Samuel Harold Krantz

Alias in 1919 changed surname to Grant

Born 6.02.1888     Place Odessa, Ukraine     Ethnic origin Jewish     Religion Jewish

Arrived at Australia together with Albert Krantz

            from Russia  on 1.02.1905      per Bremen       disembarked at Adelaide

Residence before enlistment Broken Hill, NSW, Norseman, Perth, WA

Occupation hotel employee

Wife Jeanetta Krantz

Service

service number 2281   enlisted 28.02.1916   POE Perth

unit 43rd Battalion   rank Private, Lance Corporal

place Western Front, 1917-1918      casualties WIA 1918

awards 31.08.18 MM (LG 21/10/1918)

final fate RTA 21.06.1919       discharged 10.09.1919

Naturalisation 1914

Materials digitised naturalisation (NAA)

digitised service records (NAA)

digitised recommendation for award (AWM)

biographical file (AWM)

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

At the battle [for Hamel, 1918] Samuel Harold Krantz, a Jewish man from Odessa, who worked in a Perth hotel, set an example of ‘bravery and initiative’ to his platoon, for which he was awarded the Military Medal. During the attack on Hamel, his commanding officer wrote, ‘part of our line was held up by enemy Machine Gun. With the assistance of an American N.C.O. Krantz rushed the post, killed the gun crew and captured the gun. He showed an utter disregard for his personal safety as the enemy gun continued to fire until he was nearly up to it.’ Krantz was promoted to lance-corporal on 26 August but on the same day received a wound in the mouth, at Susanne on the advance to Péronne.

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