WUSTEMANN-HOWGATE, Albert Edward

Died of wounds 30 Sep 1917

Albert Edward Wustemann-Howgate was born in 1879 in Collingwood and was the eldest son of Joseph Howgate and Adelaide Jeanette nee Wustemann.  His father died in 1885, aged 33.  His mother re-married but died in 1894, when Albert (known as Bert) was 15.  This was probably about the time he would have started his apprenticeship which would qualify him for his eventual trade as a plaster modeller.  His maternal grand-father Louis Wustemann, a widower, took over the care of Bert and his younger siblings.  Louis owned a large number of rental properties around Melbourne, including 130 to 15o Bridge Road, Richmond, in the block between Lennox Street and Wustemann Place, named after him.  The family lived at the rear of 150 Bridge Road.  In 1881 Louis had bought a small cottage which was then numbered 35 Albert Street, East Melbourne, on a big block of land.  He rented it out for many years but about 1909 he divided the land in half, demolished the old cottage and built a new house, now numbered 33.  This house he transferred to his youngest grandson, Abraham Wilfred (Will) Wustemann-Howgate.  In 1910 Louis died and Will and Bert inherited the neighbouring block of land and in 1914 Will built a matching house which became No. 35.  On 7 July 1915 when Bert enlisted he gave his address as No. 33.  By the time he wrote his will on 15 October 1915 his address was No. 35.

At this time he was stationed at Seymour.  He embarked from Melbourne on 7 March 1916 aboard HMAT Karoola.  on 22 April 1916 he joined 12th Field Ambulance from Reinforcements at Serapeum, Egypt. He embarked from Alexandria two months later for Marseilles to join B.E.F [British Expeditionary Forces]. He died of wounds 30 September 1917. The Australian War Memorial's Red Cross records of the Missing and Wounded provide a witness account of his final hours:

'He was wounded at Westhoek Ridge on the 30-9-17.  I did not actually see the casualty, but I saw him soon afterwards.  I was about 200 yards away when it happened - he was caught by shell fragment which hit him in the elbow.  He also had a very bad shock, but was fully conscious - he was taken away to the dressing station [17th Casualty Clearing Station] - I was speaking to him just before he left, and he promised to bear up, as well as he could for his wife's sake, who was at 35 Albert Street East Melbourne.  He died on his arrival at the dressing station, where every effort was made to save him.  I assisted to bury him in the Military Cemetery at Poperinhge and the grave was marked with a cross bearing his number, name and unit.'  Witness - Sharry Pte d.L., 13355, 12 Field Ambulnce, 3rd A.A. Epl, Dartford.

In 1915 he had married Mary Alice (Alice) Smith, who, on 16 December 1916 gave birth to a daughter, Alison.  It is unlikely Bert ever saw his baby.