Pte
Walter Tom Gooding
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1895 |
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Place of birth: Gerang Gerung, Victoria, Australia |
General information
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Last known residence: Dimboola, Victoria, Australia |
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Profession: Labourer |
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Religion: Methodist |
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: 4198 |
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Enlistment date: 06/09/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 29th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 26/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 22 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: Bay 23 stone T |
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
Walter Tom Gooding was the son of Edwin and Polly Gooding. He was born around 1895 in Gerang Gerung, Victoria, Australia. Walter lived in Dimboola, Victoria and worked as a labourer. In September 1916, aged 21, he enlisted in the Australian Army. He was part of the 29th Battalion (5th Division, 8th Brigade). His oldeer brother Harold Gooding had already joined the Australian Army in October 1915. He in the 30th Battery of the 8th Brigade Australian Field Artillery.
Walter was killed on 26 September 1917 at the Battle of Polygon Wood, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 29th Battalion was attached to the 15th Brigade for this attack. On 25 September, the battalion moved from Halfway House to Hooge. For the attack on 26 September, the 59th Battalion would be in the front jump off trench, supported by the 31st Battalion to the right behind them and the 29th Battalion on the left behind them.
The attack on Polygon Wood on 26 September began at 5.50 am. The troops to the right of the 29th Battalion had not moved forward, holding up the 29th Battalion as well. They finally managed to move towards their final objective, near Joist Farm and towards the Reutel, around midday. Around 1pm, some of the German troops surrendered. During the rest of the day and on 27 September, at least six German counterattacks were repelled. On 27 September, the battalion was finally relieved by the 30th Battalion.
According to Walter's personal file, it is unclear whether he was killed on 26 or 27 September. On 7 December 1917, there was a newspaper article in the Dimboola Banner and Wimmera and Mallee Advertiser with the testimony of a friend, who did not fight in the attack. He wrote to Walter's parents that he had been hit by machine-gun fire about 10am on 26 September 1917. Some comrades are said to have buried him on the battlefield and marked his grave with a cross.
Today Walter Tom Gooding, who was only 22 years old, has no known grave. His name can be found on panel 23, stone T of the Menin Gate. His older brother was killed on 30 September, just four days later, aged 24 near Bavaria House and is buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery (plot V, row H, grave 11).
Walter was killed on 26 September 1917 at the Battle of Polygon Wood, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 29th Battalion was attached to the 15th Brigade for this attack. On 25 September, the battalion moved from Halfway House to Hooge. For the attack on 26 September, the 59th Battalion would be in the front jump off trench, supported by the 31st Battalion to the right behind them and the 29th Battalion on the left behind them.
The attack on Polygon Wood on 26 September began at 5.50 am. The troops to the right of the 29th Battalion had not moved forward, holding up the 29th Battalion as well. They finally managed to move towards their final objective, near Joist Farm and towards the Reutel, around midday. Around 1pm, some of the German troops surrendered. During the rest of the day and on 27 September, at least six German counterattacks were repelled. On 27 September, the battalion was finally relieved by the 30th Battalion.
According to Walter's personal file, it is unclear whether he was killed on 26 or 27 September. On 7 December 1917, there was a newspaper article in the Dimboola Banner and Wimmera and Mallee Advertiser with the testimony of a friend, who did not fight in the attack. He wrote to Walter's parents that he had been hit by machine-gun fire about 10am on 26 September 1917. Some comrades are said to have buried him on the battlefield and marked his grave with a cross.
Today Walter Tom Gooding, who was only 22 years old, has no known grave. His name can be found on panel 23, stone T of the Menin Gate. His older brother was killed on 30 September, just four days later, aged 24 near Bavaria House and is buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery (plot V, row H, grave 11).
Connection to other soldiers 1
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Harold Gooding
Brother |
Sources 6
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"Late private Walter Gooding" (Victoria, Dimboola Banner and Wimmera and Mallee Advertiser, 7/12/1917). https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/152590394?searchTerm=%22walter%20goo Sources used |
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"The Late Private W. T. Gooding" (Victoria, Dimboola Banner and Wimmera and Mallee Advertiser, 11/01/1918). https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/152590686?searchTerm=%22w%20t%20gooding%22 Sources used |
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29th Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/46/26). https://www.awm.gov.au Sources used |
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Ellis A.D., The Story of the Fifth Australian Division, (London, Hodder and Stoughton,N.N.), 232, 248-251. Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, GOODING W T). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au Sources used |
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McCarthy Chris, Passchendaele: The Day-By-Day Account (Londen, Arms & Armour, 2018), 94-95. Sources used |
More information 4
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=dd407c88-e45c-4361-87f1-602f8d871c8e |
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/923781 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7471940 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=113930 |