34th Battalion – The Harrower Collection

Cedric Errol Meyer BRODZIAK

34th - 33rd BATTALION - 3rd MACHINE GUN COMPANY A.I.F.

Major: Cedric Errol Meyer BRODZIAK. D.S.O.

Born: 1st July 1891. Double Bay, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:38819/1891.

Died: 31st August 1918. Killed in Action France.

Father: Adolphus Meyer Brodziak. (18..-1922)

Mother: Kah "Kate" V Brodziak. nee: Milligan. (18..-1934)

INFORMATION

Cedric Errol Meyer Brodziak enlisted with the 3rd Battalion AIF on the 3rd September 1914 with the rank of Second Lieutenant. and embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A14 "Eupides" on the 20th October. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 15th of March and served at Gallipolli and was Wounded in Action on the 27th of April 1915 just 2 days after the landing where he received a Gun Shot Wound to his Neck He was evacuated from ANZAC Cove and sent yo England for treatment before being returned to Australia on the 20th November and was discharged as Medically Unfit. Cedric re-enlisted on the 22nd of February 1916 with the 34th Battalion and embarked on board HMAT A20 "Hororata" on the 2nd May 1916 with the rank of Captain.

26th November 1917

Recommended for the MEMBER of the ORDER of the BRITISH EMPIRE

3rd September 1918.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER.

Major Cedric Errol Meyer BRODZIAK. For conspicuous gallantry and distinguished service near BRAY-Sur-SOMME on 22nd August 1918. Major BRODZIAK commanded the flank company of the Division in the attack. In the face of strong opposition, ha captured his objectives, organised and consolidated them strongly. When the right flank of the Division on his left were held up, he made good the gaps which occurred, capturing the southern portion of HAPPY VALLEY and the CHALK PIT, which was 200 yards North of our boundary, this assuring the advance of the Division of his flank.

During the afternoon 22nd August, the enemy broke through and his left flank was in the air and the enemy behind him he held in position and formed a defensive flank. By his quick appreciation of the situation and great determination he enabled the Divisional Line to be maintained, and inflicted such casualties that the enemy was forced to withdraw. His skillful leadership, cheerful demeanor inspired his men with the greatest confidence and saved the situation at a critical time.

London Gazette 1st February 1919. Page 1614 Position 2.

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 3rd of June 1919. Page 943 Position 5.

MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES

London Gazette 11th July 1919. Page 8833 Position 63.

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 30th of October 1919. Page 1654 Position 22.

30-31st August 1918

St QUINTEN

On the northern flank the 3rd Division's attack had been arranged at short notice after a day exhausting to both infantry and artillery, and in the face of other particular difficulties. The timing of the attack was to be taken from the left where the 58th Division, somewhat further back than the 9th Brigade, started at 5:10 am behind a very slow barrage to attack Marrieres Wood. The 9th Brigade using the 33rd Battalion, started at the time arranged, 5:40 am, but the artillery had not yet received its orders and though it fired, the barrage was thin and machine-guns in the south-west corner of Road Wood stopped the 33rd.

One Company was late, but Captain: Walter John Clare DUNCAN. M.C. had swung his Company into its place. Major: Cedric Errol Meyer BRODZIAK. D.S.O. was now killed while referring to his map.But within twenty minutes the artillery greatly increased its fire. The 33rd were able to raise their heads. A private Private: 726 George CARTWRIGHT. V.C. stood up and from the shoulder fired at the troublesome German gunner and then walking forward shot him and the two men who took his place.

Next, covering his run by exploding a bomb shot of the trench, he rushed the gun and captured 9 Germans. The 33rd stood up and cheered him, and then advancing by two's and three's entered the wood. Private: 792 William Allan IRWIN. D.C.M an Australian half-caste, after attacking like Cartwright, was mortally wounded and Died of Wounds on the 1st of September 1918.

The 33rd was now considerably behind the 6th London (58th Division), having chased the Germans from Marrieres Wood, was held up by fire from Wary Alley which curved up the gully between the woods. Coming through the south Company Sergeant Major: 967 Louis John MATHIAS. D.C.M & Bar. cleared the Germans by fire from a Lewis Gun.

The 33rd now set to bombing up the old trenches leading up to the upper end of the 1916 Spur where the Peronne-Bapaume Road also ran through. On the nearer side of the road a German battery commander with his gun crews and some infantry was blazing with six field-guns into the Australian groups everywhere they left shelter.

From the southward side Lieutenant: 559 Edward Allen TURNBULL. and Lieutenant: William Alexander McLEAN. M.C. of the 33rd-the latter greatly helped by the leaders of the 10th Brigade Sergeant 1007 E E Walters. D.C.M, 39th Battalion and Corporal 5024 A V GRINTON. D.C.M, 38th Battalion, worked up and presently rushed the guns, the German Battery Commander fighting to the last with his revolver. He was shot by Lieutenant: 559 Edward Allen TURNBULL.

Captain: Walter John Clare DUNCAN. M.C. reaching realised that the old quarry beyond it was a commanding position and accordingly took it and 40 German prisoners and placed a post on its eastern rim. He then went back to Wary Alley, and finding some of the 6th London Regiment, got Captain: S T COOKE M.C, and 20 men to garrison the quarry while the 33rd lined the Bapaume Road on the right.

Peronne Communal Cemetery Cedric is remembered with honour and is commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at the Perronne Communal Cemetery.

30th November 1918.

Informant; Private: 1817 George Kingsley FRY. 34th Battalion/3rd Australian Machine Gun Company. Re: Major: Cedric Errol Meyer BRODZIAK. I might state that for your guidance that Major Brodziak was killed in action on the 31st not the 30th as stated in your letter. At the time of his death he was attached to the 33rd Battalion as a Company Commander, and it was while leading his men at an advance near CLERY-sur-SOMME, he was killed by Machine-Gun fire, the bullet passing through his head. He was buried about 200 yards due north of Clery-sur SOMME, very near the big wood, the name of which I have forgotten. There are two Officers and 6 other ranks buried in the same grave. His grave is marked by crossed triangles.

London.

Family Information

Adolphus and Kate Brodziak were married in 1872 in Sydney, N.S.W. Marriage Cert:772/1872 and had 8 children. Rachel Brodziak born 1873 at Sydney, N.S.W. Birth Cert:159/1873. Ella M Brodziak born 1877 at Sydney, N.S.W. Birth Cert:3368/1877. Lillian Mabel Brodziak born 1881 at Sydney, N.S.W. Birth Cert:7767/1881 and died in 1887 in Sydney, N.S.W. Death Cert:518/1887. Ivy M Brodziak born 1883 in Sydney, N.S.W. Birth Cert:8525/1883. Gladys M Brodziak born 1885 in Sydney, N.S.W. Birth Cert:761/1885. Kate M Brodziak born 1886 in Sydney, N.S.W. Birth cert:894/1886. Cederic Errol Meyer Brodziak born 1891 in Sydney, N.S.W. Birth Cert:38819/1891. Norman L Brodziak born 1892 in Sydney, N.S.W. Birth cert:39418/1892.