GARCIA, Lieut Richard John DCM, MM, MiD

Lieutenant Richard John Garcia, DCM, MM, MiD

14th Battalion, AIF

By Paul Sutton

 

 

Richard John Garcia (known as Jack) was born in Tasmania around 1880 but was orphaned at a very early age. In 1914 he was living in Grey Street, Yarraville Victoria with his wife Catherine Cameron, whom he seems to have married in 1910. He was a blacksmith/farrier by trade.

He enlisted into the 14th Battalion, AIF on 10 September 1914, in Melbourne, when he was described as being 5ft 7 ¼ inches in height, 12 stone 2 lbs, with a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He gave his religious denomination as Church of England.ⁱ

The battalion undertook its initial training at Broadmeadows until mid December 1914, when after parading through Melbourne on 17 December, they embarked onto the Ulysses A38 transport ship on 23 December for transportation overseas.ⁱⁱ

“Ulysses” A38, Melbourne, 23 December 1914. Source: AWM PB1081

The battalion arrived in Egypt on 31 January 1915 where they remained until mid-April undergoing further training. Destined for Lemnos, the battalion embarked upon the Seang Choon on the 13 April whilst the regimental transport was taken aboard the SS.California.ⁱⁱⁱ Presumably due to his skills as a farrier Garcia had been appointed to serve with the regimental transport as a driver.^ivAfter a week at Lemnos the battalion received their orders for their role in the Gallipoli landing.

The 4th Infantry Brigade, to which the 14th Battalion belonged, was in reserve and as such only departed Lemnos during the morning of 25 April after the initial landings had taken place. However, the day before his departure from Lemnos Garcia found himself before a Court Martial on one count of ‘Striking his Superior Officer’ and one count of ‘Using threatening language to his Superior Officer’.

Allegedly on 22 April, on-board the SS.California, Garcia complained about his bread ration to Corporal Schutze who subsequently threatened to parade him the following morning in front of one of the battalion officers. Garcia is said to have replied ‘Parade me you Bastard’ and then he hit the corporal. This was witnessed by Sergeant Symonds. Both Symonds and Schutze, along with three others gave witness testimony at the Court Martial. Garcia explained he had been drinking with Symonds and Schutze when he went below to collect his bedding. Upon returning to the upper deck he stumbled and then got into an argument with Schutze about his rations. All the witnesses confirmed he was intoxicated and even Garcia admitted he ‘was too drunk to know what happened afterwards’. He was found guilty of striking Schutze but not guilty of using threatening language. He was sentenced to Field Punishment No.2 for a period of one month and loss of pay. This would have entailed being shackled for up to two hours per day. He presumably remained on Lemnos during this period and only seems to have re-joined his unit at Gallipoli on 25 May although (according to his personnel file) Garcia was to later claim he had in fact been present at the landing on 25 April.^v

Garcia arrived at Gallipoli on the same day that Sergeant Albert Jacka, then of D Company, 14th Battalion, was recommended for a Victoria Cross. Jacka and Garcia were later to serve together, on the Western Front, in B Company.

Although Garcia spent only three months at Gallipoli, he did make a name for himself whilst he was there.

During operations at Suvla Bay small numbers of Australians were sent, and temporarily attached to some of the Territorial British units in that locality, as scouts, bombers, or snipers. These specialists, on returning to their own Australian units, were almost invariably accompanied by orders of appreciation for valuable services rendered. Two very capable 14th men, Les. Guppy (No 201) and Jack Garcia (No. 197), both of B Company, were detailed from the 14th to the Suvla Bay area, and did valuable work there. Garcia specialised in bombing, and was the inventor of a bomb carrier. He became a well-known personality in the 14^th.^vi

It was possibly for these actions that Brigadier General John Monash of the 4th Infantry Brigade had recommended him on two occasions for distinction ‘forhis work his work in the Gallipoli campaign’ but no award had been forthcoming.^vii

During this time he was promoted to Lance-Corporal (18 August) and would have played some role in the attacks on Abdel Rahman Bair on 8 August and on Hill 60 on 21 August. However on 8 September he was admitted sick with enteritis, first into the 4th Field Ambulance at ANZAC Cove and then to a hospital in Mudros. He was almost immediately transferred to a hospital in Vallatta, Malta where he remained, recovering, until 4 December when he was shipped back to Egypt. After further recuperation he finally rejoined the 14th Battalion on 3 January 1916 at Ismailia, Egypt to which it had been sent after the evacuation of Gallipoli the previous month.^viii

Garcia and his battalion spent the next six months training in Egypt. In January he attended a bomber training camp in Zeitoun. The battalion, as part of the 4th Infantry Brigade, was transferred to the newly formed 4th Australian Division and prepared for transfer to France. The battalion departed Alexandria on 1 June and arrived Marseilles on the morning of 7 June. Whilst at sea Garcia was promoted to Corporal (2 June) and upon arrival in Bailleul, France on 12 June he was promoted to Lance-Sergeant.^ix

By the end of June the battalion had moved into the front-line at Bois Grenier, close to Armentieres,in France. The 4th Brigade commander, John Monash, had decided to conduct a major raid on the German trenches to give his men experience, gain some useful intelligence and to instil an offensive attitude amongst the men. It was decided that A Company, 14th Battalion would provide the volunteers for this raid. Of the six officers and eighty-three men who ‘volunteered’ only two were from outside of A Company. One of these was Jack Garcia who was the NCO in command of the right-hand bombing party.^x

There was to be an assault party of four officers and fifty-six men split into right and left assault parties plus a covering party. Garcia was to command the bombing party of the right-hand assault party under the command of 2/Lieutenant Julian. The group spent almost two weeks out of the front-line training for the raid which was to take place the night of 2/3 July 1916. Once it became dark the assault party crept out into no mans land to await the British artillery bombardment to begin at 11.35pm that would cut the German wire in front to allow the raiders to enter. As was so often the case at this point in the war this failed to happen and the attackers got held up trying to cut through to wire. Some, but not all, of the attackers made it to the German front-line where the bombers were able to throw bombs into the dug-outs. 2/Lieutenant Julian was mortally wounded as he struggled through the uncut wire leaving Garcia as the senior NCO and in command of the assault party.

Map of the trench raid carried out on the night of 2/3 July 1916, near Bois Grenier.

Source: The history of the Fourteenth Battalion, A.I.F.: being the story of the vicissitudes of an Australian unit during the Great War

As quickly as it began the raid ended. The order to retire was given and the raiding party made its way back as best it could. Garcia was wounded in the left shoulder and right thigh but made his way back to the British trenches. All the officers and three quarters of the assault party became casualties including fourteen out of the sixteen bombers. In total nine were killed or left behind and captured and the rest wounded.^xi For his role in the raid Garcia was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM).

His citation stated:

near BOIS GRENIER night 2^nd 3^rd July

This N.C.O volunteered to go out while it was still daylight into “NO MANS LAND” to prevent enemy patrols from gaining information as to the presence or approach of our raiding party. He then fell into his place in the raiding party, and after the enemy wire had been passed and his officer (Lt.Julian) had become a casualty he took command of the right raiding party and continued to lead them during a systematic clearing of the dug-outs and trenches until himself disabled by shrapnel.

This N.C.O. has rendered consistent good service, and was previously recommended by me for distinction on December 7^th last for his work in the Gallipoli Campaign. He was again recommended by me for the Military Medal on June 29^th, 1916.

[Signed] John Monash, Brigadier General Commanding 4^th Australian Infty Brigade.^xii

Monash obviously held Garcia in high regards. Prior to the raid Monash had loaned him a pocket watch to use to synchronise the raid. Later, when Garcia was recovering in hospital in England, he wrote to Monash asking him how he could return the watch to him. The general replied:

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION, SALISBURY PLAIN, LARK HILL CAMP, 7th August, 1916.

Sgt. R.J.Garcia

Red Cross Relief Hospital,

Underwath Ventor,

ISLE OF WIGHT.

My Dear Sergeant Garcia,

Your letter of the 3rd August came to hand yesterday

and I have to thank you for your very good care of the watch

under very trying circumstances. As to its return I would like

you to accept it as a present from me, in memory of your own

brave conduct, and the very fine deeds of the other members of

the Raiding Party on the night of 2nd/3rd July.

Also let me congratulate you on the award of the

D.C.M., which your consistent gallant conduct so richly deserved.

I do much regret that I no longer have you in my

command, though in 3rd Division I have a very fine group(?)

of men, of which no doubt you will hear more later.

I am very glad to hear your recovery is already

so far advanced and I hope that before long you will be quite well

again and back with your comrades winning fresh laurels.

Yours very sincerely

J Monash

Pocket watched loaned by Brigadier General Monash to Sergeant Garcia. Source: Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum, Queensland.

Garcia kept the watch and it, and the letter, are now part of the Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum collection.

Letter from Brigadier General Monash to Sergeant Garcia, August 1917. Source: Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum, Queensland.

Garcia was evacuated promptly after the raid. On 3 July he passed through 4th Field Ambulance and into the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station in Bailleul later the same day. The next day he was transferred to the 2nd Australian General Hospital in Wimereux and the following day he was transported to England and admitted to the 5th Southern General Hospital in Portsmouth. He remained here (as well as on the Isle of Wight) until discharged on 21 August when he proceeded to the 1st Convalescence Depot where he remained for a further month. On 24 September he returned to France and rejoined his battalion on 3 October.^xiii

Upon his return the battalion was providing working parties outside of Ypres. On 14 October they moved into the front-line and on that same day Garcia received yet another wound – this time gunshot wounds to both legs. Evacuated once again to England he was in a hospital in Liverpool four days later. Here he remained until 8 January 1917 when he was given two weeks furlough after which he reported to Perham Downs for convalescence and training. He once again returned to his unit on 4 May after being promoted to Sergeant on 21 April.^xiv

The battalion served as reserve at the Battle of Messines on 7 June. On 26 June the Duke of Connaught inspected representatives of the 4th Brigade at Bailleul.

The representatives (seven officers and seventeen other ranks), were the elite of the Brigade (all men specially chosen for their distinguished records), and comprised no less that three V.C winners, viz Murray (13th), Jacka (14th), and O’Meara (16th Battalions). A finer body of men has seldom been gathered together….All had obtained decorations, and all were men of exceptional military merit.

Included in this illustrious band of brothers was Sergeant RJ Garcia, DCM.^xv

Map of Gapaard sector, August 1917. Outpost III is marked in pencil in Square 35d (bottom right). Source: AWM

The battalion remained around Messines for most of the summer. On 8 August the battalion took over the front-line close to Gapaard, on top of the ridge at Messines. In front of the main British front-line trench a series of out-posts were placed in No Mans Land from where Lewis Guns were placed with interlocking fields of fire. Garcia’s platoon was placed in outpost III for the next week. These posts were isolated and dangerous places. Given how exposed they were they could normally only be accessed under cover of darkness which meant the garrisons were required to remain in them throughout the daylight hours.^xvi

Whilst the week that Garcia was in and around outpost III was ‘quiet’, his actions that week earned him his second gallantry award – the Military Medal. His citation read:

For great gallantry and devotion to duty during the Battalion’s tour of duty in the GAPPAD Sector beyond MESSINES, 8^th to 14^th August 1917 The N.C.O. was Platoon Sergeant in the No.3. Outpost and was instrumental in organizing the Post and arranging mutually supporting cross-fire from the Lewis Guns in the Flank Posts. He supervised the patrolling and laid a system of guiding wires to and from the Outpost. His judgment [viz] and experience inspired the remainder of the personnel and his careful siting and arrangement of the Lewis Guns enabled the Post twice to inflict severe casualties on the enemy wiring parties which previously had been in dead ground.^xvii

On 26 September the battalion took part in the Battle of Polygon Wood as the British sort to force their way up to the top of the Passchendaele ridge. There is no record of the part Garcia played in the battle but it can be easily imagined he was in the thick of the action. Soon afterwards, on 6 October, in recognition of his abilities as a leader, he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.^xviii

Garcia remained with the battalion until 25 January 1918 when he returned to England to attend a musketry course on Hayning Island. He returned to his unit 7 March and was again promoted, this time to Lieutenant on 1 April. He was also Mentioned in Despatches in 7 April for the role he had played in 1917.^xix

On 21 March 1918 the Germans launched a major offensive along the Somme and the British forces there soon began to retreat. At the time all the Australian forces were in Belgium but they were soon transferred south in a desperate attempt to stop a German breakthrough. The 4th Brigade was one of the first to arrive and immediately went into action at Hebuterne on the night of 26 March and the town retaken. The following day the Germans counter-attacked and were soon repulsed. There was by now a large gap in the British line and 14th Battalion was ordered to fill it which they did under difficult circumstances. Once completed they were ordered to advance further to extend the Brigade line. Once again Garcia was in the thick of it:

[The advance] was successfully accomplished without serious opposition, save in the case of one sentry group which was smartly and completely mopped up by a party of B Company under Lieut.R.J Garcia……Jack Garcia was one of the characters of the 14th and a man of iron nerve. A leading officer of the unit going through the front line one night during the above operations heard voices and sounds of excitement in No Man’s Land. He was informed that Lieuts Garcia and Schutz,were there. Upon going over and making inquiries he was informed by Garcia that Schutz had just found his fifth “brother”.^xx

Later, on 5 April, Garcia’s B Company was the only company that had not been withdrawn for a rest and was again in action.

B Company meanwhile held the crest [of the hill] to the east of Hebuterne. On the 5th at 5.30 a m. the British Brigade on its left, heavily supported by tanks, made an only partially successful attack on Rossignol Wood. B Company cooperated with it, and captured two enemy machine guns, destroyed four others, and earned considerable commendation for its fire and bomb support. B Company was relieved by A Company on the night of the 5th, its personnel being by that time absolutely exhausted, having been ten days in the line under trying and adverse conditions.^xxi

The battalion was later moved and spent April, May and June around Villiers-Bretonneux. However, the constant active service and injuries were taking its toll on Garcia. On 14 March he had written to his commanding officer requesting either leave to go to Australia or termination of his appointment with the AIF. He gave his reasons as:

My wife has been in ill health for several months with her are my three children the eldest 8 years and younger 3 years, they are wholly dependent on me for support and as neither my wife or myself have any male relatives in Australia I do not care to think what would become of my children in the event of the illness of my wife resulting in serious consequences.

My wife has three brothers all of whom are serving in France with the A.I.F. for myself, both my parents have died since I left Australia for service abroad.^xxii

Despite getting the recommendation from the commander of the 4th Australian Division, Major-General Sinclair-MacLagan, his request was denied on 22 March due to a lack of available transport. Garcia made a second request for the same on 27 May which was also denied on 3 June. Brigadier-General Brand, commander of the 4th Brigade appealed this decision and requested he be sent home as he was ‘war-worn’. He wrote ‘Lieut.Garcia has had a long and creditable career in the 14^th Bn., having been awarded the D.C.M and M.M. besides twice mentioned in Despatches.’ As a further support Sinclair-MacLagan also wrote ‘ In view of the fact that this officer is “war worn” and his efficiency as an officer impaired through domestic worry, it is hoped that the G.O.C., A.I.F., will reconsider his previous decision’. These letters of support were enough and on 17 June 1918 Garcia was informed he was to be returned to Australia for ‘termination of appointment’.

A letter written from the Welfare Officer of the Footscray Branch of the Returned Sailors’ Soldiers’ & Airmens’ Imperial League of Australia to the Repatriation Department, and dated 28 April 1952, adds an interesting footnote to Garcia’s overseas service. The letter states that writer had known Garcia ‘for the past 34 years, having first met him on a raft after being torpedoed on the Barrunga in the Bay of Biscay in 1918 whilst returning to Australia…..’^xxiii His service record makes no mention of his presence on the HMAT A43 Barunga, however.

This ill-fated vessel was in fact originally a German ship captured in Australia at the outbreak of the war. It departed Plymouth on 14 July 1918 and was attacked by a German U-boat the following day and sunk. All on-board survived. No supporting evidence has yet been found to confirm Garcia was in fact on board.

Interestingly, in Garcia’s obituary printed in the Footscray Advertiser on 5 October 1956, reference is made to him having been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM). This particular medal was awarded to members of the Royal Navy and other services for bravery and resourcefulness on active service at sea. No other evidence has yet been found to corroborate this claim but if it is true then presumably he was awarded this for his actions on the Barunga.

Garcia finally arrived in Melbourne in October when his appointment was terminated on 18 October, only three weeks before the war ended.^xxiv

In 1919 Garcia took a soldier settlers block of land at Barwidgee, near Myrtleford, where he grew an assortment of crops and tobacco. He remained there until 1927 when he gave up the block ‘as it was not considered…[he] would be successful’. He moved back to Footscray and in 1928 was employed at the Rubber Works there and by 1932 was working at the Commonwealth Ammunition Works, also in Footscray. Until the mid 1930’s his health was generally good but then he started to get regular stomach trouble and bad coughs. Garcia was of the opinion that these stomach complaints were a result of his war service in general but from the effects of being gassed in 1917 in particular (although his service record shows no record of him being gassed). He was given a thorough medical examination by the Repatriation Department in July 1936. After which it was decided that this was in part due to war service and he was given a small disability pension.^xxv

During WW2, Garcia, now aged over sixty, is believed to have served at the Bonegilla army camp, near Albury. He was awarded both the War Medal and the Australian Service Medal. After the war and into the 1950’s Garcia, now a widower, sought regular medical treatment for his ailments whilst he was back living in Footscray.

Unfortunately his life ended in dramatic circumstances on 28 September 1956. Garcia, whilst walking at night and in a light rain, was hit by a taxi as he crossed Geelong Road in Footscray on his way to the RSL. He died instantly.

His obituary was printed in the Footscray Advertiser on 5 October 1956. It stated he was

Born at Hobart in 1880…his passing is mourned by his son John and two daughters, Alice (Mrs.Bradley) and Mary…. In his younger days he won some renown as a pugilist and since the formation of the Footscray R.S.S.A.I.L.A. of which he was a foundation member he loved his games of snooker and billiards at the Memorial Hall….Devoid of fear, he had some good mates in the 4th Brigade of which the 14th Battalion was a unit. These included Australia’s most decorated fighter, Harry Murray V.C. D.S.O. and Bar, D.C.M. and some foreign awards of the 13th, Albert Jacka, Australia’s first V.C. winner in his own unit and Percy Black D.S.O of the 16th who was killed at Bullecourt on April 11 1917 and who some claimed was a greater front-line man than even Murray. Testimony to the esteem in which he was held was reflected in the large attendance at the funeral on Tuesday. The casket was draped with the Australian flag and was surmounted with a laurel wreath and Digger’s hat.^xxvi

The obituary also states Garcia served in the Boer War but no evidence has so far been found to confirm this.

The medal grouping of Lieutenant Richard John Garcia, 14^th Battalion, AIF.

From left to right-hand

Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal with MiD oak leaf spray,

War Medal 1939-1945, Australian General Service Medal 1939-1945.

Source: Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum, Queensland.

Note:

If this soldier had of received every award that he was recommended for his post nominals would read:
MC DCM & Bar MM & Bar MiD

Sources