2nd Lieut. Joseph James Charlton Herzog

Joseph James Charlton Herzog was born in London on 22 September 1895, the second son of Joseph Paul and Grace Elizabeth (nee Ladrook) Herzog who had married on 25 March 1891 at All Saints Church, Poplar. Joseph junior was baptised at St Leonard’s Church, Bromley, London on 24 November 1895. The couple’s eldest son was Charles Matthias who had been born on 13 December 1891 and baptised at All Saints Church, Poplar on 20 March 1892. Joseph and Grace’s third child, Katrina Elizabeth Sherwell (Rena) Herzog was born in London on 29 November 1897.

On 16th March 1898, the family emigrated to New Zealand on the ‘Gothic’ from London to Wellington. On the ship’s manifest Joseph was described as aged 40 rather than 42, and occupation Farmer, instead of Engineer, Mrs (Grace) was said to be 35 rather than her actual age of 24, with Chas (5), Jos (3) and infant ‘Miss’ (Rena).

In 1900 the family was living in Adelaide Road, Wellington and Joseph and his brother attended nearby Newtown School until 1907. By 1908 the family had moved to live at 69 Mitchell Street, Brooklyn and Joseph and Rena attended Brooklyn School. By the time of the 1911 and 1914 Electoral Rolls, the family was still there and Joseph senior was an Engineer. Joseph, who had been born in Salzburg, Austria became a naturalised New Zealand citizen on 4 March 1913. This meant that in 1917 he was on the Alien register.

Joseph (junior) left school in 1909 with a Competency Certificate. He went farming in the Wairarapa for a short time before becoming a blacksmith with O.R. Fairbrother in Carterton. At this time Charles was also living in Carterton, working as an ironmonger with W.F.C.A. (Wairarapa Farmers’ Co-operative Association Ltd., a stock and station firm).

In 1913 Joseph joined the 17th Ruahine Regiment and was still with them when he enlisted at Carterton on 27 April 1915. He gave his birth date as 1894 rather than the actual year of 1895 making his declared age 21, when in fact he was 20 years; he was 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed 11 stones 2 pounds. He had a minimum chest measurement of 32 inches and a maximum of 36 inches. He had fair complexion, brown eyes and hair and his religious profession was Church of England.

Le Waast, near Bolougne and commenced training in wood fighting and counter attack tactics. They then took part in the battle of Passchaendale on October 12th. This muddy, bloody battle was to end in defeat for the New Zealanders, with a devastating loss of life for the Kiwis. On the 22nd they moved back to Alquines for more training, re-equipping and reorganisation. On 11 November the 3rd Auckland went to hold the line at Polygon Wood and remained there for 3 winter months.

In January 1918 Joseph was appointed temporary Warrant Officer Class 2 and when CSM S J Phillips was wounded, he became temporary Company Sergeant Major. He was detached to the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company on 18 January and on 27 January at his request relinquished his appointment of Warrant Officer Class 2.

Joseph’s rise through the ranks continued. On 21 February 1918 he was sent to England for officer training, starting a course of instruction at No14 Officer Cadet Battalion at Hipswell Camp, Catterick in Yorkshire on 8 March 1918. On 20 July his progress report stated that his standard of education was very fair; military knowledge good; power of command and leadership good. It was remarked that he was a ‘quiet type – but strong and determined. Good boxer – should make a quite reliable officer.’ Joseph satisfactorily completed this course on 10 September 1918 and he was promoted to Second Lieutenant.

Joseph left for France on 25 September 1918 and joined the 1st Battalion, Auckland Regiment on 5 October 1918. The New Zealand Division advanced on the German lines and took the village of Esnes on the 8th October. A week later Joseph would have been involved in the Battle of Selle, advancing on the town of Le Quesnoy. During the later offensive of the Battle of the Sambre, he was wounded in action on 4 November 1918 and was admitted to No. 3 New Zealand Field Ambulance on the same day. Joseph was transferred to the 20th General Hospital at Dannes Camiers and was seriously ill in this hospital when the Armistice to end the War was signed on 11 November. He was transferred from the seriously ill to the dangerously ill list on 12 December and died of his wounds on 17 December 1918 aged 23 years.

Joseph was buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, in grave XLV. A.13. This cemetery is 27 kilometres from Boulogne, Pas de Calais, France. "Etaples Military Cemetery is the largest CWGC cemetery in France, containing 11,517 casualties, nearly all of whom died during WW1. It is located near Boulogne on the former site of a large military hospital complex used by the Allies during the First World War. " (Commowealth War Graves Commission). 261 men from New Zealand were buried in Etaples, Joseph being the last of them to be interred. He had been on active service for 1,330 days, or 3 years, 7 months and 20 days.

Joseph was entitled to the 1914-18 Star; the British War Medal and the Victory medal. These, together with his plaque and scroll were sent to his father at Ferry Road, Days Bay in 1921.

Joseph’s sister Rena married Lieut Albert Charles Ernest Loadsman at St Matthew’s Church, Brooklyn on 17 September 1918. Albert served with distinction in both the 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 Wars. Their son, named Paul Joseph Charles after Rena’s father and brothers, was born at the Herzog parent’s home 69 Mitchell Street, Brooklyn in 1919. He served with the Royal Navy in the 1939-1945 War.

Joseph Paul Herzog died on 3 January 1926 aged 68. Grace lived to the age of 89 years and died on 12 June 1963. They are buried together in Karori Cemetery with their daughter, Rena, her husband Albert Loadsman who died in 1955 and infant granddaughter Moira Josephine (Joy) Loadsman who died 21 June 1921 aged 6 weeks. Both Joseph and his brother Charles are also named on the grave stone in Karori Cemetery, as well as on the Brooklyn War Memorial,

Biography by David Owen Sherlock (2023).

Second Lieutenant Joseph James Herzog, who was wounded on 4th November last, and died on the 17th of the present month, was the surviving son of Mr. Joseph Paul Herzog, of Mitchell-street, Brooklyn. Born at East Ham, London, 23 years ago, he was brought out to Wellington by his parents when he was three years old. He received his education at Newtown and Brooklyn Schools, and was farming in the Wairarapa when he enlisted, in May, 1915. In October of that year he left with the Main Body of the Rifle Brigade, and saw service in Egypt before he went to the Western front. Until last month he had never been wounded. His elder brother, Corporal Charles Herzog, who left with a later Reinforcement, was killed in action on 19th May, 1916, at the age of 24. Source: Evening Post (27 December 1918).

Sources

1. Cenotaph: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/...
2. Evening Post (27 December 1918).
3. New Zealand and World War One Roll of Honour: http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~sooty/genealogy/nzefrohHA-HE.html / Ref 10.4.2021
4. Sherlock, David Owen (2023).