Book to detail our military contribution
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ROD Maclean bears the mark of a man who’s had to break bad news on occasions. As a seasoned local military historian, people often ask his help in researching family members whose fate remained a mystery.
“It’s not pleasant sometimes,” he said, silently recalling just some of the stories.
But something drives him. A few years ago the Goulburn RSL Sub Branch secretary finished the mammoth task of compiling Goulburn’s World War Two honour roll in Belmore Park. Now he’s embarking on a book.
The two-volume work will detail Goulburn’s contribution to the armed services 1885-1972, covering the Sudan War to Vietnam.
“There hasn’t been anything like this before,” Mr Maclean said.
The idea came to him several years ago and he’s been gradually pulling the research together. The books will background the major battles and list names of Goulburn servicemen, where they were born, when they enlisted, where they served and whether they were captured, wounded or killed in action. Mr Maclean easily rolls the figures off.
Over 4000 enlisted in Goulburn in World War One and more than 600 were killed. In World War Two, 5500 enlisted here, including militia who went on to the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF). Some 130 were captured or died at the hands of the Japanese in Singaporean and Malayan prisoner of war camps.
In the Korean War, 47 Goulburn people served, including many still in the Navy from World War Two. The Vietnam campaign saw 242 sign up and seven of these men were killed. In recent time, Mr Maclean has absorbed himself in research about the Battle of Fromelles in World War Two.
So far, the joint identification board has formally identified three Goulburn soldiers buried in a mass grave. Privates William Ryan, Cecil Morgan (aka Colin Meyers) and Daniel Ryan have since been buried in individual graves. Private Ryan was only identified this month.
The ‘Dead Man’s Penny’ belonging to another Fromelles soldier, Private Sidney John Gray is among the Sub Branch’s collection.
“Fromelles was one battle of many,” Mr Maclean said.
“It was conceived in haste, applied in even greater haste and the results were as we know.”
For the full story, please see the print edition of Monday's Goulburn Post, available from newsagencies across the region.
