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Lieutenant Thomas Derrick V.C.Print Page Print this page

20-November-2015
20-November-2015

Photographs supplied by Roger Johnson / Sandra Brown

The rest area commemorates Lieutenant Thomas Currie Derrick who was awarded the Victoria Cross (V.C.) during World War Two.

A grove of Poplars, Gums, Oaks and Ashes were planted astride Towrang Creek as part of the Remembrance Driveway at the old bridge site by the Goulburn Garden Club in 1954 in memory of Goulburn and district servicemen who gave their lives.  The Derrick V.C Rest Area was established in 1999. 

When Tom `Diver` Derrick appeared on the front cover of the Australian Women`s Weekly in May 1944, he became a national hero. His Victoria Cross, the fourth to be awarded during the Pacific War, was awarded at Sattelberg in New Guinea. Sergeant Thomas Derrick`s battalion, the 2/48th, was attacking Japanese positions on the heights of Sattelberg, near Finschhafen on 24 November 1943.

The Japanese had dug in and were vigorously defending their position when Derrick`s platoon was ordered to withdraw for the night. Derrick refused to give in and, instead, set off alone up the cliff face towards the Japanese positions with a haversack of grenades. Despite their gunfire, he was able to hurl grenades into eight Japanese positions and reach the summit of the hill. Next morning, when the Australians advanced, they discovered the Japanese had gone. Thomas Derrick was killed in Borneo eighteen months later.

Location

Address:Hume Highway, Towrang, 2580
State:NSW
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -34.736038
Long: 149.830395
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Park
Monument Theme:People
Sub-Theme:Military
Actual Event Start Date:24-November-1943
Actual Event End Date:24-November-1943

Dedication

Approx. Monument Dedication Date:1999
Front Inscription

Thomas Derrick VC Rest Area

Dedicated to the memory of a gallant soldier who gave his life for his comrades and his country

[ History Details ]

 

Inscription in Proximity

This portion of the Remembrance Driveway was planted in 1954 by the Garden Club of Goulburn

In memory of those servicemen from Goulburn and surrounding Districts who gave their lives in the defence of this nation.

Lest We Forget

 

Source: MA,SKP,ADB
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au