Portrait of 6561 Private (Pte) Allan Roy Goss, 12th Battalion from Carrick, Tasmania. An 18 year ...

Portrait of 6561 Private (Pte) Allan Roy Goss, 12th Battalion from Carrick, Tasmania. An 18 year old labourer prior to enlisting on 6 September 1916, he embarked for overseas with the 21st Reinforcements from Melbourne aboard HMAT Port Lincoln (A17) on 20 October 1916. After arriving in England, he was hospitalized with pneumonia and did not proceed to France to join his battalion until June 1917. Pte Goss was awarded a Military Medal (MM) for bravery “in operations against enemy machine gun posts at Mont de Merris near Strazeele on 3/4 June 1918 [where he] was acting as runner. He showed conspicuous bravery and coolness in carrying messages through very heavy hostile barrages and contributed largely to the success of the operation keeping liaison between two parties who were working separately.” On 29 April 1919, he was hospitalized with jaundice and evacuated to England before being returned to Australia, arriving on 29 August 1919. He also served in the Second World War from 7 November 1939 until 18 November 1943 as a Sergeant with the 6th Garrison Battalion. His twin brother, 6562 Pte Alexander John Goss enlisted on the same day and embarked with his brother in the First World War. He also returned to Australia.