Raymond Pflaum
Raymond Holstein Pflaum
Raymond Holstein Pflaum was born in Blumberg (now Birdwood) in 1897. His parents were Theodor and Mary Jane Pflaum. Before he enlisted he was a shop assistant.
He enlisted on 21st July 1915 at the age of 18, 5' 81/2" tall, weighing 152 lbs, with fair complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair.
He was transferred to the 32nd Battalion on 16th August 1915 and left Adelaide aboard the HMT "Geelong" arriving in Suez on the 12th December.
He sailed from Alexandria on the 17th June 1916 aboard the HMT " Transylvania" arriving in Marseilles on the 23rd.
He faced battle for the first time at the Battle of Fromelles on the 19th July 1916. Originally he was thought to have been taken as a prisoner at this battle and died later in November in Germany. However, there is evidence to suggest that he may have been mortally wounded and died in German hands very soon after the battle. His body was among those recovered from a mass grave at Pheasant Wood and his remains have been officially identified.
He is remembered on the wall of the the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Brettoneux and will shortly have an identified grave in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery.
