Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Eric’s ancestors had originated from County Clare in Ireland and granted a prestigious title of baronet. This initially meant little to the descendants in South Australia, including Eric’s grandfather, who eventually inherited the title of Sir James Stephen Goold. James himself was initially a midshipman when he arrived in South Australia in 1863, then turned his hand to farming before working with the Railways Department where he was regarded as an honest, hardworking ganger on the Gladstone Railway line. He preferred to earn his wages honestly and disliked the title as he attaches no value to it. (It was also associated with a story of intrigue, much pursued by the media.)
Eric’s father, Joseph, was James’ second son and had taken up work in farming. He married Ada in 1909 with the two having five sons, third generation Goolds, who lived in the Salisbury area. Eric was their second son, born on the 23rd April 1915. His siblings included Ronald Ernest Stephen, Reginald John, Kenneth Joseph and Mervyn William.
Eric was eleven-year-old when his grandfather, reluctantly titled ‘Sir’ James Stephen Goold died, with his remains taken to the Gladstone Cemetery.
In later years, Eric initially worked as a labourer and was actively involved in fundraising for the local Parish Hall. As an 18-year-old, he was part of the successful ‘single men’ football team which played against the ‘married men’ in a football match as part of an American Afternoon which also included a variety of different stalls. He was similarly involved in the fundraising efforts for the Salisbury Institute. At the time the Salisbury Hunt Club was also very active, holding regular runs where Eric was part of the group who supervised on the road.
With the outbreak of WWII, Eric was the first of his brothers to enlist on the 29th June 1940. He was allocated the number SX7130 and placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. His 18-year-old brother Kenneth Joseph enlisted in the Navy as PA2060 in March ’41. Their19-year-old youngest brother, Mervyn enlisted the day after his birthday in December ’42 as SX30456, training to be a Group II Cook. (He had previously been S53511.)
Eric initially trained at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills, then had brief leave before he boarded the Stratheden on the 7th November 1940, arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December. The less than hygienic conditions caused an infection that saw him hospitalized for two weeks before he was able to re-join the 2/48th.
His leadership skills were recognized in August ’42 with a promotion to Lance Corporal. Within three months of this promotion, he was fortunate to escape severe injury by mere centimetres, when he received a gunshot wound to his left cheek. That year, the 2/48th Battalion was involved in massive, sustained fighting and proudly claimed the derogatory term Rats of Tobruk as a badge of honour. Fierce fighting erupted at El Alamein at the end of October ’42 and into November. It was a particularly challenging time for the men.
At the time, the 2/48th Battalion were exposed to ever-changing conditions and the fighting was continuous. The soldiers had prepared for the second battle of El Alamein which began on October 23rd. Mongomery ordered the 9th Battalion to attack northward with an all-out attack on the strategically positioned Trig 29. The evening was described by John Glenn in ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ as ‘an occasional burst from a machine gun disturbed the night of 24th October. Nevertheless, it was a busy time for the tired men. Little or no sleep could be had. A hot meal sent forward after dark was quickly swallowed. There was no time for yarning. Defences had to be improved, more digging and wiring done, and patrols sent out.’ He later added that ‘the 2/48th had stirred up a real hornets’ nest.’ On that night alone 9 of the Battalion were killed and 20 wounded in action. Of these 16 were from South Australia and the remainder from Western Australia. Glenn explains they were ‘running into particularly stiff opposition to the west of the Trig point. It was only after hard fighting, with heavy casualties on both sides, that they were able to consolidate on their objective. Gradually the platoon, small in number to start with, was being whittled away and those remaining were being forced to go to ground.’ He added ‘At last light on the same front some three hundred enemy troops attacked, and D Company area was swept by small arms fire.’
Back home the November issue of the Chronicle carried an extensive list of the cost to the soldiers involved in Eric’s battalion. These included SX11130 Pte. Ernest W S. Moore from Nth. Kensington and SX13756 Pte. Edward G. Davis, from Salisbury were killed in action. SX8096 A-Cpl. Henry D. Laughton, from King's Park was listed as Dangerously Wounded. Many others were listed as wounded in action including SX10316 Mjr. Geoffrey S. Edmunds, Toorak; SX9064 Lt. Hugh F. Treloar, Adelaide; SX8402 Pte. Arnold R. Dolan, Renmark; SX6910 Pte. Howard Major, Woodville; SX6832 Pte. Walter J. Fennell, Berri; SX13701 Pte. Frank M. Lowe, Whyalla; SX7609 Pte. Colin H. Rickard, Penola; SX7411 Pte. Walter H. J. Hay, Murray Bridge; SX7122 Pte. Percival G. Bartholomew, Narrung; SX11828 Pte. Roy H. Winter, Thebarton; SX7242 Pte. P. A. Pfeiffer, Berri; SX7130 Pte. Eric A. Goold, Salisbury; SX6829 L-Cpl. Clement R. P. Billing, Pinnaroo; SX10501 Pte. Hedley K. Bonython, Burnside; SX7591 Cpl. Jack S. Bowers, Unley; SX7666 Pte. Eric J. Chuck, Kalangadoo; SX8810 Pte. Havard (Howard) R. Crabb, Whyalla; SX13683 Pte. Sydney L. Farrell Broken Hill: SX7657 Pte. Myers A. Geraghy, Pt . Macdonnell; SX7266 Sgt. Neil Gilchrist, Balaklava; SX9376 Pte. Harold H. Gogel, Moorook; SX11131 Pte. H. N. Headon, Adelaide; SX7642 Pte Donald J. Kerin, Burra; SX8837 Pte. Edgar V. W. Lynch, Adelaide; SX9445 Pte. Lawerence H. Mickan, Cummins; SX7025 A-L/Cpl. Paul B. Morrissey King's Park; SX9530 Pte. David R. Munn, Colonel Light Gardens: SX5030 Pte. Eric R. Olds, Adelaide; SX8239 Pte. Colin R. Parsons, Minlaton; SX8904 Pte. Keith Player, Warooka; SX6915 Cpl. Glyn H. Pope, Cheltenham; SX13012 Pte. Jack Ralla, Brompton; SX7410 Cpl. Robert F. G. Ranford, Davington; SX14283 Pte. John D Seebohm, Tantanoola; SX11302 Pte. Walter Sharp, Magill; SX7206 Pte. Ronald. C. Smith, Helmsdale; SX6894 Pte. Thomas V. Trish, Mile End; SX7221 Pte. William H. Vivian, Albert Park; SX7689 Pte. John E. Wakeman, Robe; SX11160 Pte. Samuel E. Welsh, Adelaide and SX7808 Sgt, Jack K. Weston, Appila.
The November issue of the Advertiser carried further details. ‘Mr and Mrs J E Goold of Salisbury have been advised that their second son, Pte Eric A. Goold. has been wounded in action in Egypt. Pte Goold served for nine months in Tobruk and was also in Syria and Palestine. A brother, Ken, is serving in the Navy and another brother, Mervin in the AIF.’
Following treatment, Eric was able to return to his battalion and a well-deserved promotion to A/Corporal. By this stage the 2/48th were one of the highly regarded battalions for their actions and had earned their leave from the Middle East, returning to Australia via Melbourne at the start of February ’43.
Training in Queensland soon followed as the battalion prepared for their next bout of warfare in New Guinea against a very different enemy and in tropical conditions. During this time, Eric received a reprimand for ‘conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline’ but fortunately was not fined. He left Cairns, arriving in Milne Bay in August ’43 where he was again promoted, this time to Corporal. In the humid conditions Eric succumbed to several throat and chest conditions, including an upper respiratory tract infection and tonsillitis. However, on his return to the battalion, he received a further promotion to Lance Sergeant. Inevitably he contracted malaria and received treatment for a week before being well enough to return to the 2/48th and another promotion to Acting Sergeant. Still not back to full health, Eric developed an extremely high temperature (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin) and dengue fever over January ’44.
Finally, by the following month he was able to return to Australia via Brisbane, but both fevers returned, accompanied by malaria. While recovering, Eric therefore undertook study in the First Australian Army Regimental Training School from which he graduated, also gaining the rank of Sergeant in August ’44. Unfortunately, Eric’s respiratory tract infection returned, as did malaria. Over the next months, he was involved in the Amphibius Training Group, then transferred to the Australian Training Centre as an instructor at the end of the year. He was finally discharged on the 18th September the following year.
Eric married Val Thomas with the two welcoming their first son, Eric in ’48 and a second, Ian in September ’50. Sadly, in April ’53, Eric’s mother Ada died at home, with the family sharing ‘GOOLD. —On April 25, at her late residence, Gawler street, Salisbury, Ada Beatrice, beloved wife of Joseph Ernest Goold, and loving mother of Ron, Eric, Reg, Ken, and Merv. Aged 65 years.’ Eric, Val and their sons also placed a memorial the following year. Advertiser Saturday 24 April 1954, GOOLD.— In loving memory of our dear mother, mother-in-law and grandma, who passed away April 25. 1953. God saw she was getting weary, the path had grown too steep so He put His loving arms around her and gently bade her sleep. — So sadly missed by Eric, Val, David and Ian. Two years after the death of his wife, 66-year-old Joseph died in February ’55 with both now resting in the Salisbury Cemetery.
61-year-old Valma pre-deceased Eric and died in September ’86. Aged 72, Eric died on the 24th February 1988. A plaque commemorating their lives is in the Salisbury Memorial Park Cemetery.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.