The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. Beneath the main figures, the British lion defeats the German eagle. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the lion's right forepaw. A raised rectangle above the lion's head bears the name 'THEODORE [Sic] MILTON PFLAUM'. A checker's mark, '42', is impressed between the lion's rear left paw and tail. The reverse of the plaque carries the mark of the Royal Arsenal Woolwich, 'W' within a circle. The back has been modified at a later date by the addition of two lengths of copper wire soldered across the plaque and bent over at each end.
Born in Blumberg (now Birdwood) South Australia, Theodor Milton Pflaum was employed as a clerk prior to enlistment in the 32nd Battalion, on 21 July 1915. As 327 Private Pflaum, he embarked with C Company from Adelaide on 18 November 1915 aboard HMAT Geelong (A2) for Suez.
In Egypt Pflaum was transferred to the 8th Machine Gun Company on 30 May 1916 and promoted to Corporal the next day. His unit relocated the Western Front, France, during June 1916. His company took part in the disastrous battle of Fromelles on 19/20 July during which he came across his dying brother, Raymond, who had remained with 32nd Battalion. Writing in his diary after the battle he described it as 'the worst day in my life by miles so far'.
Pflaum was promoted to Sergeant on 1 September 1916. On 10 February 1917 he was transferred to the AIF Training Depot in England and promoted to Second Lieutenant. While in England he was transferred to the 25th Australian Machine Gun Company and then attached to the 3rd Training Battalion for bombing instruction and to the Revolver School where he qualified as Instructor. He embarked with his unit from Southampton on 7 September 1917 for France and then to Belgium. Pflaum was mortally wounded at Polygon Wood, Belgium, during the Third Battle of Ypres on 24 September 1917 and died later that day at the 10th (British) Casualty Clearing Station from the effects of a compound fracture to his left thigh. He was 22 years old. He is buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.
This commemorative plaque, incorrectly named Theodore rather than Theodor, was sent to Pflaum's father, Heinrich Adam Theodor Pflaum, in October 1922, who agreed to accept the plaque as it was rather than returning it to be renamed.
Three of Pflaum's brothers also served: Captain Elliott Frederick Pflaum, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, returned to Australia on 6 May 1919;161 Private Raymond Holstein Pflaum, 32nd Battalion died at Fromelles 19/20 July1916; and Leonard Haddon Pflaum who enlisted in late August 1918 but was discharged in December after the cessation of hostilities.
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge.
Memorial card relating to the First World War service of Second Lieutenant Theodor Milton Pflaum, 25th Machine Gun Company. Pflaum was killed on 24 September 1917 in Belgium.
Bound and illustrated transcript of diary written by Second Lieutenant Theodor Milton Pflaum, during November 1915 - October 1916, covering training in Egypt and active service in France on the Somme
Diary relating to the First World War service of Second Lieutenant Theodor Milton Pflaum, 8th Machine Gun Company. This diary contains entries ranging from 16 June 1916 to February 1917 and covers: th
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge.
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge.