The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3110) Private William Charles Goldfinch, 50th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Gerard Pratt, the story for this day was on (3110) Private William Charles Goldfinch, 50th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

3110 Private William Charles Goldfinch, 50th Battalion, AIF
KIA 16 August 1916

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private William Charles Goldfinch.

William Goldfinch, known as “Willie”, was born on 26 December 1896, the eldest son of William and Bessie Goldfinch of Curramulka, on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. His early education was conducted almost entirely privately under a Mr Griffiths at Curramulka. In 1912, Willie’s parents moved to Meningie to run a small sheep station, and Willie went with them, continuing his studies through mail courses at home while helping his father run the farm.

Willie Goldfinch was desperate to go to war when it broke out in 1914. Men under the age of 21 needed parental permission to enlist, and Willie asked his father as soon as he turned 18. His father did not consent to his oldest son going to war until the following year, when Willie successfully enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force from Adelaide in July. He underwent a period of training in Australia, leaving for active service overseas with reinforcements to the 10th Battalion in September 1915.

Private Goldfinch was first sent to Egypt, meeting the 10th Battalion as it was evacuated from the Gallipoli peninsula. He continued training in the desert for several months. During this time the Australian Imperial Force underwent a period of expansion and reorganisation, and as part of that process, Goldfinch was transferred to the newly formed 50th Battalion.

The 50th Battalion arrived in France in June 1916, prepared to fight on the western Front. Its first major operation came in August 1916, when it entered the front line near the French village of Pozieres. Two days later, the 50th Battalion attacked towards a fortified farmstead called Mouquet Farm, suffering extremely heavy casualties from the constant shell-fire.

Private Goldfinch was not with the battalion when it was relieved from the front line after the attack. He was posted as missing for months, until a court of enquiry was held to determine his fate. Sergeant Annis, described as “a careful, reliable witness”, gave evidence that on 16 of August, Private Goldfinch was sitting in a trench with severe facial wounds. Another soldier went past Goldfinch, touching his body as he went through. As he did so, Goldfinch fell over, and the men could see that he was dead and probably had been for some time.

After the formal determination of Willie’s fate in 1917, his captain wrote to the family, saying “he could not have had an easier nor a more glorious death. He was both loved and admired by his officers and his comrades.”

Private Goldfinch’s remains were not found during the war, and remained missing for years. It was not until the Imperial War Graves Commission was continuing its work around Pozieres in 1928 that his body was discovered. His family were notified, and his father wrote back to say “We are all pleased to hear that he has been found and has been cared for. Thanking all concerned very kindly … any other communication will be very welcome.”

Willie Goldfinch was reburied in the Serre Road Cemetery No. 2 in France, where he lies today under the words “Dearly beloved son of W & B Goldfinch, Meningie, South Australia”. He was 19 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private William Charles Goldfinch, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section