Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"BORN TO DIE 18TH NOVEMBER 1885 DIED TO LIVE 19TH MAY 1915"

GORDON TOWNSHEND WALLACK who was killed in action at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, on the morning of 19th May 1915 was the son of Colonel E. T. Wallack. He was born in 1885 and entered the Melbourne Grammar School in 1904, and was in the football team and the crew in that year. In the following year he was in the athletic team which won "The Argus" and "The Australasian" Cup, and was second in the high jump.

On leaving School in 1905 he studied for the profession of a soldier, and in 1914 was in charge of the military station at Thursday Island.

He was appointed Captain, 2nd Battalion 1st Infantry Brigade, A.I.F., and went through the Landing on Gallipoli successfully. Later he was killed during the Turkish attack on Anzac on 19th May.

Lieutenant-Colonel E. S. Brown wrote thus to Colonel Wallack : "During the early hours of the morning the enemy made four determined attempts to rush our trenches, and it was just as the last one of these was repulsed at dawn that your son was shot in the execution of his duty. For some time past the Captain had been acting Second-in-Command of the battalion, and his loss at the present juncture is irreparable, and is felt not only by us as a unit, but personally by every member of it. He met his death in a most fearless manner and his loss can never be replaced."

Lieut.-Colonel Brudenell White wrote thus: " When I tell you that he died while gallantly and successfully defending a line of trenches which the enemy vigorously attacked at night, at least you will know that he died a soldier's death, and not in vain. Your boy has done good work with his battalion, and after the first actions he actually commanded it for some little time. Whenever in my rounds I have met him he was always with his men doing his job."

Brigadier-General J. F. Hobbs wrote thus: " He had done his duty from the first fierce, trying action right through the almost continuous fighting up to the time till he met his death, setting
his men an example in duty and self-sacrifice. He died as a soldier should die, and in dying shed honour on your name and an indelible example to his comrades. He is deeply mourned by all who knew him, and his death is a distinct loss to his brigade."

Gordon Townshend Wallack of Lucerne, Kingston Beach, Tasmania was born in Hobart. His father was a senior army officer and because he received regular postings, Gordon attended a number of schools including Sisters School & Queen's College in Hobart, Melbourne Grammar School in Victoria and the Collegiate School of St Peter in Adelaide.

Gordon’s interest in the army may have stemmed from his father’s background and he joined the Tasmanian Auxiliary Forces as a bugler at the age of eleven.

Gordon displayed exceptional ability as an athlete during his time at Melbourne Grammar, and while there was a senior cadet 1902-1904.

When his father was appointed Commandant, South Australian Forces in 1905 Gordon entered the Collegiate School of St Peter and that year stroked for the north crew with William Strachan (Captain - KIA) and Erold Gill (Lieutenant - KIA) and set a long-standing record for the high jump. [i]

During his time at St Peter’s, Gordon joined the 10th Australian Infantry Regiment and in May 1906 was gazetted second lieutenant, then in February 1908 transferred to the 5th Australian Infantry Regiment in Melbourne, Victoria.

He later joined the permanent army where he was promoted to Captain and on 15 August 1914 joined the 2nd Battalion AIF as adjutant.

Captain Gordon Wallack sailed from Sydney with the HQ element aboard HMAT Suffolk in October and in Egypt, was appointed OC, F Company.

In January 1915, all Australian infantry battalions were reorganised to conform to those of the BEF and Captain Wallack was reposted to D Company as the 2IC.

On 25 April, the 2nd Battalion landed as part of the second and third waves and Captain Wallack took command of the battalion after the CO was killed on 4 May.

Captain Wallack, who had been in temporary command of the 2nd Battalion after Colonel Braund's death, was killed in the 2nd Battalion sap…  Killed in action, 19 May, 1915. [ii]

Gordon’s father, Major General Ernest Townshend Wallack CB, CMG wrote to the Secretary, Department of Defence in 1920 to enquire why the date of his son’s death was listed as 23 May when he was certain his son had been killed on 19 May.

...Several letters I had from staff and regimental officers at the front all gave this latter date. [iii]

The General’s information was accurate. His 29 year old son, Captain Gordon Townshend Wallack, had indeed been killed during the Turkish attack on 19 May. 

[i] St  Peter’s School Magazine - W K Thomas & Co, Adelaide, December 1915, p. 53
[ii] Bean, C E W, Official History Of Australia In The War of 1914-18, Volume II, Angus and Robertson, Sydney 1924, p. 156
[iii] National Archives of Australia: B 2455 Wallack Gordon Townshend / 8361133, viewed 20 April 2007