Corporal Walter Herbert PROMNITZ
6 Jan 1918 – 22 Jul 1942
Walter Herbert PROMNITZ was born in Waikerie on 6th January 1918 to Hermann Rudolph and Anna Ida Elizabeth Promnitz of Waikerie. Walter was the elder brother to Colin, who served in the “A M F”. Walter and Colin were brought up and did their schooling in Waikerie.
He was single and working as a shop assistant enlisted at Waikerie, attesting and joining the 2nd Australian Infantry Forces on 18th June, 1940.
After his enlistment and training, Walter left for the fighting overseas on “HMAT Strath Eden”. He was posted to the 2/48th battalion and embarked for the Middle East on 31st October 1940.
On 10th June, 1941, Walter was transferred into the 2/3rd Field Ambulance, a part of the 2/48th battalion. The Field Ambulance is a highly mobile unit whose role was the rapid collection of the sick and wounded, rendering of essential first aid treatment to casualties, their preparation and classification for further treatment. A field ambulance has no surgical capability. Those in the Field Ambulance unit often found themselves in very dangerous situations in order to assist those wounded.
On 12th September 1941, Walter was promoted to Corporal. Walter saw active service with the 2/3rd Field Ambulance in Syria, Egypt and Libya. Some of the harshest desert campaigns of the war, and was one of the famous “RATS OF TOBRUK” having been stationed, fought and worked in the Field Ambulance at Tobruk.
On the 22nd of July 1942, Walter was killed in action at El Alamein after detaching from the Field Ambulance unit to assist another frontline unit when they were short.
For his service Walter PROMNITZ had earned; The 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Burma Star, Defence medal, War medal and Active Service Medal. These were delivered to his family in 1953. His family were also issued a memorial scroll.
Walter is interred in the El Alamein War Cemetery (plot XVI: row H: grave 7) and is commemorated on the Australian War Memorial on the Roll of Honour.
PROMNITZ Road at TAYLORVILLE is named for his family. Walter is also commemorated with a tree and plaque here in the WAIKERIE War Memorial Gardens.
