Herbert Goodman
From Our Contribution
 Western Mail | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | c1897 |
| Place of Birth | Tintagel, Cornwall, England |
| Death | 5 Nov 1916 |
| Place of Death | Flers, France |
| Age at Enlistment | 18 years, 7 months |
| Description |
5'5½" (1.66m) tall ; 128 bs "bs" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property. ; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair |
| Occupation | Farm hand |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | c/o Banjup Post Office, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Sister , Mrs. N F Ford |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 3111 |
| Date of Enlistment | 14 Sep 1915 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 28th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement posted to A Company |
| Date of Embarkation | 18 Jan 1916 ‒ 16 Feb 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A7 Medic Fremantle to Alexandria |
| Fate | Killed in Action 3-6 Nov 1916 |
| Monument | Banjup War Memorial |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Contents
Pre War
Arrived in Australia aged 14.
War Service
Entered the 29th Depot Company at Claremont camp on 14 Sep 1915, before being allocated to the 7th Reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion on 1 Nov 1915. On 15 Oct 1915 he was fined 5 shillings (50 cents) for being absent from Tattoo. Herbert was sent to Blackboy Hill camp on 7 Dec 1915, where during his period of training he was absent from 2:15pm on 7 Dec 1915 until reveille on 8 Dec 1915. Fined 2/6d. Travelled with his reinforcement draft aboard HMAT A7 Medic which sailed from Fremantle on 18 Jan 1916, but he had transgressed again before they had left Fremantle. On 14 Feb 1916 he was at a delayed hearing, found guilty of having left the troopship without leave to do so while still in Fremantle. This time he forfeited 5 day's pay.
On arrival in Alexandria on 16 Feb 1916 the reinforcement group continued to train until they were sent on to France after just over an extra month's training. Herbert embarked on SS Oriana in Alexandria on 21 Mar 1916 for Marseilles, disembarking there on the 27th. Taken on strength by 'D' Company of the 28th Battalion on 3 May 1916 as they moved at 8:00pm into the front lines at Bois Grenier, replacing the 26th Battalion. Over the next two days they were heavily bombarded by enemy artillery including HE (high explosive) and shrapnel as well as aerial torpedoes.
During the period 3 - 6 Nov 1916 the 28th Battalion was in the line near Gueudecourt, tasked on 5 Nov with attacking Gird Trench, part of the German defences north east of Flers. The supporting artillery was ill directed, and as a result the Australian attackers were driven back by heavy rifle and machine gun fire. Casualties were 59 Killed 168 wounded, and 50 missing. Herbert was one of the missing, and was formally declared to be missing on 10 Nov 1916. On 15 May 1917 his status was formally changed to Killed in Action.
"The battalion charged in front of Fleurs on November 5th 1916. He was within a few feet of the soldier, and when crossing No Man's Land, saw him hit by a machine gun bullet. The fire was furious, and soldier seemed to have been badly hit, for he fell and did not move again. Witness passed on, and does not know what happened to the soldier. Knew him well, he was in the same Company." 1597 Cpl G.M. White A Company machine Gun Section.
"On 5th Nov 1916 we went over at Fleurs in the early morning. He was one of my Section. He never got to the objective, but I did not see him killed. He was not with us when we got back, I got wounded myself, and remained in the trench and I know that he did not return with the others." Sergt. Seymour [1]
Despite him being buried in the Warlencourt British Cemetery, it was not until 15 May 1917 that the Army formally declared that he had been killed between the 3rd and the 6th Nov 1916. From the statements above it appears that he was killed on 5 Nov 1916
Herbert's younger brother Harold Sanders Goodman (blind), and sister Henrietta Maud Goodman, were granted War Pensions of 15/- each, per fortnignht ($1.50) as he and his brother Richard (also KIA) had been contributing to their upkeep.
Notes
His brother Richard who served during in the 55th Battalion was aso KIA.