Otto John SIEFKEN

Regimental number354
Place of birthWandong, Victoria
SchoolJames Street State School, Perth, Western Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationButcher
AddressTenth Avenue, Maylands, Western Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20
Height5' 6.25"
Weight142 lbs
Next of kinCarl Siefken, Tenth Avenue, Maylands, Western Australia
Previous military serviceServed for 3 years as a Bugler in the 11th Western Australian Infantry Regiment, Citizen Military Forces.
Enlistment date9 September 1914
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll17 August 1914
Place of enlistmentBlackboy Hill, Western Australia
Rank on enlistmentBugler
Unit name11th Battalion, C Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/28/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on 31 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll3rd Machine Gun Company
FateDied whilst a Prisoner of War 21 October 1918
Place of death or woundingGerdauen, Germany
Age at death23
Age at death from cemetery records23
Place of burialBerlin South-Western Cemetery (Plot XV, Row B, Grave No. 10), Stahnsdorf, Germany
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
176
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Carl and Caroline SIEFKEN. Native of Wandong, Victoria
Family/military connectionsBrother: 4899 Pte Carl William SIEFKEN, 51st Bn, returned to Australia, 28 February 1919.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked, 3 October 1914; disembarked Egypt, 8 December 1914.

Embarked to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli Campaign), 2 March 1915.

Evacuated to hospital, 16 August 1915; admitted to HS 'Ascania', Mudros, 19 August 1915; disembarked Malta, 25 August 1915, and transferred to St David's Military Hospital the same day; to England, 5 September 1915; to hospital, Fulham, 14 September 1915 (influenza, and diarrhoea).

Found guilty, 3rd Training Bn, Perham Downs, 18 July 1916, of being absent from 1400 hours parade: awarded 3 days' confined to camp.

Proceeded overseas to France, 25 July 1916; marched into 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 26 July 1916.

Proceeded to unit, 8 August 1916; rejoined 11th Bn, 9 August 1917.

Transferred to, and taken on strength of 3rd Machine Gun Company, 11 February 1917.

Posted as 'Missing in Action', 15 April 1917.

Now, 6 July 1917, reported as 'Prisoner of War, 15 April 1917, and interned Limburg, Germany'.

Died, Gerdauen, East Prussia, 21 October 1918 (pneumonia and influenza).

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsSurname entered incorrectly on Embarkation Roll as SIEFKIN.
SourcesNAA: B2455, SIEFKEN Otto John