Their bodies are buried in peace; but their names liveth for evermore.

Their Duty Done

A tribute to the men and women of the East Gippsland Region who Died as a result of their participation in World War One : 1914 -1919

Robert Goldsmith was the only son of John and Lavinia (nee Hill) and was born in Hobart in 1874, however as both parents had previously been married he had twelve half siblings. Robert came to Victoria and in 1906 he married Sarah Ann Webley from New Zealand and they settled in Lucknow in 1912 where Robert was working as a driver. In July 1915, when he was 41 years old, Robert enlisted with the 8th Battalion. Embarking on the RMS Osterley the following September, by February 1916 Robert was transferred to the 59 th  Battalion and embarked on Kinfauns Castle from Alexandria on 18 June arriving in Marseilles to join the fighting there on 29 June 1916. Robert had a heavy moustache and was a big man and soon attracted the nickname of “Dad” within his company. No doubt his senior years added to the fatherly figure image. Three weeks after landing in France he was reported missing on 19 July 1916. On Sarah’s behalf, the Red Cross made enquiries and two of his fellow soldiers from the 59 th  Battalion told them that he was shot down while going over the parapet in a charge near Fromelles on the 19 th  July. Private Barrow told the Red Cross that he had been injured that night and saw Goldsmith, lying on his back on the other side of the creek, dead.  Twelve months later in August 1917 a Court of enquiry declared him killed in action presumed buried in No Man’s Land. On 17 August 1919, Sarah wrote to Base Records now that the war is ended I again write in reference to my husband’s belongings. A fortnightly £2 pension was all she received back. Robert Goldsmith is remembered with honours at the V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery and on the Fromelles memorial. Sarah died in Bairnsdale just six years later in 1925, and as they had no children it appears no- one locally thought to include his name on the relevant honour roll.  We have been unable to locate a photograph of Private Robert Goldsmith, if you know of one, please make contact. Our group would appreciate your assistance.