G.T.M. ROACH, a South Australian Artist

By Chris PIGOTT.

cgpigott@yahoo.com.au

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Gilbert Thomas Meredith ROACH. About 1919.

Gilbert ROACH was born at St Peter's/Norwood, Adelaide, on 3 July 1895, and probably at Harrow Road, College Park (the fifth and youngest child, his was the only birth for which there was no published birth notice).

He was the youngest son of Thomas ROACH and Sophia Stuart SANDERS, who were married at St David's, Burnside, 16 February 1888; his father Thomas died at Kent Town Private Hospital, 1 June 1912, aged 50; and his mother Sophia died at Ravenswood, S.A., 17 December 1920, late of Clifton Street, Widow, aged 61, and was buried at North Road Cemetery, Nailsworth.

Gilbert was youngest brother of:

1. John Stuart ROACH, born at Rose Street, Norwood, 19 April 1889; Anglican Minister; he died in Buderim, Qld, 20 January 1958; he was married to Hildred Christina CARLILE.

2. Marjorie Edgeworth ROACH, born at Elmwood, College Park, 3 March 1891; she died in 1986; she was married, 24 December 1944, to Ernest Marshall LUXMORE, of Morphettville.

3. Kenneth Douglas ROACH, born Elmwood, Harrow Road, College Park, 4 May 1892; Anglican Minister; School Master; he died in Armidale, N.S.W., 1 May 1939; unmarried.

4. Sylvia Mary ROACH, born at Elmwood, Harrow Road,  College Park, 14 February 1894; she died on 26 April 1924, and was buried with her mother; unmarried.

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His father, Thomas ROACH, was born at Penwortham, Clare District, South Australia, on 15 October 1861, the youngest son of John ROACH, of Burra and Penwortham, Flour Miller (a native of Towednack, Cornwall), by his wife Jane HOSKIN or HOSKING (who had arrived together in South Australia in 1854, by the ship "Cressy"); John died at Aberdeen, Burra, on 4 October 1881, aged 61; Jane died there on 25 February 1896.

They had two older sons born at Penwortham - John ROACH, on 3 October 1856 (he was married at Penwortham, 24 May 1881, to Louisa Lloyd COX), and Henry ROACH., born 9 June 1858 (he was married at Kooringa, 24 August 1882, to Minetta LANE).

As a 12 year old, young Thomas gave evidence at an inquest, in December 1873, into the cause of a fire which destroyed his father's Mill at Penwortham, having been the last person to have been inside, some hours before the fire took hold, and making sure that he was careful with his candle.

So far, I have not been able to formally identify Thomas's occupation. He may well have been the younger partner in the firm of ROACH Brothers, Sharebrokers, of 15-18 Pirie Chambers, Pirie Street, Adelaide, who was elevated to the partnership, on the retirement of Mr Henry ROACH in December 1889, joining his brother John ROACH. He may later have been in partnership with Gilbert HILLMAN, carrying on business at 17 Waymouth Street, Adelaide, as Land and Estate Agents and Sharebrokers, as HILLMAN and ROACH, when he withdrew from the partnership.

The three sons above present as a likely set of candidates!

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Gilbert attended St Peter's Collegiate School, in Adelaide; he was awarded the Form IV prize for Physics, Speech Day, December 1908 [Advertiser, 16 December].

Gilbert began studies at the Adelaide School of Art, in about 1912. In May 1913, at the annual Student's Exhibition, held in the rooms of the Exhibition Building, G. ROACH was mentioned, in the elementary classes in Wood Carving, with "good studies" in pencil [The Register, 23 May].

When Gilbert signed up to fight in what became known as the Great War, he was not yet 20 years of age. He enlisted just fourteen days after Britain had declared war on Germany. 

He was young, but he was keen. 

And he was talented - he was signed up into the 1st Divisional Signals Company, perhaps with a bit of help from his schoolboy interest in Physics.

However, on his A.I.F. Attestation form, his occupation was recorded as Law Clerk.

WORLD WAR 1.

Gilbert was enlisted as a Sapper, 1st Divisional (28th) Signal Company, Keswick, Adelaide, 18 August 1914, aged 19.

He embarked in Melbourne, 20 October 1914, on the ship "Karoo" (code named A10), for service in Europe, initially stationed in Egypt to protect the Suez Canal, and keep it open for allied shipping.

He served at Anzac, Gallipoli, returning to his Division, 16 December 1915. 

He was promoted to Corporal, at Serapeum, Egypt, 1 April 1916.

Shortly after he was transferred to 4th Australian Division Signal Company, at Tel El Kebir, Egypt, 6 April 1916.

He was embarked at Alexandria, on the "Kinfauns Castle," 2 June 1916, and disembarked at Marseilles, 8 June.

He served on the battlefields of the Somme.

S.N. 111. Corporal Gilbert Thomas Meredith ROACH was Mentioned in Despatches, 20 September 1916:

"Corporal G.T.M. ROACH's duty of carrying despatches took him along Sausage Valley in the vicinity of Pozieres during this Division's turns in the lines, during August/September. Where on many occasions he was faced with many enemy barrages, but he always succeeded in delivering his despatches, showing great pluck combined with utter disregard of shell-fire. He set an excellent example to his juniors. He has by his push, determination and organisation at all times, brought his section to a high state of efficiency. Recommended by O.C. 4th Aust. Div. Signal Coy."

A wintry and "Informal portrait" of G.T.M. ROACH, dated 26 December 1917. 

Image courtesy of the Australian War Memorial, Ref. EO1 562.

He returned to Australia, from London, 23 October 1918, on the "D 30" ("Port Lyttleton"), arriving 4th M.D. (South Australia), 25 December 1918; and was discharged at Keswick Barracks, Adelaide, 23 February 1919.

RETURN TO AUSTRALIA.

After his return to Australia, Gilbert brought his sketches back from Europe, and took up his art work with a passion. He returned to his old Adelaide School of Art, now called the South Australian School of Arts and Crafts, and completed his studies in 1922, "graduating" with Honours in Drawing and Painting from Life, Grade II [The Register, 5 January 1923].

He drew in pencil and charcoal, painted in oils and water-colours, and created editions of etchings, mostly monochrome, but some with aquatint overlay. 

He held a number of Exhibitions of his works during the 1920s and into the 1930s, in the Gallery of the Society of Arts, on North Terrace, Adelaide (see below).

Some of his war-time drawings had already been published by C.E.W. BEAN in "The Anzac Book," put together on board ship in the Aegean Sea, in December 1916. Another fourteen works, completed after his return, were purchased in 1938 by the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

During the late 1920s and early 1930s, in the Mount Lofty area, Gilbert joined a circle of friends of my maternal grandfather, Peter GORRIE, M.D., and went on several "expeditions" with them into the "wilds" of South Australia, including to the Coorong, and into the north:

Gilbert ROACH and Dr Peter GORRIE (with signature pipe), in the bush, about 1930. 

Photo courtesy of my brother Bill PIGOTT.

Gilbert paid his way on these trips, for want of ready cash, by gifting several of his art works to the Doctor. which works remained in the possession of his elder daughter, Betty GORRIE, the wife of H.R. PIGOTT, then a Master it Gilbert's old school, St Peter's Collegiate School (my parents, both now deceased).

Gilbert continued that friendship with the GORRIE family after the Doctor returned to Scotland. He evidently resided in an "outhouse" in the back yard of a house Mrs Janet GORRIE and the four children moved into in Fowler's Road, Glenunga, after leaving St Anne's, in Stirling, probably about 1933. He used it as a studio, and evidently young Peter GORRIE Junior, my uncle, bunked in there as well. 

Janet evidently offered him motherly advice about his exhibitions, insomuch as that he should not swamp the market by putting too much of his work up for sale at the one time. I think she got given a few extra prints as the result of her sound advice.

Gilbert retained the family friendship with my mother:

Betty GORRIE and Gilbert ROACH, possibly on the banks of the Murray in Renmark.

The photo is not dated - perhaps mid-late 1930s, and before her marriage?

Photo courtesy of Bill PIGOTT.

That continued after Betty GORRIE married my father in Adelaide in 1938, and during the war, in which her father and both of her brothers were killed in action. My mother remembered that when news of her younger brother Peter's death in 1942 was confirmed, Gilbert returned her brother's old school cap to her - there being no other member of the GORRIE family then left in Australia.

On one occasion, as my mother also remembered, Gilbert showed my father a poem he had written, to which my father, who wrote a lot of poetry himself, suggested that Gilbert might do better to stay with his etchings! Rather unkind!!!

My family moved from Adelaide to Brisbane in 1947, and appear to have lost touch with Gilbert. 

I do not remember mum meeting up with him in a return visit she made to Adelaide from Sydney, about 1960, with six of her children in the family car, and towing a caravan.

Gilbert volunteered for service again in W.W.2, again, it would appear, in Signals.

His second Attestation, as S111808, dated 21 May 1942, for an Artist, Painter and Etcher, and Mechanical Craftsman, indicates that he was taken on strength for Part Time duty, Home Training, under the notation "L. of C. Sigs, P.M.G.," was promoted to Corporal, 4 August 1944, but was on duty for only 12 and a half days betwen 1942 and 1944 [Australian National Archives].

He also published a small book, "Come in Willie," illustrated, and published in Adelaide in 1952 [The Age, 2 August]:

Review published in The Age (Melbourne), 2 August 1952.

In later life, I have an impression (from comments of my mother) that he put his illustrating skills to use with the Commonwealth Government, initially working as a draftsman for the P.M.G. Department in Adelaide, and later at the Weapons Research Establishment at Salisbury.

Gilbert died on 2 July 1978, at a Repatriation General Hospital, near Adelaide, late of 16 Wiggins Avenue, Salisbury; his remains were cremated at Centennial Park. He was unmarried.

A CATALOGUE OF HIS KNOWN WORKS OF ART.

DRAWINGS FROM THE GREAT WAR.

HOLDINGS OF THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL:

ART 000 31 002 - "A Turkish man's head." Gallipoli, 1915. Drawing in pen and ink on paper, 7.3 cm x 4.3 cm. Published in "The Anzac Book," December 1916, bottom of page 112 (but not associated with "The Happy Warrior," instead separating "The Caveman," a poem by J.M. COLLINS, 9th Battalion, from "An Anzac Alphabet," by J.W.S. HENDERSON, R.G.A., and not evidently connected with either item):

ART 000 60 - "Achi Baba, from Anzac Cove, August 1915," depicting the dugouts and paths in the foreground; above them on the skyline is the massive Kilid Bahr plateau; near the promontory in the centre is Gaba Tepe; and above is the peak of Achi Baba. Drawing in pencil on paper, 20.2 x 32.9 cm. Published in "The Anzac Book," December 1916, at page 37:

ART 13623 - "View of the Landing at Suvla Bay," depicting the landing of Australian troops, looking north from the Sphinx near H.Q. 1st Australian Division, with small boats landing troops on the beach as bursting shells fire from destroyers in the harbour land on the slopes north of Salt Lake, Kuchuk Anafarta. Gallipoli, 9 August 1915. Drawing, pencil on paper.

ART 13624 - "Anafarta landing," depicting Australian troops landing at Suvla Bay, looking north-east from a point near the 1st Australian Division Head Quarters. Gallipoli, 1915. Drawing, pencil on paper, sheet 20.4 x 39.9 cm, image 14.8 x 32.4 cm.

ART 13625 - "Turkish trench mortar captured at Lone Pine." Gallipoli Peninsula, August 1915. Drawing in pencil on paper, sheet 20.5 x 32.8 cm, image 13 x 25.2 cm.

ART 13626 - "Anzac Cove water scheme," depicting water tanks in the course of preparation in the middle foreground. In the distance we can see the landmark named 'the Sphinx,' and to the right, Suvla bay, Salt Lake and Anafarta Heights in the distance. Gallipoli, 1 August 1915. Drawing, pencil on paper, sheet 20.2 x 32.8 cm, image 16 x 32.4 cm.

ART 13627 - 1st Australia Division H.Q., Anzac Cove, looking north-east, showing the dug-outs of Division Commanders and Staff , and encompassing the sea of B. and C., beaches with Balloon ships, Destroyer and Supply and Troop Ships in the harbour. Gallipoli, August 1915. Drawing, pencil on paper, sheet 20.2 x 32.8 cm, image 19 x 32 cm.

ART 13628 - A farm-house at West Mudros, on the Aegean Island of Lemnos, Greece, first sketched in 1915. Etching printed on wove paper, plate 7.4 x 13.4 cm, sheet 11.6 x 16.5 cm.

ART 13629 - Wind mill, with villagers and cart in foreground, on the Greek Island of Lemnos, first sketched in 1915. Etching printed on wove paper on backing, plate 10.4 x 10.3 cm, sheet 14.2 x 13.9cm, backing 35.5 x 23.6 cm.

ART 13630 - Three Australian soldiers outside the trenches and dugouts, Gallipoli, first sketched in 1915. Etching printed on laid paper, plate 7.4 x 12 cm, sheet 15.2 x 22 cm.

ART 13631 - A group of Turkish Prisoners awaiting interrogation, Gallipoli, first sketched in 1915. Etching printed on wove paper, plate 6.5 x 7.6 cm, sheet 12.3 x 16.2 cm.

ART 13632 - Two Australian Stretcher Bearers with a patient, who is an officer, lying on the stretcher, first sketched at Gallipoli, 1915. Etching printed on wove paper on backing, plate 6.2 x 10.2 cm, sheet 11 x 14 cm, backing 23.6 x 23.6 cm.

ART 13633 - Three soldiers and an ambulance on a bridge over the railway tracks that lead to Villers-Bretonneux, France, first sketched in June 1918. Etching printed on wove paper on backing, plate 13.6 x 14.6 cm, sheet 19.3 x 25 cm, backing 23.5 x 40.6 cm.

ART 92201 - Head piece for "A Grey Day in Gallipoli," depicting the hills of Gallipoli around the Aegean sea, and the sky is grey and gloomy. Gallipoli, 1915. Drawing in pen and ink on paper, 5.3 x 18.6 cm. Published in "The Anzac Book," December 1916, at page 106, above a story of that title by N. NASH, 11th A.A.S.C.:

"The Destroyer on the Flank." Published in "The Anzac Book," December 1916, at page 13:

OTHER WORKS.

OILS:

Landscape - "Sand in the Coorong." Gifted to Peter GORRIE, M.D. Now in the PIGOTT family collections:

Seascape - Waves on Rocks, South Australian Coast. Gifted to Mrs Margaret PIGOTT whilst on a visit to Adelaide, probably to assist with the birth of one of her grandsons. PIGOTT family collections.

Still Life - Still Life. Vase of Carnations, in Mrs Janet GORRIE's house, Glenunga, Adelaide. PIGOTT family collections:

WATERCOLOURS:

Landscape - View of Port Augusta. PIGOTT family collections:

DRAWINGS:

"Cairo," about 1920. NGA.94.18. Probably first sketched in early 1915:

Image courtesy of the Centre for Australian Art, on their

Australian Prints and Printmaking web-site.

ETCHINGS:

"The Valley," 1924. Edition of 30. NGA.79.1878, #28/30. PIGOTT family, #29/30:

"The Gippsland Steamers," circa 1924. Edition of 35. NGA.77.43, #13/25 (?).

"Deserted Mill," 1929. Edition of 40. NGA.84.1317, #22/40.

"In an Aldgate Hollow." PIGOTT family:

"Winter." PIGOTT family:

"Scotch College, Adelaide." PIGOTT family:

"St Peter's College, Adelaide." PIGOTT family.

EXHIBITIONS:

PEACE EXHIBITION, April 1920:

Group 1, Fine Arts:

Oil Painting, War Subject, Landscape, Division 1 - G.T.M. ROACH, Bronze Medal.

Portrait, all ditto [Daily Herald, 10 April]. Perhaps that of Sergeant PENNELL (see below).

These two works were recorded elsewhere as a water-colour, and a "black and white or sepia" war subject [Observer, 17 April].

AUGUST 1925, Gallery of the Society of Arts, North Terrace, Adelaide:

"Rain on the Edwardstown Road."

"Blue and Gold Murray."

"Cottage Under the Hill."

"Evening Light."

"By the Pool."

"The Scrub Cathedral."

"The Canopy, Cairo." Probably sketched in early 1916.

"Down on the Murray."

"From an Italian Window." Probably sketched while on leave in Rome, 1917.

"On the Banks of the Nile." Probably sketched in early 1916.

"A Destroyer on the Flank." Possibly the above mentioned "Achi Baba, seen from Anzac," which evidently includes a Destroyer moored in the distance, near Helles Point (although it does not appear in the image above).

"Portrait," of Sergeant PENNELL, D.C.M. Edwin William PENNELL, S.N. 1454, 4th Division Signal Company; Military Medal, October 1916, with Bar, June 1917; Distinguished Conduct Medal, October 1917.

"Across the Paddocks."

ETCHINGS (in a separate part of the exhibition):

"Aldgate Press."

"The Mail Building."

"Lone Gum."

"The University of Melbourne."

"Clare Town and Belfry."

OCTOBER 1928, same gallery:

WATERCOLOURS:

"A Summer Night."

"Poplar and Evening sky."

"Autumn Evening."

"Summer Blue"

"Nocturne, River Mist."

"Grey Winter."

"July Sunset at Piccadilly Valley."

"Winter Sunlight."

"Winter Morning at Aldgate."

OILS:

"Evening on a lonely Road."

"An Old Gum, Glenalta."

"Mainland from Granite Island." Seascape.

"Roses." See above (PIGOTT family collections).

"Venetian Study." Still Life, Flowers.

CHARCOALS:

"Valley Mist."

"Stormlight."

"The Mill."

"Sunlight."

"Kaya Lami."

NOVEMBER 1931, same gallery, with exhibit number.

OILS:

"Waterfall Gully," #20.

"Winter Light," #22.

"Approaching Storm," #26.

"Port Elliot," #28.

"Sand in the Coorong," #29. PIGOTT family collections (see image above).

"The Don of the Mill," #31.

"The Bluff," #32.

ETCHINGS SECTION:

"St Peter's College"

"Prince Alfred College."

"Scotch College."

"Red Gums," #5. PIGOTT family collections:

"The Pool," with nude figures, #9.

"The Valley," #14.

"Little Avenue." PIGOTT family collections:

1936, at the same gallery:

17 Oils; 17 Watercolours; 13 Etchings; including:

"Pastoral," Oils, #9.

"The Passing of Winter," #10.

"Piccadilly Valley."

"Sunlight," Etching, #43.

"At the Big Gumtree, Glen Osmond," Etching, #47.

APRIL 26 - MAY 8, 1937, at the Margaret MACLEAN Gallery, 252 Collins Street, Melbourne:

"River Murray." 8 guineas.

"Old Tree on the Murray." 7 guineas.

"Smoky Morning." 7 guineas.

"On the Bridge." 6 guineas.

"Red Rock in Renmark." 8 guineas.

"Valley Mists, Mt Lofty Ranges." 10 guineas.

"Trees in the Wind." 7 guineas.

"Summer Heat." 6 guineas.

"The Fisherman's Hut." 8 guineas.

"Poplars." 8 guineas.

"Midday Heat." 8 guineas.

"The Wet Road." 6 guineas.

"Morning Shadows." 7 guineas.

"After the Rain." 10 guineas.

"Cliffs on the Murray." 8 guineas.

" 'Angove's,' Renmark." 8 guineas.

"Landscape." 8 guineas.

"Over the Logs." 10 guineas.

"Evening on a Country Road." 6 guineas.

"Quiet Pastures." 8 guineas.

"Sunlight and the Fisherman." 10 guineas.

"Morning Light." 7 guineas.

"Settler's Bend." 8 guineas.

"Afternoon by the River." 8 guineas.

"Grey Morning." 8 guineas.

"On the River Bank." 8 guineas.

"By the Pool." 6 guineas. Probably first shown in 1925 (see above).

"Evening." 6 guineas:

"Evening." Courtesy of the rsasarts.co.au web-site.

"Nocturne." 8 guineas.

* TO BE CONTINUED *

The Mail (Adelaide), 18 July 1936, courtesy of the Trove web-site of newspaper holdings of the National Library of Australia:

[Image courtesy of the invaluable.com web-site, for Lot 100, of an auction held by Vickers and Hoad, Sydney, in July 2021.]