Josef Obert

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Reference WMO/304627

Address:

St Bartholomew's Church

Church Street

Orford

Woodbridge

IP12 2LW

England

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Status: On subsequent site(s)
Type: Non freestanding
Location: Internal
Setting: Inside a building - public/private
Description: Latin cross
Materials:
  • Timber Timber (any)
Lettering: Painted
Conflicts:
  • First World War (1914-1918)
About the memorial: Wooden cross with black lettering. Displayed with explanatory note as follows: Josef Obert 27 July 1891 - 18 November 1918. Orford Ness and a German Prisoner of War. The Burial Register of St Bartholomew's Church records that thirteen Germans (who were Prisoners of War on Orford Ness) were buried in the churchyard on 21, 26 and 29 November 1918, their names carefully listed by the Revd Hugh Tudor, the rector. At the foot of the page he put the note: 'The above Germans, prisoners of war, died in the great epidemic of influenza which spread through the world in the year 1918'. Ninety six years later in September 2014, a gravemarker/cross with the name of Josef Obert was found in Orford Church's sexton's shed. Josef was born on the 27 July 1891 in Aschaffenburg to Anna Obert, a seamstress, who was unmarried at the time. The birth certificate is in two parts. The first shows his name, his date of birth in July 1891 and his mother's name. In September 1891 the Birth Certificate was updated and the Court in Aschaffenburg recorded that Joseph Paulus acknowledged paternity. Josef was named after him. Prior to enlisting in 1913, Josef worked as a printer. He joined the 8th Royal Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment based in Metz in France on 1 October 1913 aged twenty-two. Between 16th November and 12 December 1915 he was treated for Rheumatic Fever in Lazarette in Germansheim. On the 1st June 1916 he was transferred to the 4th Bavarian Regiment. During 1916 - 17 he was involved in the campaign against France, England and Russia, including in September 1916 in Verdun and the Somme offensive in November 1916. Listed as missing in combat near Arras in France on the 9 April 1917, he turns up again as a POW on Orford Ness, dying of influenza on the 18 November 1918 aged twenty-seven. He was re-interred in Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery during the 1960s. At the time of enlisting in 1913, Josef was single and he seems to have remained with no descendants. Translation: Here rests in God P.O.W. Josef Obert C.No. 19606. Died 28.11.18. Reverse reads: Rest in Peace.
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Hier ruht in Gott P.O.W. C. No. 19606 gest 28.11.18. Reverse - Ruhr in sanft.

Josef Obert

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