John Goffin

Personal Information
Date of Birth	Jun 1889
Place of Birth	Brampton, Suffolk, England
Death	24 Jan 1949
Place of Death	Lothingland, Suffolk, England
Age at Enlistment	26 years, 9 months
Description	5'10½" (1.79m) tall; weight 155 lbs (70.3kg); fresh complexion, blue eyes, dark brown hair.
Occupation	farm hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	Jelcobine Estate, Brookton, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mt Botwright John Goffin
Military Information
Reg Number	6049
Date of Enlistment	25 Mar 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement / 3rd Brigade, 1st Division
Date of Embarkation	7 Aug 1916 - 24 Sep 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A28 Miltiades
Fate	Wounded in Action 15 Apr 1917 Lagnicourt, Wounded in Action (gassed) 7 Mar 1918
Monument	Jarrahdale
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

In the 1911 Census of England John was living with his parents and a cousin on Green Farm, Stoven, Wangford, Suffolk. On 20 Dec 1912 John sailed from London to Western Australia on the SS Gothic (Aberdeen Line) along with his wife Hettie, who sadly died 12 Aug 1914 in Winchester, Western Australia. On the shipping list, John is classified as a 23 year old farm labourer. Thus he was a widower at time of enlistment.

War Service

Prior to his emigration to Australia, John had served for 3 years with the Suffolk Yeomanry.

Two weeks after entering Blackboy Hill camp, John was allocated to the 19th reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion.

On arrival in England he was sent to the 3rd Training Battalion at Perham Downs to prepare for trench warfare in France.

Proceeded overseas to France from Folkestone aboard HMT Princess Victoria on 4 Dec 1916, and was taken on strength of the 11th Battalion on 26 Dec 1916, and posted to A Company. The battalion at that time was providing working parties to front line positions in the Flers area.

Wounded in action on 15 Apr 1917 at Louverval, 13 km north-east of Bapaume, when the 11th Battalion was heavily shelled, followed by an infantry attack by the Germans which had early success, with them capturing a section of Australian trench and hanging on to it for some time, before they were driven off. John sustained a GSW to his arm (right wrist). Described in medial documents as a simple flesh wound. Treated by the 39th Field Ambulance and the 9th Casualty Clearing Station before being admitted to the 12th General Hospital in Rouen on 17 Apr 1917. He embarked on 22 Apr 1917 for England from Rouen aboard HMHS Caesarea, he was admitted to the 2nd Birmingham War Hospital from 28 May 1917 until 18 Jun 1917 after which he was treated by the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford.

Recovered, he was granted furlough in July 1917 and then proceeded to the Mo. 1 Convalescent Depot at Sutton Veny for the next four months. On 13 Nov 1917 he transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill, before on 7 Feb 1918, when he proceeded back to France via Southampton, and rejoined the 11th Battalion on 12 Feb 1918.

Less than a month later, on 7 Mar 1918 he was wounded for a second time (gassed) near Neuve Eglise. At that time the battalion was in support, but owing to the 9th Battalion being badly gassed, D Company were put into the front line as support. Of them 1 Officer and 2 other ranks (one being John) also became casualties of the gas. Treated by the 1st Australian Field Ambulance and the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station before being admitted to the 54th General Hospital in Boulogne on 8 Mar 1918. John was then in a convalescent depot for a month, returning to the battalion after 7 Apr 1918.

On 7 Sep 1918 he was ill with influenza and after being seen by the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance and the 5th Casualty Clearing Station he was admitted to the 41st Stationary Hospital with dysentery on 9 Sep 1918. Moved to the 52nd Stationary Hospital next day, he remained with them until the 18th when he rejoined the battalion.

Granted leave in the UK from 29 Jan to 12 Feb 1919, he returned to France briefly before taking his discharge in London on 21 May 1919.

Post War

At discharge gave his intended address as Green farm, Stoven, Wangford, Suffolk.

However there is a shipping listing for Mr JW Goffin sailing from London to Melbourne on the SS Beltana, voyage 34 arriving in Fremantle on 28 Oct 1927. On 22 May 1934 JW Goffin was employed on a temporary basis by the Western Australian Government Railways to assist with re-sleepering the Capel-Dardanup rail line.