Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

With the advent of the First World War, Bernard (Reg No. 4292) then aged 23 years, enlisted at Goulburn on 30th August, 1915, and initially went into training at the Goulburn Depot Camp. The Recruiting Office, in its report to the Goulburn Penny Post, gave Bernard's home town location as Goulburn.

Younger brother, John, followed, enlisting at Goulburn Recruiting Depot on 15th September 1915 (Reg. No. 4293). The Recruiting Office gave John's home town location as Gunning. BOth brothers were enlisted as members of the 2nd Battalion, 13th Reinforcements.

The Goulburn Penny Post, Thursday, 23rd September, 1915, on page 2, notes that:

" A send-off was given in the Builder's Arms Hotel, North Goulburn on Monday evening to Ptes C.H. Wilson, Bernard Gately and John Dunworth, three of the men now in the Goulburn Camp. Mr James Brown was in the chair and there was good attendance.Cordiality marked the proceedings and the affair was regarded by those present as the best little function of the kind yet held in the city. Each of the three soldiers was given a wristlet watch, the presentation being made on behalf of the subscribers by Mr. F. Dimond, licensee of the hotel, who wished them every success and hoped they would return safely to their friends. The recipients suitably replied, thanking their Goulburn friends for their kindly consideration and their gifts. The health of the King was honoured and other toasts included "The Boys of the Dardenelles". Patriotic songs were sung by Messrs. A. Irwin, F. Dimond, McSullea and Reynolds and a pleasant gathering terminated at about 10.30 with "Auld Lang Syne"."

Bernard and John Gately embarked from Sydney N.S.W. on board HMAT A6 Aeneas, on 20th December, 1915. Both brothers were transferred to the 54th Battalion at Zeitoun, Egypt, on 16th February, 1916 and went into final training at the large camp at Tel-El-Kabir.

On 19th June, 1916, they embarked on board HT Caledonian at Alexandria, for France, disembarking at Marseilles on 29th June.

Bernard's service record is silent until he is reported killed in action at Bullecort, 15th May, 1917. It is unclear from the records whether his brother, John, was with him at the time of his death. Initially, John was reported as also killed in action on the same day and the next of kin of them both, sister Ann, received a cable advising of John's death. Subsequently, John was located in hospital and his service record was amended.

On 23rd June 1917, a notice in the Goulburn Evening Penny Post p.2, stated "It is oficially reported that Pte. B. Gately was killed in action on 15th May", and then mentioned that "Pte. B. Gately was reared by Mrs D. McAlister of Braidwood Road, Goulburn, and lived in Goulburn for about 12 years".

According to witness accounts in the Red Cross Reecords, Bernard was killed when a shell collapsed a support trench, Sunken Road, Bullecort. There are several witness accounts which vary in the information provided. According to Sergt. C. S. Joyce, "we were digging in a position which had previously been held by C. Coy. when we came upon the body of a man named Gately who belonged, I think, to C. Coy. He did not seem to have any wounds on him, and must have been smothered by a shell. We took his pay book and disc and buried him practically where he was and maked his grave with a cross, the best way we could. The casualties were all on the night of 14th or morning of 15th when the Germans wiped out C. Coy and occupied the trench. We bombed them out on 15th and were consolidating when we found Gately. I did not know him before."

Another, similar account from eye witness W.N. Murray, states: "I saw him with eight others buried alive by a shell in support trench, Sunken Road, Bullecort. We dug for them at once but only one was breathing and he died a few minutes after we got him out. The Battalion Doctor pronounced them dead and we covered them over where they were. I knew Gately well, was with him in Egypt together. He was about 20."

These two accounts appear to tie in with known events as Bernard's identification disc was returned to his sister Ann, via the ship Barambah.

Bernard never married, but a memorial notice was placed in the Sydney Morning Herald, 15 May 1918, which reads "In loving memory of Private Bernard (Barney) Gately, who was killed at Bullecort, May 15, 1917. Loved by all who knew him. Inserted by his loving friend, Madge." A similar notice is dedicated from Bernard's brothers and sisters in the same edition.

Bernard's grave has not been located and his sacrifice is commemorated with his name at the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France, as well as at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Panel 159.

Bernard's brother John, returned to Australia, diagnosed with neurashthenia and was unwell for the remainder of his life. He eventually died at Callan Park Mental Hospital, Leichhardt, on 7th June, 1950.

The contribution of these brothers is remembered by their niece, Joan Phipps (nee Gately), daughter of their brother Michael, who provided the information in this story.