Pte
Thomas Goodwin
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1879 |
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Place of birth: Marulan, New South Wales, Australia |
General information
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Last known residence: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
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Profession: Ironworker |
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Religion: Roman Catholic |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 7251 |
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Enlistment date: 23/01/1917 |
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Enlistment place: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 1st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 03/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Molenaarelsthoek, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 38 |
Cemetery
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Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Plot: XXVI Row: B Grave: 4-6 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Private Thomas Goodwin was already 37 years of age when he enlisted the Australian Infantry, 1st Battalion, part of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division AIF.
The former iron worker was widowed, but lived together with Clara Goodwin (Worthington) and had 2 (illegitimate) children, Jack and Kathleen.
On the 2nd October 1917 the 1st Australian Infantry Battalion moved from Chateau Segard and was in position on Westhoek Ridge by 02.00 on October 3rd to start the preparations for what was later called the Battle of Broodseinde, part of the Battle of Passchendaele the next day.
Tapes marking the assembly positions and jumping off lines were laid by Brigade and Battalion Intelligence Officers on the night October 3/4th in accordance with a pre-arranged plan.
The night was dark and as the rain during the preceding day had turned the swampy ground behind the front line into a morass it was decided to move the whole system of tapes 20 yards further forward than was originally intended. The Units were thus able to assemble on good ground and when the German barrage fell half an hour before Zero they escaped comparatively lightly. The tape laying was completed at 02.00.
The attacking Battalions moved from their positions at varying hours during the night October 3/4th and were all in position by 05.30.
It was during these events that private Thomas Goodwin, age 38, was killed in action together with 2 other soldiers of the 1st Battalion. All three deceased were originally buried in one grave and upon concentration being effected in the Buttes New British Cemetery it was found impossible to separately identify their remains. Notwithstanding this three individual crosses were erected, but later replaced by the one Collective Memorial.
Private Thomas Goodwin is commemorated in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood, plot XXVI, row B, grave 4-6.
The former iron worker was widowed, but lived together with Clara Goodwin (Worthington) and had 2 (illegitimate) children, Jack and Kathleen.
On the 2nd October 1917 the 1st Australian Infantry Battalion moved from Chateau Segard and was in position on Westhoek Ridge by 02.00 on October 3rd to start the preparations for what was later called the Battle of Broodseinde, part of the Battle of Passchendaele the next day.
Tapes marking the assembly positions and jumping off lines were laid by Brigade and Battalion Intelligence Officers on the night October 3/4th in accordance with a pre-arranged plan.
The night was dark and as the rain during the preceding day had turned the swampy ground behind the front line into a morass it was decided to move the whole system of tapes 20 yards further forward than was originally intended. The Units were thus able to assemble on good ground and when the German barrage fell half an hour before Zero they escaped comparatively lightly. The tape laying was completed at 02.00.
The attacking Battalions moved from their positions at varying hours during the night October 3/4th and were all in position by 05.30.
It was during these events that private Thomas Goodwin, age 38, was killed in action together with 2 other soldiers of the 1st Battalion. All three deceased were originally buried in one grave and upon concentration being effected in the Buttes New British Cemetery it was found impossible to separately identify their remains. Notwithstanding this three individual crosses were erected, but later replaced by the one Collective Memorial.
Private Thomas Goodwin is commemorated in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood, plot XXVI, row B, grave 4-6.
Sources 5
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1st Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/18/24). https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583 Sources used |
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1st Australian Infantry Brigade, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/1/27). https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583 Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, GOODWIN T). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/NameSearch.aspx. Sources used |
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McCarthy C., Passchendaele The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Unicorn Publishing Group, 2018), page 110. Sources used |
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The Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?people_preferred_name=Goodwin&people_service_number=7251&people_unit= Further reference |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/480246 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=337d64e6-dd3a-4e36-96a8-ba9b2d5cbbcb |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7470790 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=114262 |