Monday 23 September 2024

25/89 Rifleman Fritchoff Backholm, MM, (20/8/1894-26/5/1962). "their devotion to duty"

Volunteer Notes.

[By "303."]  (excerpt)

I have been creditably informed that two of the cadets, Corp. Hugh Tohill and Private Fritz. Backholm, were successful in gaining marksmen's badges.  -Alexandra Herald and Goldfields Gazette, 11/12/1907.


Primary Schools Medal.

AWARDED TO AN ALEXANDRA BOY 

SERGT. BACK HOLM RECEIVES THE PRIZE. 

A most pleasing function took place in the local school grounds on Friday last, when Sergeant Fritz Backholm, of the Alexandra cadets, was presented with a silver medal, suitably inscribed, for the best shot in the primary schools of Otago and Southland. The medal is presented annually by the Defence Department to the cadet making the highest score in his respective district, and last year Sergt. Backholm was runner-up in the competition. This year he succeeded in gaining the highest score, registering 78 out of a possible of 84. The cadets and other boys of the school were lined up in the grounds, when His Worship the Mayor of Alexandra (Mr H. Schaumaun) made the presentation, and in doing so congratulated the corps and the school on the distinction accorded by the accurate shooting of one of its members. In affixing the medal on the boy's breast, the mayor offered Sergt. Backholm his congratulations on. his successful achievement and impressed on him and the other members of the corps the necessity of indulging in practice in the hope of securing even higher honors for the school. Rev. Mr Watson (Captain-Chaplain to the cadet corps) also addressed a few words of advice to the boys, pointing out to them that they were all preparing to fill higher positions in upholding the prestige of the British Empire. Mr E. Marslin (chairman of the school committee) expressed his pleasure at learning that a local boy had gained such distinction. He recognised the value of encouraging the corps, and said the committee were at present considering the advisability of purchasing more uniforms whereby the other boys of the school would become equipped with the necessary uniforms and thus add to the present strength of the corps. It was also mentioned that the corps had succeeded in securing second place for the South Island shield, thus proving the shooting abilities of the local boys. Three cheers were then given for Sergt. Backholm by his comrades, and additional cheers having been given for the school committee and Capt. Reilly, the assemblage dispersed, and the hero of the corps was besieged by his schoolmates in their desires to view the coveted prize.  -Alexandra Herald and Goldfields Gazette, 16/6/1909.


Fritchoff Backholm enlisted in October, 1915, giving his occupation as Butcher and his religion - a rare entry in an Army record - as "Freethinker."

GALLANTRY ON THE FIELD.

AN ALEXANDRA SOLDIER. 

AWARDEDTHE MILITARY Medal

It is most gratifying to know that the boys from our own little town can do the great and glorious thing. Among the New Zealanders who have gained distinguished honour at the front is Rifleman Fritz Backholm of Alexandra. This soldier had been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry on the field. Mr and Mrs Backholm have received the following message from the Minister for Defence with regard to her son: - I have much pleasure in informing you that your son, Rifleman F Backholm, has been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry on the field of action. Private Backholm, who is 22 years old, left New Zealand with the 9th Reinforcements, and has been in several actions, including the Somme and Messines battles, being wounded in both legs. He was born in Alexandra, and educated at the local school. He is the first of the Alexandra boys to be so honoured, and he and his father and mother are to be congratulated on the distinction gained. Of the five sons who enlisted in New Zealand, Roy, a Main Body man, is still in the trenches doing his bit. William was killed on the Peninsula, Ben was invalided home, and the youngest (Walter) is now in camp.  -Alexandra Herald and Goldfields Gazette, 3/1/1918.


Our Alexandra correspondent writes: — “Everybody is proud of the great achievements of our gallant New Zealand soldiers, who from the very first encounter made themselves a reputation as worthy chips of the old block Each succeeding reinforcement has made that reputation more firmly established, and it is proud we should be to know that the New Zealand soldier is honoured and respected no matter in what country he may be. It is still however more pleasing to know that while our own local boys have done their bit with the best of them, that one of them (Rifleman F. Backholm, a native of Alexandra, and a good son of respected residents of the place) has been rewarded by his King for conspicuous gallantry on the battlefield. Young Backholm has been awarded a Military Medal, a fact which has given great pleasure locally."  -Dunstan Times, 17/1/1918.

Rflmn. F. Backholm, (Alexandra), M.M., wounded and gassed.  -Otago Witness, 6/11/1918.


I have not been able to find whether there was one act of conspicuous gallantry that won Fritchoff Backholm the Military Medal.  But a clue surfaces in his unit's Official History, looking back on the disastrous attack on Bellevue Spur on October 12, 1917.

As an indication of the state of the country over which these duties, sufficiently difficult even where properly-formed tracks exist, had to be performed, it may be mentioned that Riflemen W. C. Turner and M. Hennessy were specially reported upon as having, while still under fire, rescued wounded men from drowning in the shell-holes. If ever the devoted stretcher-bearers were worthy of thanks and praise, it was doubly so on the sodden field of Passchendaele, and with others Riflemen J. L. Keogh. F. K. Judd, B. Booker. F. A. Clark, F. Backholm, S. G. Stirling. D. Stevenson, F. Smith, H. F. Orpwood, F. A. Meurant and C. J. Arnold are gratefully remembered for their devotion to duty through the long dreary days and nights from the 11th to the 14th...

He was admitted to hospital on the 14th, condition unspecified.

Not long after being awarded the MM, he was transferred to the NZ Army Service Corps, possibly due to his being wounded and gassed at the front.

After the 1918 Armistice, Fritchoff spent some time in a VD hospital in England before being discharged as no longer physically fit enough for military duties.


Some six thousand returned men are expected to arrive in the Dominion during the month. District boys included in their number are Trooper Andrew McElroy, Sergt Jack Weaver (D. C. M.) of Clyde, W. A. Harley Cambrians, F. Backholm (M. M.) Alexandra, A. H. Clark Lowburn Ferry, J. W. Johnston Cromwell, A. A. Sergeant Smith Bannockburn, Sergt. J S, Webb, St Bathans.  -Dunstan Times, 14/4/1919.


After the war, "F Backholm" appears in local newspaper reports as a member of the Galloway football team, in the annual Caledonian Games and as the owner of a racehorse.

When a new war threatened New Zealand, Fritz Backholm joined the Territorial service and, in 1943, married Adelina Corrigall.

Fritchoff Backhom died in Invercargill in 1962 - a memo in his Army record records that "His death has been accepted by the War Pensions Board as being due to service."  The advertisement below, coming from Lumsden, suggests that Fritchoff died in hospital.


MRS A. BACKHOLM (Lumsden) and Family sincerely Thank all relatives and friends for their beautiful floral tributes, cards, letters, telegrams, telephone messages and personal expressions of sympathy extended to them in the loss of their loved one. Will friends to whom correspondence is not possible please accept this as our personal acknowledgement.  -Press, 6/10/1962.


Alexandra Cemetery.

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