Frederick Charles GOULLEE

GOULLEE, Frederick Charles

Service Number: 4627
Enlisted: 27 September 1915, Claremont, Tasmania
Last Rank: Lieutenant
Last Unit: 28th Infantry Battalion
Born: Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 4 March 1891
Home Town: Lilydale, Launceston, Tasmania
Schooling: State School, Tasmania, Australia
Occupation: Farmer & Bushman
Died: Killed In Action, France, 11 June 1918, aged 27 years
Cemetery: Franvillers Communal Cemetery Extension
Plot 1, Row F, Grave 8
Memorials: Launceston Cenotaph
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World War 1 Service

27 Sep 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4627, 12th Infantry Battalion, Claremont, Tasmania
8 Feb 1916: Involvement Private, 4627, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Warilda embarkation_ship_number: A69 public_note: ''
8 Feb 1916: Embarked Private, 4627, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Warilda, Melbourne
15 May 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 28th Infantry Battalion
26 Sep 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 28th Infantry Battalion
21 Apr 1918: Wounded AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 4627, 28th Infantry Battalion, Gun shot wound right shoulder
11 Jun 1918: Involvement Lieutenant, 28th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 28 Battalion awm_rank: Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1918-06-11

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Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen

Frederick Charles GOULLEE was born on 4th March, 1891 in Launceston, Tasmania

His parents were Charles Eugene GOULLEE and Ann WAUD

He had previously served as a volunteer for 5 years in the 92nd Infantry before he enlisted in Claremont, Tasmania on 27th September, 1915 & embarked with the 12th Infantry Battalion, 14th Reinforcements on 8th February, 1916 from Melbourne on the HMAT Warilda

Frederick advanced through the ranks from Private to Lieutenant during his service (see his National Archives File for full details)

He was wounded on 21st April, 1918 with a gun shot wound to his right shoulder & Killed in Action on 11th June, 1918 at Morlancourt in France - he is buried in Franvillers Communal Cemetery Extension

Inscription of his headstone reads:

'HE HAS BORNE HIS CROSS, HE HAS WON HIS CROWN"

Medals:  British War Medal & Victory Medal

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GOULLEE - Killed in Action in France on the 11th June, 1918

Lieutenant Frederick Charles Goullee, 28th Battalion (late 12th Battalion) A.I.F., dearly beloved and only son of C.E. & A .Goullee,  23 Invermay Road, Launceston, aged 27 years

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Biography contributed by Evan Evans

From François Berthout

Lieutenant Frederick Charles Goullee
28th Australian Infantry Battalion (initially 12th Bn),
7th Brigade, 2nd Australian Division
 
In the fields of the Somme, row upon row stand in silence and remembrance the white graves of thousands of young men, of a whole generation of heroes who, for their country and for France, fought bravely in the hell of the trenches, in the mud of the battlefields on which they shed their blood alongside their friends, their brothers in arms in the name of peace and freedom and in this hell that was their war they sacrificed their youth and gave their today, their lives for our tomorrow. More than a hundred years have passed and the machine guns have fallen silent to give way to the songs of the birds flying over the old trenches on which millions of poppies now grow in red waves, reminding us that here, on these sacred grounds, under the shells and in the madness of a world at war, fought and fell so many young boys over whom I will always watch over with infinite gratitude and respect to preserve and keep their memory alive, to tell who they were so that their names live on forever.

Today, it is with the deepest respect and with gratitude that I would like to honor the memory of one of these young men, one of my boys of the Somme who gave his today for our tomorrow.I would like to pay a very respectful tribute to Lieutenant Frederick Charles Goullee who fought in the 28th Australian Infantry Battalion, 7th Brigade, 2nd Australian Division, and who was killed in action 104 years ago, on June 11, 1918 at the age of 27 on the Somme front.

Frederick Charles Goullee was born on March 4, 1891 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, and was the son of Charles Eugene Goullee and Ann Goullee (née Waud), of 23, Invermay Road, Launceston, and had two sisters. Before the outbreak of the war, he was educated at the State School, Tasmania, served for five years in the 92nd Infantry Battalion and had the rank of Platoon Sergeant then worked as a farmer and bushman.

Frederick enlisted on September 27, 1915 at Claremont, Tasmania, as a Lieutenant in the 12th Australian Infantry Battalion, 14th Reinforcement, and after a four month training period, he embarked with his unit from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A69 Warilda on February 8, 1916 and sailed for Egypt.
On February 8, 1916, Frederick arrived in Egypt and was disembarked at Suez where he joined the 3rd Training Battalion then was sent to England to complete his training and on November 12, embarked from Folkestone, on board SS Victoria and proceeded overseas for France.

On November 13, 1916, after a quick crossing of the English Channel, Frederick arrived in France and was disembarked at Etaples where he joined the 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot, was reverted to the rank of Private the following day, was transferred to the 28th Australian Infantry Battalion on November 25, battalion which was under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Collett and on November 27, Frederick was taken on strength at Buire, in the Somme.
On December 1, 1916, the 28th Battalion moved into Billets at St-Vaast-En-Chausee where Frederick was promoted to the rank of Temporary Corporal on December 10 but fell ill on December 19 and during his evacuation to the 39th Casualty Clearing Station, was again reverted to the rank of Private. On December 18, he was transferred and admitted to the 18th General Hospital in Camiers suffering from mumps then after recovering, was sent to the 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot in Etaples on January 16, 1917.

On January 22, 1917, Frederick proceeded to join his unit and rejoined his battalion the next day again at Buire, was promoted to the rank of Temporary Corporal for the second time on January 27 and a few days later, with his comrades, marched for the Fricourt Camp, which they reached on January 31 then on February 2, relieved the Cameron Highlanders at Warlencourt where they occupied the "Scotland Trench" and where they fought until February 6, then were relieved by the 26th Australian Infantry Battalion and marched for the Acid Drop Camp located a few kilometers from Warlencourt then for the Shelter Wood Camp at Contalmaison on February 21 and moved to the front line of Flers on February 26 as a support battalion then relieved the 21st Australian Infantry Battalion the next day north of Warlencourt.

On March 2, 1917, the 28th Battalion launched an attack aimed at capturing the "Malt Trench" in front of Warlencourt but despite effective artillery support, the attack was first stopped by enemy barbed wire lines but on the left flank the men of the 26th Battalion were luckier and took the Malt Trench and captured 14 men of the German 69th Regiment. Following this attack, the 28th Battalion moved back to the Acid Drop Camp on March 5 for a period of training and rest then on March 20 they marched through Bapaume, Beugnatre, Vaulx-Vraucourt and on March 26 supported the 26th Battalion in an attack to take the village of Lagnicourt, Pas-De-Calais.
Lagnicourt was the scene of fierce fighting in March and April 1917. When the Germans withdrew to the Hindenburg Line in March and the British and dominion forces advanced rapidly in their wake but as they neared the Hindenburg Line they were confronted by well-prepared rearguard forces, which were only removed after difficult fights. One such action took place at Lagnicourt between 26 and 27 March. Closing with the Hindenburg Line, the British lost no time in launching a major offensive around Arras. This left their line weak in several places, including Lagnicourt. Aware of this weakness, the Germans launched a counter-stroke in the Lagnicourt area at dawn on 15 April, utilising 23 battalions. Their aim was not to permanently recapture the territory, but merely to hold it for a day and capture or destroy all the equipment and supplies they found there. They rapidly occupied Lagnicourt and captured several batteries of the 1st Australian Division's artillery. A vigourous counter-attack by four Australian battalions just after 7 am recaptured the village and most of the guns, and forced a premature German withdrawal.

On April 1, 1917, for his courage during the battle of Lagnicourt, Frederick was promoted to the rank of Corporal then to the rank of Temporary Sergeant on April 12. From May 3 to May 5, the 28th Battalion fought during the second battle of Bullecourt during which Frederick once again displayed his bravery and was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant on May 16.

On June 1, 1917, Frederick and the 28th Battalion embarked by train at Senlis for the Somme and arrived at Varennes then marched to Bapaume where they were billeted until July 27 and the following day marched to Miraumont where they remained until the end of August.

On August 22, 1917, Frederick was sent to the Divisional Bomb School then to the ANZAC Corps School on September 11, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on September 26 and joined his unit on September 30 at Reninghelst, near Ypres then fought alongside of his comrades in the Menin Road sector and on October 4 during the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge.

The battle of Broodseinde Ridge was the third operation launched by British general Herbert Plummer as part of the Ypres offensive of 1917. It was a large operation, involving twelve divisions, including those of both 1st and 2nd ANZAC. The attack was planned on the same basis as its predecessors,the attacking troops' objectives were approximately 1,500 metres deep, the advance would be preceded by a massive artillery bombardment; and a creeping barrage would lead the troops on to their objectives and then protect them while they consolidated their positions.

The attack began before dawn on 4 October 1917. The Australian troops involved were shelled heavily on their start line and a seventh of their number became casualties even before the attack began. When it did, the attacking troops were confronted by a line of troops advancing towards them; the Germans had chosen the same morning to launch an attack of their own. The Australians forged on through the German assault waves and gained all their objectives along the ridge. It was not without cost, however. German pillboxes were characteristically difficult to subdue, and the Australian divisions suffered 6,500 casualties.

On November 2, 1917, the 28th Battalion moved to Dickkebus, near Ypres for reorganization and training, then on November 9 were sent to Steenvoorde, Hauts-De-France, marched to Bailleul then to Aldershot Camp located in Neuve-Eglise where they arrived on November 18 and stayed here until the end of the month.

On December 4, 1917, Frederick was granted a leave in England which ended on December 23, then was sent to an Army Musketry School on January 25, 1918 and joined his unit on February 17. A month later, on March 21, frightened with the arrival of American troops in overwhelming numbers, the German army launched its spring offensive with a desperate intention of breaking through the Franco-British lines and the 28th Battalion was sent to the Somme to stop them and on April 21, Frederick was wounded near Ville-Sur-Ancre by a gunshot wound to his right shoulder, was immediately evacuated to the 6th Australian Field Ambulance then to the 20th Casualty Clearing Station and admitted the next day to the 20th General Hospital in Camiers but recovered quickly.

On May 7, 1918, Frederick joined his unit for the last time at Camon, near Amiens, then on May 20, the 28th Battalion moved back to Ville-Sur-Ancre where Frederick was wounded a month earlier. On May 29, they were sent to the front line of Mericourt then moved to La Houssoye on June 1, under daily and intense fire from the German artillery. A few days later, on June 6, they marched for Morlancourt where unfortunately, during an attack on their left flank on the enemy trenches launched on June 11 with the support of the 24th Australian Infantry Battalion on their right, the 25th Battalion in the center, and covered by Australian artillery, Frederick met his fate and was killed in action during this attack which ended in hand-to-hand combat in the enemy trenches.

On the evening of June 11, 1918, the Australians had achieved all their objectives during this attack and despite a violent German counterattack the next day, they held the conquered positions and repelled the Germans. The 28th Battalion, in this victory, played a major role.

Today, Lieutenant Frederick Charles Goullee rests in peace alongside his friends, comrades and brothers in arms at the Franvillers Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, and his grave bears the following inscription: "He has borne his cross, he has won his crown."

Frederick, brave and in the prime of life, it is without hesitation and with conviction that for Australia you answered the call of duty to do your part alongside your comrades and brothers in arms on the battlefields of the great war, in the mud of Belgium and through the poppies of the Somme over which so many tears were shed and where so many innocent souls were broken, crushed in despair,in the fury and chaos of this nameless madness that consumed the world.Young and confident, these young men who had families, children, dreams and hopes left everything behind and embarked together on what they thought would be the greatest adventure of their lives, they walked with on their faces, the ardor of their youth and in their hearts the deep desire to fight, to do what was right, they were proud to wear their colors and to fight, to give their today for peace and freedom alongside their friends and brothers who all volunteered to fight in France, an old country that they did not really know but for which they did so much under the admiring and loving gaze of the French people who adopted and deeply loved the young Diggers who became for them like sons , since then, an unfailing friendship was born between our two nations in the trenches in which served, fought and fell Australian and French soldiers, united around the same causes they faced death and suffering side by side and pushed forward shoulder to shoulder for the light of peace to break through the dark clouds that covered the world in darkness but together they found in camaraderie and fraternity the light of hope, the strength and the courage to hold the line, the word was given to fight and resist and that's what they did, they fought like lions at Pozieres, Mouquet Farm, Amiens, Flers, Villers-Bretonneux, they never backed down despite the terrible sacrifices they endured on these devastated soils which were once peaceful but which, under the cataclysmic fire of the artillery, became slaughterhouses, mass graves, killing fields on which a whole generation killed each other and was mowed down under the deluge of bullets that the machine guns spat out at a rate never seen before.They were young and far from home but showed all the courage and determination of the young and strong Australian nation, a bravery which was described with force and love by the French Prime Minister on July 7, 1918 after the victory of the Australian troops and of General Sir John Monash at the battle of Le Hamel as follows:"When the Australians came to France, the French people expected a great deal of you.We knew that you would fight a real fight, but we did not know that from the very beginning you would astonish the whole continent.I shall go back tomorrow and say to my countrymen, I have seen the Australians, I have looked in their faces, I know that these men will fight alongside of us again until the cause for which we are all fighting is safe for us and for our children."More than a hundred years have passed, the machine guns and cannons have fallen silent and disappeared under the rust of barbed wire and mud, but the memory of the young Diggers who fought and fell here is stronger than ever, our admiration, our love, our respect and gratitude for them will never cease to live on and will always be carried on with care. I will always watch over them so that their names and stories live on forever, the spirit of Australia and ANZAC,in the Somme, will never fade.Thank you so much Frederick, for everything.At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember him,we will remember them. 

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