Geelan, Robert Michael

Commemoration for the Lives of the Braidwood and District ANZACS “We will remember them well”

ROLLROLL OF OF HONOUR HONOUR : GEELAN,Meade, RobertArthur StuartMichael ServiceService Number:Number: 26441501 Rank:Rank: SergeantPrivate

From 1914 - 1918, 465 volunteers from Braidwood and the District joined the Australian Imperial Force in World War I. 88 lost their lives, never to return home. This is their story.

Introduction WORLD WAR I

This year, 2015, marks the centenary of the start of the Gallipoli campaign and Australia’s World War I lasted four years, from 4 August 1914 until 11 November 1918. It began after the involvement as a nation in the greatest and most assassination of the heir to the Austrian throne. terrible conflict ever seen to that time. Australians The axis powers were Germany and Austria. ROLL OF HONOUR joined their Armed Forces in large numbers. Their Russia and France were the initial allies. When motives were as varied as their upbringings, from Germany invaded Belgium, Britain entered the a need to save the Empire, of which Australia was war on the side of Russia and France. an integral part, to the desire to have a great adventure. The war was in Europe, the Western Front was in France and Belgium. The Eastern Front was Braidwood and district were no exception. Over Russia and Austria-Hungary. Africa was another the four years from 1914 to 1918, from a front because of colonial possessions on that ROBERT MICHAEL GEELAN population of about 5000, 465 men and women continent, and after Turkey entered the war on 1 – November 1914, the Middle East became from what is now the 2622 postcode area another theatre of war. including Braidwood, Majors Creek, Araluen, Mongarlowe, Nerriga, Ballalaba and Australians generally thought of themselves as Service Number: 2644 Jembaicumbene joined the Navy or Army. Of an integral part of the British Empire and the these 377 returned to Australia. Sadly, 88 lost Australian Army and Navy were part of the Rank: Private their lives. Imperial Forces. In 1914, Australia’s Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher, immediately promised Unit: 18th Australian Infantry Battalion A varying amount of their history is recorded in Australian support for Britain ‘to the last man and Service: Australian Army the Australian War Memorial. Some of their the last shilling.’ The Australian population was names, but not all, are recorded on local less than five million. 324,000 Australians served Conflict: First World War, 1914-1918 memorials. More is recorded in limited local overseas. 61,720 lost their lives. 155,000 were histories and newspapers, not readily available to wounded. 4,044 became prisoners of war (397 Date of death: 20 September 1917 died while captive). the general public; and the people who lived with Place of death: Belgium and knew these distant relatives are also passing The first Australian troops were sent to Egypt in on. 1915. The ANZACS – Australian and New Zealand Cause of death: Killed in action Army Corps – were engaged in battle on the The Braidwood RSL Sub Branch has collected all Gallipoli Peninsula against the Turks to control the Age at death: 32 the information available from the Australian War Dardanelles’ and open the way to Eastern Europe Memorial and local sources, including the with their fateful landing on 25 April 1915. Place of association: Sydney, Australia Braidwood Museum. Families, still resident in Cemetery or memorial details: Menin Gate Memorial, The ANZACS were evacuated on 19-20 December the district, have added their family knowledge Ypres, Flanders, Belgium and their precious memorabilia. 1915. The Gallipoli campaign resulted in the deaths of 7,600 Australians and the wounding of 19,000. Despite the defeat, the legend attached to Source: AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, This booklet is the available story of the heroism, comradeship and valour of the Army Robert Michael Geelan, one of the 88 soldiers remain a source of Australian pride and Braidwood volunteers who did not return from national identity. World War I. It contains his details as recorded in the World War I Roll of Honour, his Enlistment Location on the Roll of Honour: Robert Michael Geelan's Papers, Field Service records, any Casualty name is located at panel 85 in the Commemorative Area notification, correspondence relating to his death, at the Australian War Memorial details of decorations won, any available photos, and, in some instances, family correspondence or recollections.

Robert Michael Geelan died for his country, for you and for me. Please pause a moment to remember him.

Lest We Forget.

Introduction WORLD WAR I

Robert Michael Geelan died for his country, for you and for me. Please pause a moment to remember him.

Lest We Forget.

A Father and his two Sons fighting for their Country In 1917 the 18th was involved in the follow- repel. With this last desperate offensive up of German forces during their retreat to turned back, the Allied armies turned to the the Hindenburg Line, and was involved in offensive and the 18th participated in the some particularly heavy fighting around battles that pushed the German Army ever Warlencourt in late February. The battalion closer to defeat: Amiens on 8 August, the took part in three major battles before the legendary attack on Mont St Quentin on 31 year was out: the second Bullecourt (3-4 August, and the forcing of the Beaurevoir May) in France; and Menin Road (20-22 Line around Montbrehain on 3 October. For September) and Poelcappelle (9-10 his actions at Montbrehain, Lieutenant October) in Belgium. Joseph Maxwell was awarded the Victoria Cross. Montbrehain was the battalion's last After another winter of trench duty, the battle; it was training out of the line when spring of 1918 brought a major German the armistice was declared and was offensive that the 18th Battalion helped to disbanded on 11 April 1919.

/ Frank Robert Geelan Snr Francis (Frank Jnr) John Robert Michael Geelan #5100 Geelan #382 #2644 Robert’s Father, Frank, a Robert’s Brother, Frank Jnr, a Robert, a drover, aged 30, labourer, aged 44, enlisted on 4 plasterer, aged 21, enlisted on 4 enlisted on 31 July, 1915. September 1915. His theatre of April, 1915. His theatre of war His theatre of war service was in war service was in Egypt and service was in Egypt and Sudan. Egypt and France. He was killed France. He returned to Australia He returned to Australia in 1916 in action on 20 September, 1917 in 1919, and was discharged as in France at the battle of Menin medically unfit. Road.

Published in The Braidwood Dispatch: mid-August, and on 22 August landed at ANZAC Cove. “…Robert Geelan was also killed on active service in France. Bob was well and The battalion had not been ashore a day favourably known, his old school mates will when it was committed to the last operation be particularly sorry to hear of the sad end of the August Offensive ' the attack on Hill of one who was an ever true and faithful 60 ' which lasted until 29 August and cost it friend. He was born in Araluen, received his 50 per cent casualties. For the rest of the primary education at the Public School campaign the 18th played a purely defensive role, being primarily responsible Braidwood, later at the Superior Public for holding Courtney's Post. The last School Leichardt, later working in the members of the battalion left Gallipoli on 20 Lands Titles Branch, Registrar-General’s December. Department. After further training in Egypt, the 18th He was subsequently employed in the Battalion proceeded to France. Landing Commonwealth Taxation Department, there on 25 March 1916, it took part in its where his geniality, sterling qualities and first major battle at Pozieres between 25 conduct were further recognised.” July and 5 August. The battalion returned to the Pozieres trenches for a second time Braidwood Postcards From the Front, by in late August. After a spell in a quieter The Braidwood Public School Roll of Honour, 1914-18 listing former students who volunteered in World War I. Roslyn Maddrell On the right hand board are the names of Frank Geelan Snr, Frank Geelan Jnr and Robert Geelan; all former sector of the front in Belgium, the 2nd students. This board in on display for visitors, at Braidwood Central School, Wilson Street, Braidwood. Division including the 5th Brigade, came 18th Australian Infantry Battalion south again in October. The 18th Battalion was spared from having to mount an attack The 18th Battalion was raised at Liverpool across the quagmire that the Somme in New South Wales in March 1915 as part battlefield had become, but did have to of the 5th Brigade. It left Australia in early continue manning the front through a very May, trained in Egypt from mid-June until bleak winter. A Father and his two Sons fighting for their Country In 1917 the 18th was involved in the follow- repel. With this last desperate offensive up of German forces during their retreat to turned back, the Allied armies turned to the the Hindenburg Line, and was involved in offensive and the 18th participated in the some particularly heavy fighting around battles that pushed the German Army ever Warlencourt in late February. The battalion closer to defeat: Amiens on 8 August, the took part in three major battles before the legendary attack on Mont St Quentin on 31 year was out: the second Bullecourt (3-4 August, and the forcing of the Beaurevoir May) in France; and Menin Road (20-22 Line around Montbrehain on 3 October. For September) and Poelcappelle (9-10 his actions at Montbrehain, Lieutenant October) in Belgium. Joseph Maxwell was awarded the Victoria Cross. Montbrehain was the battalion's last After another winter of trench duty, the battle; it was training out of the line when spring of 1918 brought a major German the armistice was declared and was offensive that the 18th Battalion helped to disbanded on 11 April 1919.

September 1917, Belgium: Western Front (Belgium), Menin Road Area, Menin Road : Wounded men and prisoners acting as stretcher bearers on the Menin Road, in the Ypres sector. The soldiers on the extreme left and and right, foreground, are carrying their gas masks strapped to their chests.

The Menin Gate Memorial (so named The opening of the Menin Gate Memorial on because the road led to the town of Menin) 24 July 1927 so moved the Australian artist was constructed on the site of a gateway in Will Longstaff that he painted 'The Menin the eastern walls of the old Flemish town of Gate at Midnight', which portrays a ghostly Ypres, Belgium, where hundreds of army of the dead marching past the Menin thousands of allied troops passed on their Gate. The painting now hangs in the way to the front, the Ypres salient, the site Australian War Memorial, Canberra, at the from April 1915 to the end of the war of some entrance of which are two medieval stone of the fiercest fighting of the war. lions presented to the Memorial by the City of Ypres in 1936. The Memorial was conceived as a monument to the 350,000 men of the British Empire who Since the 1930s, with the brief interval of the fought in the campaign. Inside the arch, on German occupation in the Second World tablets of Portland stone, are inscribed the War, the City of Ypres has conducted a names of 56,000 men, including 6,178 ceremony at the Memorial at dusk each Australians, who served in the Ypres evening to commemorate those who died in campaign and who have no known grave. the Ypres campaign.

“ ” by Will Longstaff, Gate at Midnight (oil on canvas). Deua River, Araluen Road, Araluen early 1900s.

’Gate at midnight' was painted by Will a slightly different function. Whereas in Longstaff to commemorate those soldiers the past people responded to the painting with no marked graves on the Western as it related to the loss of a loved one Acknowledgements Front during the First World War; also and their own personal grief, now the Everybody responded enthusiastically to the idea of capturing the information about Braidwood’s known as 'Ghosts of Menin Gate'. painting communicates the loss 88 World War I veterans who lost their lives. The Braidwood RSL Sub Branch is most grateful for Longstaff attended a ceremony experienced by a whole generation. The the support they received in carrying out this task and would like to acknowledge those of whom dedicating the Menin Gate memorial to vast number of those who were killed, we are aware: Karen, Chris and Renee Nelson, Roslyn Maddrell, Karen Shea, Jill Clarke, Rod the soldiers of the British Empire forces, and the immensity of the damage McClure, Ben and Meaghan Frohling, Diane McGrath, Us On Mondays Quilting Group, Len just outside the town of Ypres, Belgium, wrought during the First World War, Mutton & Co and local shopkeepers for their World War I window displays. on 24 July 1927. The memorial was requires that those who sacrificed their dedicated to the 350,000 men of the lives should not be forgotten. Thank you to the students and teachers of Braidwood Central School and St. Bedes School who British and Empire forces who had died have embraced these soldiers and have honoured their memories on Anzac Day 2015. in battles around Ypres, and bears the Longstaff used well-known motifs to names of 55,000 men with no known trigger emotion. His scarlet poppies are The Braidwood RSL Sub Branch raised a good proportion of the funds for the cost of producing grave, over 6,000 of whom were flowers that could be found in the these booklets. The efforts of the members of the sub branch involved are very much Australians. Longstaff was profoundly Flanders fields, but they also carry the appreciated. This money was augmented by welcome funding from the Federal Government moved by what he witnessed and that traditional connotations of shed blood through the ANZAC Centenary Local Grants Program and the Braidwood Community Bank. night, unable to sleep, Longstaff returned and remembrance; they represent a floral To all those who helped in any way, many thanks. Your efforts have ensured we remember to Menin Road and later claimed to have blanket covering the bloodied bodies of these Braidwood and District Veterans well. had a vision of spirits of the dead rising unknown soldiers; at the same time, like

the paper poppies worn on out of the soil around him. On returning to his studio in London he painted 'Menin Remembrance Day, they are a tribute Gate at midnight' in a single session. from the living to the dead. The portrayal Back Cover: Peace Day, 11th November 1918, Wallace Street, Braidwood. Today 'Menin Gate at midnight' has of the steel-helmeted soldiers rising from “Wild day in Braidwood: When Braidwood woke up on Tuesday morning to find the ‘glad tidings achieved the status of a national icon. the cornfields extends the range of visual of great joy’ awaiting it that Germany had signed the armistice and the frightful carnage of the The painting retains its ability to provoke emblems used by Longstaff: the plentiful past four years or so had come to an end it simply went mad with delight. No other words could an emotional response and to harvest; the harvest of men; the steel- adequately describe the excitement that followed.” “Braidwood Letters from the Front” by Roslyn communicate the scale of the loss of life helmeted crosses covering the graves of Maddrell. and the devastation of war. However as many soldiers; and the helmeted people now have a very different bayonets raised in cheer and victory. understanding of war, the painting serves

Deua River, Araluen Road, Araluen early 1900s.

Acknowledgements Everybody responded enthusiastically to the idea of capturing the information about Braidwood’s 88 World War I veterans who lost their lives. The Braidwood RSL Sub Branch is most grateful for the support they received in carrying out this task and would like to acknowledge those of whom we are aware: Karen, Chris and Renee Nelson, Roslyn Maddrell, Karen Shea, Jill Clarke, Rod McClure, Ben and Meaghan Frohling, Diane McGrath, Us On Mondays Quilting Group, Len Mutton & Co and local shopkeepers for their World War I window displays.

Thank you to the students and teachers of Braidwood Central School and St. Bedes School who have embraced these soldiers and have honoured their memories on Anzac Day 2015.

The Braidwood RSL Sub Branch raised a good proportion of the funds for the cost of producing these booklets. The efforts of the members of the sub branch involved are very much appreciated. This money was augmented by welcome funding from the Federal Government through the ANZAC Centenary Local Grants Program and the Braidwood Community Bank.

To all those who helped in any way, many thanks. Your efforts have ensured we remember these Braidwood and District Veterans well.

Back Cover: Peace Day, 11th November 1918, Wallace Street, Braidwood. “Wild day in Braidwood: When Braidwood woke up on Tuesday morning to find the ‘glad tidings of great joy’ awaiting it that Germany had signed the armistice and the frightful carnage of the past four years or so had come to an end it simply went mad with delight. No other words could adequately describe the excitement that followed.” “Braidwood Letters from the Front” by Roslyn Maddrell. ROLL OF HONOUR Alley, Clair Underwood Knight, Charles Oliver Archer, Fred Lee, Thomas James Backhouse, Victor John Lennon, James Barnett, Frederick George Lupton, Spencer Barry, Charles Louis Lynch, James Joseph Beatty, Walter Cusack Matthews, Francis Bell, John Henry Edward McCool, Francis Leslie Neil Black, George Scott McDonald, Alexander Joseph Bruce, Thomas Fraser McLean, Donald Byrne, Cecil John McRae, Finley Arnold Callan, William Henry Meade, Arthur Stuart Catlin, Robert Henry Merton, Thomas David Clarke, Lester Thomas Montgomery, Stanley Cook, Thomas John Moore, William Crandell, Christopher George Newberry, Alwyn (Alwin) Horace James Cregan, Clarence Theodore Augustus O’Brien, Thomas Daniel Cullen, Henry Thomas O’Reilly, John Davis, John Henry Pooley, Edward Davis, Oscar Raymond Stanley Rex, Horace Joseph Dawson, Edric Athol Riley, Frank Dayball, Arthur Joseph Roberts, Frederick Bede Dempsey, Charles Frederick Robinson, William James Dempsey, Charles Rodgers, Albert Dowell, Frederick Robert Seidel, Alfred George Feeney, William Seidel, Henry Edward Fisher, Osborne Sharpe, George Lyle Flack, John Foster Sharpe, Reginald Garnett, Henry James Sherman, Edgar Robert Geelan, Robert Michael Sherman, Percy Frederick Gosling, Fred Simmons, George Gough, James Smith (Greenwood), George Green, Francis Henry Spicer, William Henry Healy, Myrtle James Steele, Alexander Norman Howard, John Alexander Stein, Daniel Godfrey Huggett, William Stewart, David Walter Hunt, Frederick William Styles, Reginald Lucian Hunt, John Torpy, Patrick Edward Hush, Percy Alfred Torpy, Thomas Patrick Hush, Thomas Walker, William Albert Hush, Austin Septimus Watt, James Innes, Henry George Watt, Oscar Harold McClure Kelly, Herbert Albert White, Alister Kemp, Leslie Smith Whitelaw, Thomas Philip Keyte, Robert Wilson, Samuel Charles

Lest We Forget