VETERAN OF 1870

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20129, 26 December 1939, Page 12

VETERAN OF 1870

UNDER VON MOLTKE DEATH OF MR. SCHACHT Experiences in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 were among the memories of Mr. Heinrich Ludwig Schacht, whose death occurred in the Auckland Hospital on Monday at the age of 85. The late Mr. Schacht was a native of Hamburg and joined his city’s regiment. He took part in the decisive battles of Gravelotte and Metz and used to recall an incident when his regiment, the 76th Hamburgers, were in the Gravelotte region. He saw some grapes hanging over a fence and being hungry helped himself to some. He was detected by a non-commissioned officer and was court-martialled, General von Moltke hearing the case. “Von Moltke was very severe on anything in the shape of looting,” Mr. Schacht once said, “and although my offence was not a very heinous one I was for it. The general said I had a gocd record, but that did not prevent him punishing me, and I had a spell of being tied to a wagon wheel each day for three days.” Mr. Schacht left Germany for Samoa in 1874, and three years later went to Auckland, where he worked at his trade as a carpenter. He had lived in Auckland ever since and had been a naturalised New Zealander for over 36 years. His wife predeceased