Henry Hauenstein

Henry Denis Hauenstein, MM (3 May 1881 – 6 December 1940) was an Australian national representative rower and a World War I infantry officer. He was a three-time Australian national champion rower who competed for Australasia at the 1912 Summer Olympics in the men's eight. He was a member of the Australian men's selection eight which won the Grand Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta of 1912. He saw active service on the Western Front where he won the Military Medal 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 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 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. Those New South Wales crews were victorious in 1908, 1910 and 1911. where after beating a Swedish eight in the first round they were beaten by a Great British crew in round two – the same Leander eight they had beaten at Henley a few weeks earlier.

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 boatbuilding were useful. The Pioneer Battn. fought as infantry but their primary job was construction. He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery at Mouquet Farm. 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 in the Australian Imperial Force #1 eight which won the King's Cup. 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.