The 1914/15 Star trio awarded to 4/680 Bruce Baumgart of the NZ Field Engineers who served on Gallipoli and the Western Front.

 

Otto Bruce Baumgart was born 15th April 1890 at Wellington, New Zealand. Son of German-born Richard Baumgart and his wife Grace Moar. Prior to the war Baumgart worked as a telegraphist, working for AMP in Wellington. He enlisted for service in December 1915, and embarked with the 4th Reinforcements. Baumgart served on Gallipoli from 11th August until being evacuated a month later, suffering from enteric. He subsequently transferred to the Western Front, but in August 1916 he was returned to the UK as being "of enemy extraction" i.e. his father being German marked Baumgart out as having "an alien name". He was transferred to the NZ Army Service Corps, and remained in the UK until he returned to New Zealand in 1918.

 

After the war Baumgart worked as a clerk in Wellington before moving to Hastings. He seems to have resided with his mother until her death in 1934, following which he continued to reside in Hastings. He did marry, but details of this have not been determined. Bruce Baumgart died at Hastings on 31st December 1962 and is buried in the services section of Hastings Cemetery.

 

All medals are correctly impressed 4/680  SPR. B. BAUMGART. N.Z.E.F.

Service file held at Archives New Zealand