Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Francis Edmund Clyde Gottschalk was born in 1898 and lived in Adelaide, South Australia before embarking to join the World War at age 18 in 1917. He lived with his mother in a small house on George Street, Norwood. He worked as a train driver, his only job before fighting overseas. Francis was an average height of 5 feet 7 inches (170.18 cm) and weighed 42 pounds (around 64.41 kilos) upon embarkation. He had a medium complexion, hazel eyes, and brown hair.

Before the war, Francis was not married nor was in any significant relationship. Therefore, the closest person to him was his mother, Rose Gottschalk. She was also unmarried at the time but remarried on the 18/8/17 to George Bowden during Francis’ time at the war.

Francis enlisted for the war on October 9th 1916. Prior to this he had served for four years in cadets. Early 1917, Francis was ranked a private and was off to begin his training in London. London was very cold and wet. Training and fighting in these conditions were unsanitary, unsafe, and very unpleasant. He went through extensive training, an important task for all new troops before finally beginning his role as a gunner, fighting on the Western Front. He was in the 8th Field Artillery Brigade (F.A Brigade for short) in the 9th Reinforcement.

His training commenced with marching in France before then embarking to England. In the 8th F.A Brigade he went through 3 months basic training and some months after this were spent running through drills, learning about life in the trenches and getting a full education on the use, roles, and responsibilities of being a gunner. His training was an important part of building up his physical fitness and courage and would encourage discipline and obedience – a quality many soldiers lacked. The harsh days would start with early morning trumpet calls called the Reveille, and was called at 5.30 a.m. every morning. The day consisted of drills, marching, and in between the chaos, they were to clean their kit and shine their boots. After his training was complete he was provided with his service number 33214 and was off to fight in the 9th Reinforcement of the 8th Field Artillery Brigade.

Francis’ unit was part of the 8th F.A Brigade, which was first formed in 1916. It became an army brigade on the 20th January 1917, not long before Clyde began his duties in the 9th Reinforcement where his battles took place in London, England. For millions of soldiers, the trench experience involved mud, slime, and disease, and there was constant threat of shellfire. Heavy artillery and new weapons such as poison gas was about to affect you from afar, but the common trench raids took the lives of hundreds with hand to hand combat. The trenches were where Francis spent a lot of his time when he was not fighting in battles. ‘Trench deadlock’ is what they called this period of time, keeping the soldiers uncomfortable and ducked down for days. Because of the unsanitary and small conditions, viruses were easily spread.

He was admitted to hospital on the 9th November 1917 on account of sickness. Sickness was just one of the many reasons a soldier would find themselves in hospital, and more often then not, some of these sicknesses took their lives. Diseases spread easily through the trench because of the packed and unsanitary conditions. Respiratory diseases such as influenza, tuberculosis, pleurisy and pneumonia were of the most lethal. While it was not recorded as to what sickness Gottschalk had contracted, he was soon released from the hospital and returned back to fight on the Western Front.

Francis’ role as a gunner was part of a huge role in the First World War and helped to shape how it was fought. Artillery like guns were used for a range of important work, most commonly in battles, both offensively and defensively.

During his time at the war, Francis found himself charged and suspended on account of unlawfully being in unoccupied premises. He was sentenced to 6 months in prison and was released on 11th October 1918.

On the 11th November 1918, the war had ended because Germany signed a settlement that had been prepared by Britain and France. Francis was advised he was returning home and by early 1919 he was safely back in Australia. With him he brought his medals awarded including the Star medal, the British War medal and the Victory medal. This displays Francis’ admirable ANZAC spirit in his loyalty and commitment.

Francis died on the 16th July of 1980 at age 82. Today, you can find him in the Centennial Park Cemetery. He is remembered for his bravery in protecting and serving the country alongside his friends. He is part of an influential legacy that shaped our society today, and for that, Francis Edmund Clyde Gottschalk will forever be thanked for his services to Australia.

Bibliography 

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Francis Edmund Clyde Gottschalk 2017, UNSW Australia, Canberra, accessed 8 March 2017, <https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=115196>.

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