36th Battalion – Page 42 – The Harrower Collection

36th BATTALION - 33rd BATTALION AIF

Major: Robert Austin GOLDRICK. M.C

Born: 4th March 1890. Woollahra, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:38212/1890.

Married: 1929. Randwick, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert: 16630/1929.

Wife: Elma M Goldrick. nee: Clough.

Died: 1966. St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert: 9109/1966.

Father: Robert Goldrick.

Mother: Kate Alicia Goldrick. nee:.

INFORMATIONRobert Austin Goldrick enlisted with the AIF on the 18th September 1915 and was allocated to B Company 36th Battalion AIF with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant before embarking from Sydney on board HMAT A72 "Beltana" on the 13th May 1916 and disembarked at Plymouth, England on the 9th July 1916. Robert was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st of August before the Battalion embarked for France.

22nd November 1916.

Larkhill. Troops en trained at Amesbury Station in three trains. 1st Train 7:47 am Compliment-Officers 11 and 327 others, 19 horses, 8 hand carts, 3 4 wheeled wagons and 9 bicycles. Lieutenant Colonel: James William Albert SIMPSON. Officer Commanding. A Company Lieutenant: Herman Augustus ARNOLD. B Company Lieutenant: 3 Harry WOODHAMS. C Company Lieutenant: James Michael JULEFF.

2nd Train 9:15 am-Compliment-Officers 11 and 327 others. 20 horses, 2 two wheeled, 5 four wheeled vehicles. Major: Archibald Clifford BLACKLOW. Officer Commanding. A Company Lieutenant: Richard Henry DOYLE..

3rd Train 11:am- Compliment-Officers 10, 326 other ranks, 20 horses, 2 two wheeled, 5 four wheeled vehicles. Major: Archibald Leeson PRINCE. Officer Commanding. B Company Lieutenant: 1376 William James GORDON.

Embarked "Caesarea" 24 Officers, 811 others. Embarked "African Prince" 8 Officers 168 others, 59 horses, 15 four wheeled vehicles, 12 two wheeled vehicles and 9 bicycles. Total 32 Officers, others 979 left Southampton 6:00 pm. 1 Officer 75 others detailed as sentries and boat guard. 1 Sergeant, 1 Corporal and 20 detailed as Firing Party. 5 Sanitary Police and 10 men as Sanitary Party.

23rd November 1916.

Arrived at La Havre 1:40 am. Disembarked 7:25 am. Marched via town to No:1 Rest Camp arrived 11:40 am. Remained at Rest Camp, Le Harve, till 6:30 am 24th November 1916.

24th November 1916.

36th Battalion, less 8 Officers 250 Other Ranks marched via town to point 3 Railway Station, Le Harve at 8:00 am. En trained and left Le Harve at 10:30 am. Proceeded via Montcrolier Buchy, Abbeville 6:10 am. 10 hours late via Boulogne Calais and Bailleul. Arrived at Bailleul at 4:25 pm 25th November 1916.

12th of October 1917.

He went up the road towards Passchendaele. The barrage, he said afterwards was no hindrance to him, although he left the line lying as close to it as possible "or where he thought it was." He was unable to detect the intensification of the barrage for the second phase, but led his men forward at the proper hour.

(BEAN; History of Word War 1 Vol IV page 916-17)

Meanwhile, however, the German artillery was annihilating some parts of their line All leaders of Carr's three posts were out of action. Lieutenant: Joseph Francis ADAMS was Killed in Action and Lieutenant: Norman Beade D'ARCY MC and Lieutenant: Harold Sydney WYNDHAM were wounded. Of the remaining officers of the 36th Battalion, Major: John Bruce BUCHANAN and Lieutenant: Frederick William PUTNEY had been Killed in Action and Captain: Robert Austin GOLDRICK MC Wounded in Action. Farther back Lieutenant: Sydney COOK had been Killed in Action and Lieutenant: William WAND and Lieutenant: Herbert Reginald MAILER were wounded.

(BEAN; History of World War 1 vol IV page 922)

Recommended for MILITARY CROSSCaptain: Robert Austin GOLDRICK, 36th Battalion AIF. For courageous and skillful leadership, combined with an inspiring disregard of hardship and danger. Throughout a long service Captain Goldrick succeeded in winning the confidence of hid men to an extent which has made him a most effective leader. In the offensive operation of October 1917, he was with the advanced parties, and though casualties were heavy and help uncertain, Captain Goldrick held his gains until, wounded for the fourth time, he was incapacitated.

November 1918

MILITARY CROSSCaptain: Robert Austin GOLDRICK, 33rd Battalion AIF. For conspicuously able service during the period 16th September 1918 to 11th of November 1918. Captain GOLDRICK has rendered most excellent service as a Company Commander, and as Adjutant. He has invariably displayed conspicuous ability, sound judgement, extreme care, initiative and devotion to duty. He commanded his Company with single success, and on all occasions obtained the very best out of has men. He proved himself a courageous and capable leader, and always worked with the greatest enthusiasm and energy. As Adjutant he has performed his duties admirably, and his work has been invaluable.

FAMILY INFORMATIONRobert was a single 25 year old Bank Clerk from Parramatta, N.S.W upon enlistment.

Robert and Kate Goldrick had 4 children, 3 boys and 1 girl. Robert Austin Goldrick born 1890 at Wollahra, N.S.W. Birth Cert: 38212/1890. Saidee Goldrick born 1891 at Paddington, N.S.W. Birth Cert: 27806/1891. Sydney Austin Goldrick born 1894 at Paddington, N.S.W. Birth Cert: 25994/1894. Raymond E Goldrick born 1898 at Paddington, N.S.W. Birth Cert: 33393/1898.

Military Records