Pte
Thomas Goodwin

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortejaar:
1879
Geboorteplaats:
Marulan, New South Wales, Australië

Algemene Informatie

Laatst gekende woonplaats:
Sydney, New South Wales, Australië
Beroep:
IJzerwerker
Geloof:
Rooms-katholiek

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Australië
Strijdmacht:
Australian Imperial Force
Rang:
Private
Service nummer:
7251
Dienstneming datum:
23/01/1917
Dienstneming plaats:
Sydney, New South Wales, Australië
Eenheden:
 —  Australian Infantry, 1st Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
03/10/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
Molenaarelsthoek, Zonnebeke, België
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
38

Begraafplaats

Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood
Plot: XXVI
Rij: B
Graf: 4-6

Onderscheidingen en medailles 2

British War Medal
Medaille
Victory Medal
Medaille

Points of interest 4

#1 Geboorteplaats
#2 Laatst gekende woonplaats
#3 Dienstneming plaats
#4 Plaats van overlijden (bij benadering)

Mijn verhaal

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.

Bestanden 1

Maps Bekijken

Bronnen 5

1st Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/18/24).
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583
Gebruikte bronnen
1st Australian Infantry Brigade, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/1/27).
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583
Gebruikte bronnen
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.
Gebruikte bronnen
McCarthy C., Passchendaele The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Unicorn Publishing Group, 2018), page 110.
Gebruikte bronnen
The Australian War Memorial
https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?people_preferred_name=Goodwin&people_service_number=7251&people_unit=
Verdere verwijzing

Meer informatie 4