Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Richard Oliver GOLDSMITH

Military Medal

‘For conspicuous gallantry in leading his platoon in the attack on 04/10/17 on Broodseinde Ridge and furthermore in the advance on Daisy Wood on 09/10/17. At the J.O.T on the 4/10/17 his cool judgement saved many of his men becoming casualties through heavy enemy fire. Further on in the advance his leadership was responsible for the surrounding of an enemy H.G post which had temporarily held up the advance on 9/10/17. His daring was admirable until wounded’.

Recommended: Brig- General J Paton                               Commanding Officer of the 2nd Australian Division

In Bendigoian newspaper of April, 1918 the following was reported: - ‘Word has been received that Sergeant R. O. Goldsmith, 24th Battalion, has been awarded the Military Medal. He is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Goldsmith of Mount Korong Road, Eaglehawk, and left with reinforcements in July, 1916. Prior to enlisting, he was a draughtsman, and for some time was employed by Messrs. Keogh and Austen, of Bendigo’.[1]

Writing on October 8, 1917, Charles Bean the official Australian War Correspondent had terrible foreboding for the battle that loomed for the Australians the next day. (October 9 where Sgt Richard Goldsmith led an advance an enemy H.G post): -           “I feel, and most of the correspondent’s feel, awfully anxious – terrible anxious – about tomorrow. They don’t know the fight there was for the last ridge, these major generals back there, they don’t know how nearly Broodseinde crest held us up. They don’t realise how much and desperately hard it will be to fight down such opposition in the mud, rifles choked, Lewis guns out of action, men tired and slow – and a new division like the 66th (British Division) amongst them! Every step means dragging the foot out of the mud – you can’t nip around craters, as in Thursday’s fighting, when you want to outflank opposition. I shall be surprised if this fight succeeds”. [2]

On the day Sergeant Richard Goldsmith lead his unit to silence a H.G Post, he would be wounded with a Gun Shot Wound to the Left eye. Serious enough to be evacuated back to England ten days later to a London War Hospital, the Horton Hospital. He would be there till December 17, and be detached to the AIF camp at Sutton Veney to spend the Christmas of 1917 with his fellow countrymen.

Richard would rejoin his unit in the 24th battalion in late February 1918 and serve in some of the most critical battles of the final year of the war. He was wounded a second time in August 15, 1918 as the AIF pursued the Germans back to the Hindenburg Line. A ‘Gun Shot Wound’ to the back would end Richard’s fighting days.

Whilst in hospital in England he met and married Jane O’Kell of Kingsley, Chester on November 17, 1918. Richard would be repatriated back to Australia leaving England in mid December 1918 and arriving February 5, 1919 back in Melbourne. He would be deemed medically unfit and discharged from the service.

It is not known when the Goldsmiths arrived in Eaglehawk however, by the 1880’s Richard Goldsmith mined at Sailors Gully and was well known as the captain of the Eaglehawk fire brigade.[3] Richard’s younger brother Allan would enlist in May 1918, embarking for war in mid October 1918 being returned as the Armistice was signed a month later.   

SERVICE DETAILS:

Regimental No: 5122

Place of birth: Eaglehawk Victoria

Religion: Church of England
Occupation: Draftsman
Address: Mt Korong Rd, Eaglehawk
Marital status: Single
Age at enlistment: 24
Next of kin: Father, Richard Goldsmith, High Street, Eaglehawk
Enlistment date: 2 August 1915
Unit name: 24th Battalion, 13th Reinforcement
Embarkation: HMAT A32 Themistocles on 28 July 1916
Final Rank: Sergeant

Fate: Returned to Australia (Invalid) December 5, 1919

Broodseinde Ridge- Oct 4 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, German assault waves and the Australian divisions suffered 6,500 casualties.

[1] Bendigoian newspaper, April 11, 1918. P. 2 SOLDIERS HONORED. SERGEANT R. O. GOLDSMITH, M.M.
[2] The Western Front Diaries of Charles Bean, Edited by Peter Burness. P. 434. 
[3] Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918)  Thu 3 Mar 1881  Page 3  EAGLEHAWK BOROUGH COUNCIL
[4] Photo of Officer’s Training School, Broadmeadows .

Table Talk January 13, 1916.P.3