WITHERS, Roy Barrett
| Service Numbers: | 3136, N278445 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 July 1915, Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Detention Barracks |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 19 October 1893 |
| Home Town: | Lilyfield, Leichhardt, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Sailor |
| Died: | Natural causes, New South Wales, Australia, 30 January 1976, aged 82 years |
| Cemetery: |
Palmdale Lawn Cemetery & Memorial Park, NSW Plot Native Garden 2, Site 50 |
| Memorials: | North Parramatta All Saints Anglican Church Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3136, Liverpool, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Sep 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3136, 13th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
| 6 Sep 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3136, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Sydney | |
| 27 Feb 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Captain, Special Services AIF |
World War 2 Service
| 30 Dec 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant, N278445, Detention Barracks |
|---|
Elected Alderman of Grafton City Council
Roy Barrett Withers was elected alderman of Grafton City Council at an ordinary council election held on December 12, 1941. Due to his intended departure from Grafton, he resigned from Council in April, 1943. He attended his final Council meeting on April 12, 1943.
Mr Withers was born in Sydney in 1893, son of Arthur T. and Netta C. Withers. He married Lilian Amelia Tilly in Sydney in 1923. His death occurred on January 30, 1976 late of Toowoon Bay, NSW.
Submitted 13 December 2016 by John Johnston
Appointed Governor of Grafton Gaol
Mr. R. B. Withers appointed Governor of Grafton Gaol. For the past three years he has been assistant officer in charge of Emu Plains Prison Farm, and previously six years in charge of Bombala afforestation camp. Mr. Withers is a returned soldier, who served in the 13th Battalion, A.I.F., during the Great War, from early in 1915 to January, 1918. He gained his commission and was recommended for the V.C., being awarded the D.C.M. and twice mentioned in dispatches. In January, 1918, he was attached to the British Army for service with a special force, later known as "Dunsterforce," with the rank of captain. Whilst serving with "Dunsterforce" he saw service in Mesopotamia, Persia and Southern Russia, being mentioned also in dispatches. In January, 1919, he returned to England and was attached to Headquarters Staff Demobilisation, until he returned to Australia in December, 1919. – The Daily Examiner, Grafton, issue dated Saturday February 11, 1939.
Submitted 13 December 2016 by John Johnston
Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
Lieut. Roy Withers was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for work performed at Gueudecourt on February 4, 1917;
“For conspicuous gallantry in action. He repelled an enemy bombing party and secured his flank at a critical time. Later, although himself wounded, he carried several wounded men back to the dressing station under heavy fire. He set a magnificent example of courage and devotion to duty.” - Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 133 Date: 21 August 1917
Submitted 13 December 2016 by John Johnston
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Roy Barrett Withers was also recommended for the Victoria Cross during the operation at Stormy Trench in which Harry Murray was awarded the VC on 4 February 1917. It was a famous fight, and actually, there were three recommendations for the V.C, for the Stormy Trench operation, Murray, Withers, and another soldier, 2435 Corporal M.D. Robertson, but awards of the highest honour in the AIF were not given lightly, and when Army Orders announced Murray' decoration it was acclaimed throughout the whole of the Brigade.
Withers has quite a remarkable VC recommendation, which goes for over a page and a half. He was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal for “Conspicuous gallantry in action. He repelled an enemy bombing party and secured his flank at a critical time. Later, although himself wounded, he carried several wounded men back to the dressing station under heavy fire. He set a magnificent example of courage and devotion to duty.”
Stormy Trench was the objective. It lay between Beaulancourt and Bapaume, and was on a ridge, commanding a wide stretch of the Somme country taken from the enemy during the Somme battles of 1916. From it the Germans could observe as far back as Montauban and Delville Wood. It was essential that it should change hands.
Roy Withers was a big man, six feet in height and almost 14 Stone when he enlisted at 22 years of age. At the time of the assault on Stormy Trench, Withers was a Corporal.
He was president of the Grafton RSL in 1940 when he was interviewed by the local newspaper, “I was never so close to being shot in all my life,” said Withers, when asked to relate any incident associated with the fight for Stormy Trench.
He said one night during the battle he put down a bag of bombs he was carrying.
“My steel helmet fell off and I had just picked it up and replaced it on my head when l was challenged by my own commanding officer, Lieut-Col. H. W. Murray, who had drawn his revolver and would have fired had I not spoken immediately.
In the darkness I had picked up a German helmet instead of my own tin hat and Murray took me for a German.”
“The fact that I spoke saved my life,” added Withers, “for Murray was deadly with the revolver.”
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