TIETZEL, Edward Arthur

At the age of twenty two Edward enlisted at Moree in January 1916.   His enlistment papers state he was a Grazier, born at Warwick in Queensland, and that his father was Peter Tietzel of Mungindi NSW.  With seventeen other Moree district volunteers he joined the First Contingent of The Kurrajongs on their way to the Narrabri and Armidale camps.

He joined the 33rd Battalion, 1st Reinforcement which trained at Armidale and Rutherford prior to sailing from Australia on HMAT A74 Marathon in May 1916. After nine weeks at sea, the Battalion arrived in England where further training took place at Salisbury Plain. During September 1916 he was transferred to the 53rd Battalion and sent to France.  Several months later he became ill with a septic foot and was sent to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford for treatment.  He remained in England until October when he returned to his unit.  Sickness in January 1918 saw him invalided back to England and in February he was returned to Australia where he was medically discharged in June. 

When Private Tietzel arrived back in Moree, he and another soldier were met at the Railway Station by the Mayor and a local band which played ‘Home Sweet Home’ as they alighted from the train.

Edward died at Moree in 1958. His brother Leon also joined the 33rd Battalion, 1st Reinforcement and was transferred to the 53rd Battalion. He served in France from September 1916 until his return to Australia in 1919.

Note: Tietzel is sometimes spelt Teitzel.