The Summer Art Collection

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HARRY ROYALL
How I Won the V.C. at Massines, Private John Carroll
oil on paper
signed lower left: Hy Royall
bears unique inscription written by Private John
Carroll: How I won the VC at Massines Pte J Carroll
VC, captured a machine gun & killing four Germans &
saving a mate from being killed by one of Germans
bears label verso: 24 Carroll V.C. How
I won the V.V. at Messines
76 x 54cm
PROVENANCE
Aust. Art Auctions, Australian & International
Paintings, Sydney, 1July 2002, Lot 103
NOTE
The painting is remarkably accurate. Charles Bean
wrote "the only point at which real resistance has been
felt was on the right where 33 Battalion had moved
forward on the extreme right flank". The painting depicts
Carroll in action with the last of the explosions shown
to the left of his position where the Germans offered
little resistance following the great explosions.
$10,000–20,000
Jack Carroll was born in Brisbane but grew up in
Western Australia and worked around Kalgoorlie
and nearby Karrawang. In 1916 he joined the AIF's
44th Battalion, but soon transferred to the 33rd.
Messines was the battalion's first big action.
Over the period of 7-10 June, during the battle at St Yves
(near Messines), Carroll was outstanding: he rushed an
enemy trench and killed four Germans; assisted a soldier in
distress and killed another German; attacked a machine-gun
team, killing three men and capturing the gun; then extracted
comrades buried in a shell hole while under heavy fire. His
citation declared: "his magnificent example of gallantry
and devotion to duty inspired all ranks in his battalion".
Carroll was a casual and happy-go-lucky man, known by his
mates as "the wild Irishman". He was wounded a month later
and again, severely this time, on 12 October 1917. Returned
to Australia, he resumed work as a labourer and railwayman.
In 1927 he had his foot amputated in a work accident.
John Carroll died on 4 October 1971, at the age of 80,
and was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth with
full military honours. His Victoria Cross is displayed
at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
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