Royal Australian Engineers Brass Shoulder Title

This shoulder title was collected by the donor, who served as a sapper in the 2/AIF from 23 June 1942 – 24 January 1946 and lived in Denmark before and after Second World War.
Major General Sir Peter SCRATCHLEY (1835-1885) was a Colonel when he surveyed Australia’s defences and travelled to Albany in 1881. His ‘Report on Defences’ stated that the protection of King George Sound and Princess Royal Harbour was “of vital importance for the general security of the Australian colonies in times of war”. Scratchley’s proposed fixed defences for King George Sound were funded by the British government and other Australian colonies, resulting in the construction of the Princess Royal Fortress.
Born in India in 1862, Sergeant Bede Theodoric GOADBY was a British Royal Engineer with expertise in explosives who was loaned to Western Australia and the Princess Royal Fortress for three years. The Fortress opened in 1893 and on 19 August 1893 GOADBY commenced service there. His responsibilities included gun maintenance and laying submarine lines near the entrance of Princess Royal Harbour. Extending his service in Australia, GOADBY transferred to the Royal Australian Engineers (Commonwealth of Australia). He served in both the First and Second World Wars.