Corporal Otto Godfrey Charles Kohlhardt was a 22 year old telegraphist from Wenden, Trongate Street, Granville. He was born in Marulan, New South Wales. He was the son of Mr G. and Mrs Annie I. Kohlhardt, also of Wenden, Trongate Street, Granville. He enlisted on 19 October 1915 and was assigned to the 4 Field Artillery Brigade. He embarked with his unit aboard the HMAT Wiltshire A18 from Melbourne on 18 November 1915. He underwent a series of promotions, being promoted to Acting Bombardier on 27 August 1916, then Provisional Bombardier 1 October 1916, then Bombardier 1 April 1916, then finally promoted to Corporal on 1 April 1917. He was wounded in action on 4 August 1917. He embarked for England aboard the H.S. Panama on 9 August 1917, where he was admitted to hospital for treatment on gunshot wounds to the arms and thighs. He re-joined his battalion in France on 9 January 1918. He was promoted to temporary Sergeant on 18 January 1918. On 4 April 1919 he was promoted to Lieutenant. In 1919 he was awarded the Military Medal. His deeds were written about in the Fourth Supplement, No. 31405 of the ‘London Gazette’ on 17 June 1919, stating “His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Military Medal for bravery in the field to the undermentioned: – No. 6838 Sergeant O. G. C. Kohlhardt.” This article was printed in the ‘Commonwealth of Australia Gazette’, No. 115, on 10 October 1919. This report was also printed in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 10 October 1919.
He returned to Australia aboard the H.T. Karmala on 18 August 1919.
Kimberley Russell, Volunteer Research Assistant, City of Parramatta, Parramatta Heritage Centre, 2017