Shot five times at Gallipoli, Payneham clerk Karl Timcke’s family describes his wounds as a “million-dollar” event

LANCE Corporal Karl Timcke’s family recall stories of the digger laying in the dirt at Gallipoli for three days after being shot five times

Alastair McAllum grandson of Lance Corporal Karl Timcke, of Payneham, who was shot at Gallipoli and left for dead for five days before being found. Alastair and a photo of LCpl Timcke at the Gums war memorial Tranmere.

LANCE Corporal Karl Timcke’s family recall stories of the digger laying in the dirt at Gallipoli for three days after being shot five times.

Timcke, then 29, was wounded so badly on the day of the Gallipoli landings, April 25, 1915, he was later discharged on medical grounds.

His records show he was shot in the back of the head, both legs, his back and his stomach and state he was evacuated to an Egyptian hospital on May 1 after being wounded six days prior.

Records fail to shed light on how long Timcke was stranded on the battlefield before his wounds were tended but family lore says he spent three days bleeding in the dirt.

His family say an injury preventing movement in his ankle resulted in his discharge papers being stamped.

His grandson Alastair McAllum says his family describe the event as a “million-dollar wound” because Timcke, if he survived Gallipoli, would most likely have returned to heavy fighting in France the following year.

“We’re not sure if he even fired a shot in anger,” says Mr McAllum, of Tranmere.

“He never fully recovered (from his injuries) but we call it a ‘million-dollar wound’ because without it he could’ve been injured further on.”

When Timcke returned to Adelaide later in 1915, some did not know his suffering on the battlefield.

Mr McAllum said his grandfather was approached on a tram on his way to work and given a feather, an act during World War I where people would hand feathers to men of fighting age who had not enlisted.

“He (Timcke) was given one for cowardice,” Mr McAllum says.

“Everyone else knew his circumstances and all laughed out loud.”

Timcke was born in Willunga and lived in Payneham while working as a clerk at the Adelaide Stock Exchange when he enlisted in the army at the outbreak of World War I.

He was posted to the 10th Battalion and left Australian shores on-board the HMAT Ascanius on October 20

Timcke returned to Australia in July 1915, married painter Joan Cleland in 1918 and had three children.

He died in 1924, aged 39.

Mr McAllum and his wife Sandy will mark the Anzac Day Centenary at Gallipoli.

They missed out in the first lottery draw but picked up a spot on the waiting list.

“It’s the chance of a lifetime,” Mr McAllum says.

THIS story is part of Messenger’s 100 Years, 100 Days, 100 Stories project, which will profile 100 South Australian World War I heroes as the nation builds up to the centenary of the Allied landing on Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.

If you have the details and war record of a family member who served during World War I, let us know. Please go to your local Messenger’s Facebook page and send us the details.

Originally published as Shot five times at Gallipoli, Payneham clerk Karl Timcke’s family describes his wounds as a “million-dollar” event