A century on from the end of World War I we acknowledge their service …
Lest we forget.
Private Percy Pitt Goullet MM
Born: 13 March 1893 Burkes Flat. Died: 15 October 1958 Swan Hill.
Enlisted: 2 February 1916 aged 22
Served: Western Front
Recorded on the Pakenham War Memorial as ”P. Goullette”, Percy was the youngest of Frederick Thomas Goullet and Susan McPherson’s 14 children.
A keen cyclist, in March 1915 Percy competed in the Koowerup Sport’s Club handicap bicycle race against other locals including Ern Cameron, Alf Ellett and Arch Blackwood – all future Diggers.
In early October 1918, his 21st Battalion participated in the Australian attack on the Germans at Montbrehain. During this battle, Percy earned the Military Medal for “displaying great courage and daring”. The citation read in part: “He was the first to volunteer for any enterprise of a dangerous character… Pte Goullet set out to bring aid and moved over open country, under close machine gun fire… he delivered an important message to his Company Commander, and whilst returning, gathered a party together to attend to the wounded.”
The Gazette proudly noted that he had enlisted from Pakenham.
Percy subsequently moved to Queenscliff, where he worked for a period in a confectionery shop owned by his sisters Kate and Mona.
He later acquired a soldier settlement property in the Mallee.
This is an extract from Patrick Ferry’s book A Century After The Guns Fell Silent – Remembering the Pakenham District’s WWI Diggers 1914-18.
For more details on this and other profiles in the book, head to the website www.pakenhamww1.com
