4

The Sun News-Pictorial, 25th of November 1950, Page 30

National Archives of Australia

MyHeritage

Regimental Number:
2684

Subunit:
5th Reinforcements, 44th Battalion

Enlistment Date:
15th of May 1916

Age at Enlistment:
18 Years, 3 Months

Birthplace:
Perth, WA

Ethnicity:
Italian Australian

Religion:
Catholic

Residence:
West Leederville, Metropolitan Region, WA

Height and Measurements:
5"6

Occupation at Enlistment:
Electrical Engineer Apprentice

Married:
No

Next of Kin:
Mother - Mary Moschetti

Previous Service:
Currently serving at time of enlistment in the Australian Army Reserves with the 87th Infantry Battalion. Served in the Royal Australian Navy as a boy from March to July 1915.

Total Service:
15th May 1916 - 10th April 1919

Overseas Service:
9th November 1916 -10th April 1919

Front Line Service:
5th May 1917 - 20th October 1917, 1st June 1918 - 11th June 1918, 17th July 1918 - 28th August 1918, 4th September 1918 - 29th September 1918

Battle Honours:
12: Messines 1917, Ypres 1917, Passchendaele, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcappelle, Amiens, Albert 1918, Mont St. Quentin, Hindenburg Line, St. Quentin Canal, France and Flanders 1916-1918

Casualty:

Yes – Wounded & Sick. Wounded in Action (29th September 1918 – Breaching the Hindenburg Line, severe gunshot wound, right leg had to be amputated. Sick 6 times (December 1916, 4 days) (January 1917, 2 weeks) (April 1917, 6 months) (March 1918, 2 months), (June 1918, 5 weeks), (August 1918, 4 weeks).

Awards:
British War Medal, Victory Medal, Wound Stripe, Active Service Badge, 1 Good Conduct Stripe, 2 Long Service Stripes