GOLLER, Alfred Ernest
| Service Number: | Chaplain |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 January 1917, Place of enlistment - Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Captain (Chaplain 4th Class) |
| Last Unit: | Australian Army Chaplains' Department |
| Born: | Bannockburn, Victoria, Australia, 25 July 1883 |
| Home Town: | Bannockburn, Golden Plains, Victoria |
| Schooling: | The Geelong College, Ormond College - Melbourne University, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Presbyterian Minister |
| Died: | Killed In Action, Rossnoy, France, 29 September 1918, aged 35 years |
| Cemetery: |
Templeux-le-Guerard British Cemetery Plot II, Row F, Grave 29 Headstone Inscription "SEMPER IDEM" Padre Goller was initially buried in the St Emilie Cemetery but was re-interred in Templeux-le-Guerard British Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bannockburn Moorabool Presbyterian Church Honor Roll, Bannockburn No 932 School Honor Roll, Barton St Andrew's Presbyterian Church Ministers Who Made the Supreme Sacrifice, Batesford Moorabool Presbyterian Church Honour Roll, Birchip War Memorial, Geelong College WW1 Roll of Honour, Karyrie Uniting Church Honour Roll, Lancefield War Memorial, Melbourne Scots Church Chaplains Who Gave Their Lives Memorial Plaque |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Jan 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Captain (Chaplain 4th Class) , Chaplain, Australian Army Chaplains' Department, Place of enlistment - Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Feb 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Captain (Chaplain 4th Class) , Chaplain, Australian Army Chaplains' Department, Embarked on HMAT 'A70' Ballarat from Melbourne on 19th February 1917, disembarking Devonport, England on 25th April 1917. | |
| 30 Apr 1917: |
Transferred
AIF WW1, Captain (Chaplain 4th Class) , 17th Infantry Battalion, |
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| 10 Aug 1918: |
Honoured
Military Cross, Chaplain, 4th Class the Rev. Alfred Ernest GOLLER (Presbyterian) 'Near PROYART, from the evening on 10th August 1918 (when he accompanied the Battalion which was advanced guard to the Brigade in an advance into enemy country fill the Battalion withdrew to reserve area, Chaplain GOLLER was amongst the men wherever they were assisting in every way, and encouraging, by his utter fearlessness, the men when hard pushed. His energy was tireless and in the intervals of encouraging the forward troops he ministered to the wounded in most cases under heavy shell and machine gun fire. He several times made his way from the forward troops along the main road back to the Dressing Station near Brigade Headquarters, the road at all times being heavily shelled and Machine Gunned and on each occasion brought back valuable information. Chaplain GOLLER throughout the time he was attached to this Brigade did most sterling work among the troops. He devoted his whole time to the welfare of the men and especially when they were in the line was tireless in his efforts to increase their comfort. disregarding all thought of personal safety, he visited the most exposed positions with cigarettes, papers etc and by his cheery manner helped much to sustain the morale of the troops. Chaplain GOLLER was killed in action near BONY on 29th September 1918.' Brigadier - General Commanding 10th Australian Infantry Brigade |
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| 29 Sep 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Captain (Chaplain 4th Class) , Chaplain, Australian Army Chaplains' Department, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: Australian Army Chaplain 4th Class awm_rank: Captain Chaplain awm_died_date: 1918-09-29 |
WW1
The details provided are taken from the book "Just Soldiers" written by WO1 Darryl Kelly, published 2004, refer to chapter 16, pages 100 to 105. He was born at Bannockburn Vic in July 1883. He obtained a BA (Hons) from Melbourne University and was ordained a Presbyterian Minister in 1908. He enlisted January 1917 into the AIF and sailed for England February 1917. The ship Ballarat was sunk by a torpedo in the English Channel, but the ship sunk slowly with the troops and crew being taken off by RN ships. Goller was commended for his composure and support at the time of this activity. He sailed for the Western Front in Sept 1917 and was attached to the 2nd Aust Gen Hosp and sought further transfer to the front lines. He wish was granted and he was sent to the 37th Infantry Battalion in 10th Brigade. The Padre scoured the battlefields for wounded soldiers both allied and enemy. The 37th Bn was drastically down in numbers, and it was decided by HQ to disband it, the existing members to other Battalions. Most accepted the new challenge, but many refused the transfers. Padre Goller stood firm to help the members who stood firm. The Battalion did not exist, so no rations could be drawn to feed the men, but other nearby Units allowed food they had been allocated to "fall off the back of trucks passing their gate." The "rebels" maintained their honour and commitment with Padre Goller doing his duty in support of them. Eventually, Higher Command backed down and put the understrength Battalion back into the action. In the last battle the troops advanced against the machine guns and wire entanglements. Padre Goller advanced with them, giving prayers to the dead until he himself was shot and killed. The surviving soldiers reflected on who he had been. This action became the last battle of the 37th Bn. The surviving soldiers placed words above his grave " Our Padre - Sempar Idem Passed from Death to Life". May He Rest in Peace Forever More Lest We Forget
Submitted 6 February 2020 by Maxwell HILL
Biography contributed by Daryl Jones
GOLLER, Alfred Ernest (1883-1918)
Alfred Ernest Goller was born at Leigh Road (later called Bannockburn) on 21 July 1883, one of twelve children of John George Martin Goller and Matilda nee Harris. He attended Bannockburn State School and Flinders School, before going on to Geelong College in 1897. He was a member of the 1st Football XVIII in 1900-01, and won a scholarship enabling him to attend Ormond College, University of Melbourne, where he graduated BA, with Final Honours in Philosophy.
At Bannockburn, in 1908, he married Hilda May Beeston, the oldest surviving daughter of Robert and Mary Anna Beeston, of Carlton, and at the time of his embarkation they resided at 81 South Road, Brighton Beach, and had four children, Alfred Robert Goller (born Redesdale on 1 December 1909), John Ormond Goller (born Kyneton on 11 July 1912), and Hilda Mary Goller (born Birchip, 1914), and Clare Harris Goller (born Lancefield, 1917). Captain Goller embarked as Chaplain on HMAT Ballarat on 19 February 1917, and was specially commended ‘for his coolness and helpfulness when the vessel was torpedoed on Anzac Day 1917 near the Scilly Isles’ . Of the three Old Geelong Collegians on HMAT Ballarat when she was torpedoed, all were ultimately to pay the Supreme Sacrifice – Chaplain Goller, Private John Stawell George, and Lieutenant Elgar Watts Opie. Chaplain Goller was appointed first to Salisbury Plain, then on 3 October to Le Havre, and in December to 2 AGH, Boulogne. Finally he was posted to 37 Battalion in January 1918. On 29 September, aged 35, he was attending to the burial of two men when a machine gun bullet pierced his heart, killing him instantly, about a mile east of Rossnoy.
Doug Sutherland (Old Geelong Collegian) described the circumstances in a letter to his family:
‘Do you remember Jim Goller who used to be groom for us at Elcho? You might remember that I went to school with his brother Alf, who afterwards became a parson and who has been over here for some time. He was killed a couple of days ago while looking after some of the wounded. It was very bad luck as he was one of the popular padres over here.’
Chaplain-Captain Goller was buried at St Emilie Cemetery by an American Chaplain, and at war’s end his body was re-interred in Templeux-le-Guerard British Cemetery, Grave II. F. 29.
John Laffin wrote of the Templeux-le-Guerard Cemetery in Guide to Australian Battlefields of the Western Front 1916-1918:
‘Among the Australians (buried at Templeux-le-Guerard British Cemetery) is one of their chaplains, the popular Rev. Alfred Goller, 37 Battalion, who was killed on 29 September 1918. Goller, from Brighton Beach, Victoria, was killed while carrying out his usual duty of collecting the belongings of soldiers who had been killed; he was 35 years old.’
The AWM Collection holds a portrait of Padre A E Goller, 37 Battalion, taken during the disbandment meeting in September, 1918 when the men of 37 Battalion refused to march off to their new battalions, Padre Goller, who was instructed to fall out with the other officers, is reported to have replied, ‘If ever the men need me it is now.’ His youngest brother, Sgt Saddler Harris Victor Goller, served for four years with the 1st Divisional Ammunition Column. Padre Goller’s two sons both served during World War Two, QX33188 Pte AR Goller, enlisted at Ayr, Queensland; and VX43244 WO Class II JO Goller, served with 2/11th Field Regiment.
Source : The Geelong College - https://gnet.geelongcollege.vic.edu.au/wiki/GOLLER-Alfred-Ernest-1883-1918.ashx?HL=goller
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