Just Another Pair Of Socks

Melton District ANZACS

Neils MAGNUSSEN

Personal

Born: 14 January, 1894

Birthplace: Tolberg, Tylland, Denmark

Died: 5 February, 1942

Burial place: Springvale; Thomas Simmons Lawn, Row DL, Grave 66, Springvale, Victoria

Awards and Honours

  • British War Medal 1914-20
  • Victory Medal

Battalions

13th Reinforcements, 8th Light Horse; 7th Field Artillery Brigade

Events

Enlistment

Enlistment date: 16 July, 1915 Melbourne

Age at enlistment: 21 years 7 months

Address at enlistment: Diggers Rest

Religion: Presbyterian

Marital Status: Married

Next of kin: Wife: Maud Magnussen, 197 Dryburgh St., North Melbourne

Physical Description: Height: 5 feet 7 inches
Weight: 12 stones
Complexion: Fresh
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Distinctive marks: Moles left thigh and right buttock, scar on head

Embarkation ship: H.M.A.T. A44 Vestalia.

Rank: Gunner

Return Date: 19 October, 1918

Return Vessel: H. T. Sardinia.

Arrival at Australia: 27 December, 1918.

Discharge Date: 4 April, 1920

War Service Summary

16/07/1915 - Enlisted
27/07/1915 - Training Company; Seymour
10/08/1915 - No. 2 Company, Light Horse
11/09/1915 - 8th Light Horse
18/01/1916 - Embarked for duty overseas from Melbourne aboard HMAT Vestalia
25/02/1916 - Reported for duty; Heliopolis
06/03/1916 - Taken on strength to 3rd Reserve Regiment; Heliopolis
01/04/1916 - Transferred to 4th Artillery; Heliopolis
02/04/1916 - Taken on strength as a Gunner; Serapeum
28/05/1916 - Embarked from Alexandria with Artillery Transport Depot for England aboard H.M.T. Corsican
12/06/1916 - Disembarked Plymouth
23/08/1916 - Admitted Bulford Military Hospital; influenza
04/11/1916 - Marched in to 3rd Divison Ammunition Column; England
23/11/1916 - Taken on strength from Artillery Transport Depot; England
24/11//1916 - Proceeded overseas to France
07/07/1917 - Transferred to 7th Field Artillery Brigade; in the field
10/01/1918 - To hospital sick; Bronchitis
22/01/1918 - Returned to duty
14/03/1918 - On leave to England
04/04/1918 - Rejoined unit from leave
10/05/1918 - Admitted 20th Canadian Clearing Station then 11th Australian Field Ambulance, sick; Haematuria
13/05/1918 - Admitted 9th General Hospital, Rouen; Haematuria
16/05/1918 - Transferred to England
17/06/1918 - Embarked for England; Grantully Castle
18/05/1918 - Admitted 1st Southern General Hospital; severe Haematuria
31/05/1918 - Transferred to 1st Auxillary Hospital
15/06/1918 - Discharged to No 3 C.D.; Hurdcott
20/07/1918 - Marched in to No. 4 C.D.
05/08/1918 - Sick, to hospital
08/08/1918 - Admitted Fovant Military Hospital; Nephritis
23/08/1918 - Discharged to No. 2 C.D.; Weymouth; Sick, to hospital
17/09/1918 - Marched in from Hospital for return to Australia; Nephritis
19/10/1918 - Invalided to Australia per H. T. Sardinia
27/12/1918 - Arrived at Australia
07/05/1919 - AWL one day
14/05/1919 - AWL one day
26/06/1919 - AWL one day
04/04/1920 - Discharged from duty

Pay rate: 6/- of which 3/- was placed in Account No. 102094 of the C.S. Bank

07/02/1921 Salvation Army request from his father for details of Neils whereabouts, as the family has not heard from him since 1915.

War Service Commemerated

Life After the War

Names of wife and children:
1915 Married Maud Alice Butts Reg. # 11819
From 1925 Niels lived with Emma Marshall Magnussen until his death in 1942.

Place/s of residence:
1912-1915 Diggers Rest
1915 - Dryburgh St., North Melbourne
1916 - 1918 Maud is living at 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne
1921 - 21 Morreland Road, Brunswick
1924 - 12 Robert St., Northcote South
1925, 1926 - 610 High Street - Also Emma Marshall Magnussen, dressmaker (Electoral Rolls)
1931, 1937 - 20 Beaty Av., Armadale (Electoral Rolls)
1942 - 127 Orong Road, Toorak

Occupations:
1912-1915 - Farm labourer
1925, 1937 - Labourer

Date of death:
05/02/1942
Place of burial:
07/02/1942 Springvale; Thomas Simmons Lawn, Row DL, Grave 66
22/11/1960 - Emma was buried with Niels.

Other relevant information:
28/12/1911- Departed London aboard Geelong for Melbourne
15/02/1912 - Arrived from Denmark and after a couple of months settling he moved to Diggers Rest where he resided until leaving for the War.
10/06/1915 - Applies to the Commonwealth of Australia for a Certificate of Naturalization, or citizenship. This is granted, Certificate No. 22423, posted on 2 July, 1915

04/11/1915 Patient records from Queen Memorial Infectious Diseases Hospital indicate that Neils Magnussen, a Presbyterian of 4 years residence has been admitted with diptheria and scarlet fever. His wife is his nearest relative. They live at 197 Dryburgh St., North Melbourne.

Additional Information

The Age
21 July 1930, p. 13
ROBBERY AT ARMADALE.
Breaking into the home of Mrs. N. Magnussen, dress -maker; of Beatty-avenue, Armadale, during the week end, thieves stole clothing, jewellery and other articles to the value of £100. Entrance was gained by forcing a rear window.

The Argus
6 February 1942, p. 2
MAGNUSSEN.- On February 5, Niels (late A.I.F.), dearly loved husband of Emma Magnussen 127 Orrong road Toorak –Rest with God

The Age
6 February 1942, p. 7
MAGNUSSEN. — Malvern Sub-Branch R.S.S.I.L.A. — The Executors and members of the above branch and friends are respectfully informed that the funeral of our late member, Mr. NIELS MAGNUSSEN, 107th Battery, will leave his residence, 127 Orrong-road, Toorak, TO-MORROW, February 7, at 10 a.m., for the Spring Vale Cemetery. A. G. ROBERTSON, Pres., and H. T. BLOOM. Hon. Sec.
ARMSTRONG and WHITTLE.

The Argus
10 February 1942, p. 2
MAGNUSSEN.-On February 5, Niels, our old battery pal. -Lest we forget (107th Battery Association )

The Argus
21 March 1942, p. 2
MRS MAGNUSSEN 127 Orrong road, Toorak wishes lo THANK relatives and friends for letters and tributes especially to thank Rev. McKeown and Mr Robertson, president and members of the Malvern branch R S S I L A also Mr Burton and Mr Dunn of Anzac House for their unfailing kindness during past months and in her recent sad bereavement

MRS MAGNUSSEN 127 Orrong road, Toorak wishes to express her GRATITUDE to her husband's comrades Mr. Don Oram and to all members of the 107th Battery, for their extreme kindness during her recent sad bereavement.

Sources

Australian War Memorial
Service Record
Newspaper accounts