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Private Frank Lewis Berg
Description
TitlePrivate Frank Lewis BergSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionFrank was born at Devonport, Tasmania on 26th August 1896, son of Isaac and Elizabeth Sarah Berg. The family had arrived in New Zealand around 1911. Before enlisting he was working a labourer for C. H. Adams at Greendale. He had previous military service with the Territorials although he did not state which unit. He was 5ft 6in tall with a dark complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. He also had a scar on the ring finger of his left hand.
Frank enlisted on 19th September 1916 and was assigned to 21st Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company. Along with other departing soldiers he was given a Farewell at Greendale and presented with wrist watch in January 1917. He embarked 19th January 1917 on board the Ulimaroa from Wellington and disembarked at Devonport on 27th March 1917. He marched into Sling Camp and joined the 1st Battalion, Canterbury Infantry Regiment on the same day. He left for France on 26th May and was attached to the strength at Etaples two days later. He joined the Battalion in the field on 19th June 1917. He was sent to hospital sick on 26th December suffering from anaemia but was released to re-join his unit on 12th January 1918. Later that month he was given leave to England from 19th January to 7th February. He fought with the Canterbury Infantry through the campaigns of 1918 and was sent to the School of Instruction on 24th September but re-joined the 1st Battalion on 15th October. He was killed in action, aged 22, on 23 October 1918. The 1st Canterbury was part of the attack on the little hamlet of Pont-à-Pierres, where the Beaudignies road crosses the river. The Regimental history notes that although progress had been astonishingly rapid and successful, at the outset they had met somewhat severe artillery fire and a considerable volume of machine gun and rifle fire. Frank may have been a casualty of this gunfire. He was initially buried near where he fell, in an isolated grave at Pont-a-Pierres 2 ¾ miles SW of les Quesnoy. After the war he was gathered in and now lies in the Romeries Communal Cemetery Extension, France. In New Zealand Frank is remembered on the Malvern County & Greendale and Sheffield War Memorials.
First NameFrank LewisLast NameBergFamilySingleSon of Isaac and Elizabeth Sarah BergDate of Birth26 August 1896Place of BirthDevonport, TasmaniaDate of Death23 October 1918Place of DeathFrance Cause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death22
Frank enlisted on 19th September 1916 and was assigned to 21st Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company. Along with other departing soldiers he was given a Farewell at Greendale and presented with wrist watch in January 1917. He embarked 19th January 1917 on board the Ulimaroa from Wellington and disembarked at Devonport on 27th March 1917. He marched into Sling Camp and joined the 1st Battalion, Canterbury Infantry Regiment on the same day. He left for France on 26th May and was attached to the strength at Etaples two days later. He joined the Battalion in the field on 19th June 1917. He was sent to hospital sick on 26th December suffering from anaemia but was released to re-join his unit on 12th January 1918. Later that month he was given leave to England from 19th January to 7th February. He fought with the Canterbury Infantry through the campaigns of 1918 and was sent to the School of Instruction on 24th September but re-joined the 1st Battalion on 15th October. He was killed in action, aged 22, on 23 October 1918. The 1st Canterbury was part of the attack on the little hamlet of Pont-à-Pierres, where the Beaudignies road crosses the river. The Regimental history notes that although progress had been astonishingly rapid and successful, at the outset they had met somewhat severe artillery fire and a considerable volume of machine gun and rifle fire. Frank may have been a casualty of this gunfire. He was initially buried near where he fell, in an isolated grave at Pont-a-Pierres 2 ¾ miles SW of les Quesnoy. After the war he was gathered in and now lies in the Romeries Communal Cemetery Extension, France. In New Zealand Frank is remembered on the Malvern County & Greendale and Sheffield War Memorials.
First NameFrank LewisLast NameBergFamilySingleSon of Isaac and Elizabeth Sarah BergDate of Birth26 August 1896Place of BirthDevonport, TasmaniaDate of Death23 October 1918Place of DeathFrance Cause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death22
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageMalvern War MemorialSheffield War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryRomeries Communal Cemetery ExtensionGreendale War MemorialMalvern County War Memorial Sheffield War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingLabourer Regiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry BattalionEnlistment Details19th September 1916Service Number33679Embarkation19th January 1917Place of EmbarkationWellington TransportUlimaroaReinforcement21st ReinforcementsCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Private Frank Lewis Berg. Selwyn Stories, accessed 20/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/274