Henry Denis Hauenstein, MM (3 May 1881 – 6 December 1940) was an Australian national representative rower and a

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

infantry officer. He was a three-time Australian national champion rower who competed for

Australasia Australasia is a region that comprises Australia, New Zealand and some neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term is used in a number of different contexts, including geopolitically, physiogeographically, philologically, and ecologica ...

at the

1912 Summer Olympics The 1912 Summer Olympics ( sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1912), officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad ( sv, Den V olympiadens spel) and commonly known as Stockholm 1912, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, be ...

in the men's eight. He was a member of the Australian men's selection eight which won the

Grand Challenge Cup The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and best-known event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing cl ...

at the

Henley Royal Regatta Henley Royal Regatta (or Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage) is a rowing event held annually on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. It was established on 26 March 1839. It differs from the thre ...

of 1912. He saw active service on the

Western Front Western Front or West Front may refer to: Military frontiers *Western Front (World War I), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (World War II), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (Russian Empire), a majo ...

where he won the

Military Medal The Military Medal (MM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other arms of the armed forces, and to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land. The award ...

and was a member of the AIF crew which at war's end, won at the 1919 Peace Regatta and brought the

King's Cup __NOTOC__ King's Cup (incl. translations), may refer to: Sports Football * Copa del Rey, Spanish for "King's Cup," the main national knockout tournament in men's football * King Cup (sometimes named King's Cup), Saudi Arabian men's football nati ...

to Australia.

Early life

Hauenstein was the eldest of six children born to Carl Herman Hauenstein, a Swiss German immigrant who came to Australia in 1881, married Elizabeth Annabelle Field and settled in

Barmedman Barmedman is a rural village in the Bland Shire in the New South Wales state of Australia, located approximately half-way between West Wyalong and Temora. Barmedman began as a service centre for gold-mining operations in the area. Nowadays the ...

in New South Wales. Carl failed in his attempt at gold prospecting, then worked as a carpenter and coach driver whilst struggling to farm a 319-acre dry landholding. The family relocated to the inner-city Sydney suburb of Leichhardt. Harry and his brothers Paddy and William took up rowing and joined the

Leichhardt Rowing Club Leichhardt Rowing Club formed in 1886 is one of the oldest rowing clubs in Sydney, Australia. The clubhouse has occupied sites on Port Jackson's, Iron Cove at Leichhardt, New South Wales, Leichhardt since 1886. Leichhardt is an all-level competiti ...

. As a young man Harry took a boat-building apprenticeship with a firm in East Balmain and then in 1903 he joined the New South Wales Police Force being gazetted as a probationary constable in 1904 and becoming a full constable in 1905.

Rowing career

Hauenstein became the Leichhardt club's first eight-oared state representative, rowing in the

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

men's eight at the Interstate Regatta for five consecutive years from 1907 to 1911. Those New South Wales crews were victorious in 1908, 1910 and 1911. Hauenstein also raced at one point for the

Balmain Rowing Club Balmain Rowing Club is the fourth oldest rowing club in continuous operation on Sydney Harbour, Australia, and was established in July 1882 at Balmain, Sydney. It has occupied its current site at the bottom of White St, Balmain since the club's ...

and then following his 1912 national selection joined the Sydney Rowing Club with the entire Australian eight so that they could enter and race at the

as a club entrant. In 1912 he was a member of the Australian men's eight which racing as a Sydney Rowing Club entrant, won the

on the

River Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, se ...

at the

. The eight then moved to

Stockholm Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...

for the

, where after beating a Swedish eight in the first round they were beaten by a Great British crew in round two - the same

Leander Leander is one of the protagonists in the story of Hero and Leander in Greek mythology. Leander may also refer to: People * Leander (given name) * Leander (surname) Places * Leander, Kentucky, United States, an unincorporated community * Le ...

eight they had beaten at Henley a few weeks earlier. Aust Olympic VIII 1912

Military service

In 1915, he enlisted with the AIF 2nd Bttn in their 12th reinforcement. His unit embarked on HMAT A7 ''Medic'' in January 1916. After arriving in Alexandria in March 1916, Hauenstein transferred to the 1st Pioneer Battalion where his carpentry skills learned in boat-building were useful. The Pioneer Battn. fought as infantry but their primary job was construction. He saw service on the Western Front at Pozieres. He was awarded the

for bravery at

Mouquet Farm The Battle of Mouquet Farm, also known as the Fighting for Mouquet Farm was part of the Battle of the Somme and began during the Battle of Pozières (23 July – 3 September). The fighting began on 23 July with attacks by the British Reserve A ...

. The citation read: By war's end Hauenstein had risen to the rank of Lieutenant. He rowed at the 1919 Peace Regatta at

Henley-on-Thames Henley-on-Thames ( ) is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England, northeast of Reading, west of Maidenhead, southeast of Oxford and west of London (by road), near the tripoint of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buc ...

in the Australian Imperial Force #1 eight which won the

. That cup became the trophy for the Australian championship men's eight event contested annually at the Australian Interstate Regatta.

Civilian life

After the war Hauenstein rejoined his wife Eva and settled in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Macdonaldtown. He worked as a contracting lift mechanic. He was admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney on 5 December 1940 and died from stomach cancer the next day.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hauenstein, Harry 1881 births 1940 deaths Australian male rowers Olympic rowers for Australasia Rowers at the 1912 Summer Olympics Australian recipients of the Military Medal Australian military personnel of World War I Deaths from stomach cancer in Australia Deaths from cancer in New South Wales Rowers from Sydney Sportsmen from New South Wales