Henry Arthur Goddard
Encyclopedia
Henry Arthur Goddard CMG
, DSO
(13 December 1869 – 24 October 1955) was an Australian Army
colonel
and temporary Brigadier General
in World War I
. He retired as a Brigadier General in 1931.
, Middlesex
, England
on 13 December 1869, the son of an insurance clerk. Goddard migrated to Australia
in 1890. He settled in Brisbane
where he worked as a clerk. He experimented with growing barley on the Darling Downs. He was also consul for Paraguay
from 1906 to 1915.
In England, Goddard had been a sergeant in the Essex Rifle Volunteers. On 30 November 1899 he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Moreton Regiment. On 11 February 1913 he was promoted to lieutenant and given command of the regiment. On his many business trips overseas he observed military manoeuvres in Europe
.
with the rank of lieutenant colonel and given command of the 25th Infantry Battalion. He expected to take this battalion overseas but on 9 May 1915 he was suddenly ordered to take over command of the 17th Infantry Battalion, which was about to sail for Egypt
. Goddard considered it a great blow to have to leave the battalion that he had built up, and a definite setback to his career. He took charges of the 17th Infantry Battalion on 12 May, on board the transport Themistocles.
The 17th Infantry Battalion arrived in Egypt on 12 June 1915 where it trained until ordered forward to Anzac Cove
, departed for Gallipoli
on 16 August 1915. It left without Goddard, who was hospitalised with intestinal poisoning. He managed to get himself cleared by the medical authorities and departed on the next available ship, the Southland, which was torpedoed en route on 2 September 1915. Goddard finally made it Anzac on 6 September 1915, taking over command of the 17th Infantry Battalion. That day, he took over command of Quinn's Post, the most exposed and one of the most dangerous position on the line. He remained in command of Quinn's Post until Anzac was evacuated on 20 December 1915. Goddard was in command of the last party there and departed the post at 2:35am.
The 17th Infantry arrived at Lemnos
on 20 November 1915, and Alexandria
on 4 January 1916. It proceeded to Tel El Kebir four days later. Goddard had managed to remain in the line at Gallipoli only by ignoring a serious case of dysentery. Now he was admitted to hospital on 18 January 1916. On 10 April 1916, he was evacuated to Australia
, returning on 18 May 1916.
Cleared by the medical board, Goddard travelled to Sydney on 16 July 1916 to rejoin the AIF. On 1 August 1916 he sailed from Melbourne on board HMAT Miltiades, a troop transport. Reporting to AIF Headquarters in London
on 26 September 1916, he was on 13 October 1916 once again given command of a New South Wales battalion preparing to embark, the 35th Infantry Battalion, part of the new 3rd Division
, training on the Salisbury
Plain in England. The battalion arrived in France
on 22 November 1916.
Goddard led the 35th Infantry Battalion at Messines
, Broodeseinde and Passchendaele. For his part, Goddard was mentioned in dispatches
and awarded the Distinguished Service Order
(DSO) in the 1918 New Year's List. He was acting commander of the 9th Infantry Brigade for short periods in May, August and October 1917 and for over a month from 5 January 1918 to 18 February 1918.
On 3 April 1918, Brigadier General Rosenthal placed Goddard in command of all troops at Villers-Bretonneux
, where he established his headquarters. The next morning the Germans attacked his force. A full scale battle developed, the First Battle of Villers-Bretonneux controlled by Goddard, who acted almost as a brigade commander. For this battle, Goddard was again mentioned in dispatches.
At the Battle of Morlancourt on 5 May 1918, Rosenthal once again placed Goddard in command of the main operation. Then on 21 May 1918, Goddard took over as commander of the 9th Infantry Brigade. On 1 June 1918 he was promoted to full colonel and temporary brigadier general. He led the brigade at Bray-sur-Somme
and the attack on the Hindenburg Line
. For these battles, Goddard was mentioned in dispatches once more and made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1919 New Year's list.
Goddard ran an importing company, H. A. Goddard Pty Ltd with his son Horace, who had served as a private in the 35th Infantry Battalion during the war. Goddard continued to travel, and was commercial representative of The Times
in Australia
. He died at the Concord Repatriation Hospital
in Sydney on 24 October 1955 and was cremated.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(13 December 1869 – 24 October 1955) was an Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and temporary Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He retired as a Brigadier General in 1931.
Early life and career
Henry Arthur Goddard was born in West HackneyHackney (parish)
Hackney was a parish in the historic county of Middlesex. The parish church of St John-at-Hackney was built in 1789, replacing the nearby former 16th century parish church dedicated to St Augustine . The original tower of that church was retained to hold the bells until the new church could be...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on 13 December 1869, the son of an insurance clerk. Goddard migrated to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1890. He settled in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
where he worked as a clerk. He experimented with growing barley on the Darling Downs. He was also consul for Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
from 1906 to 1915.
In England, Goddard had been a sergeant in the Essex Rifle Volunteers. On 30 November 1899 he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Moreton Regiment. On 11 February 1913 he was promoted to lieutenant and given command of the regiment. On his many business trips overseas he observed military manoeuvres in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
World War I
When war was declared 1914, Goddard was placed in charge of the Brisbane Defences. On 16 March 1915 he was appointed to the First Australian Imperial ForceFirst Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
with the rank of lieutenant colonel and given command of the 25th Infantry Battalion. He expected to take this battalion overseas but on 9 May 1915 he was suddenly ordered to take over command of the 17th Infantry Battalion, which was about to sail for Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Goddard considered it a great blow to have to leave the battalion that he had built up, and a definite setback to his career. He took charges of the 17th Infantry Battalion on 12 May, on board the transport Themistocles.
The 17th Infantry Battalion arrived in Egypt on 12 June 1915 where it trained until ordered forward to Anzac Cove
Anzac Cove
Anzac Cove is a small cove on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey. It became famous as the site of World War I landing of the ANZAC on April 25, 1915. The cove is a mere long, bounded by the headlands of Ari Burnu to the north and Little Ari Burnu, known as Hell Spit, to the south...
, departed for Gallipoli
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
on 16 August 1915. It left without Goddard, who was hospitalised with intestinal poisoning. He managed to get himself cleared by the medical authorities and departed on the next available ship, the Southland, which was torpedoed en route on 2 September 1915. Goddard finally made it Anzac on 6 September 1915, taking over command of the 17th Infantry Battalion. That day, he took over command of Quinn's Post, the most exposed and one of the most dangerous position on the line. He remained in command of Quinn's Post until Anzac was evacuated on 20 December 1915. Goddard was in command of the last party there and departed the post at 2:35am.
The 17th Infantry arrived at Lemnos
Lemnos
Lemnos is an island of Greece in the northern part of the Aegean Sea. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Lemnos peripheral unit, which is part of the North Aegean Periphery. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Myrina...
on 20 November 1915, and Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
on 4 January 1916. It proceeded to Tel El Kebir four days later. Goddard had managed to remain in the line at Gallipoli only by ignoring a serious case of dysentery. Now he was admitted to hospital on 18 January 1916. On 10 April 1916, he was evacuated to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, returning on 18 May 1916.
Cleared by the medical board, Goddard travelled to Sydney on 16 July 1916 to rejoin the AIF. On 1 August 1916 he sailed from Melbourne on board HMAT Miltiades, a troop transport. Reporting to AIF Headquarters in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 26 September 1916, he was on 13 October 1916 once again given command of a New South Wales battalion preparing to embark, the 35th Infantry Battalion, part of the new 3rd Division
Australian 3rd Division (World War I)
The 3rd Division was an infantry division of the Australian Army. Existing during various periods between 1916 and 1991, it is considered the "longest serving Australian Army division". It was first formed during World War I, as an infantry division of the Australian Imperial Force and saw service...
, training on the Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
Plain in England. The battalion arrived in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on 22 November 1916.
Goddard led the 35th Infantry Battalion at Messines
Messines
Messines may refer to:* Mesen, a village in Belgium**Battle of Messines, World War I,* Messines, Quebec* HMCS Messines, one of twelve Battle class naval trawlers used by the Royal Canadian Navy* Messines, Queensland...
, Broodeseinde and Passchendaele. For his part, Goddard was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
and awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(DSO) in the 1918 New Year's List. He was acting commander of the 9th Infantry Brigade for short periods in May, August and October 1917 and for over a month from 5 January 1918 to 18 February 1918.
On 3 April 1918, Brigadier General Rosenthal placed Goddard in command of all troops at Villers-Bretonneux
Villers-Bretonneux
Villers-Bretonneux is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Villers-Bretonneux is situated some 19 km due east of Amiens, on the D1029 road and the A29 motorway.-History - World War I:...
, where he established his headquarters. The next morning the Germans attacked his force. A full scale battle developed, the First Battle of Villers-Bretonneux controlled by Goddard, who acted almost as a brigade commander. For this battle, Goddard was again mentioned in dispatches.
At the Battle of Morlancourt on 5 May 1918, Rosenthal once again placed Goddard in command of the main operation. Then on 21 May 1918, Goddard took over as commander of the 9th Infantry Brigade. On 1 June 1918 he was promoted to full colonel and temporary brigadier general. He led the brigade at Bray-sur-Somme
Bray-sur-Somme
Bray-sur-Somme is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The communes is situated on the D1 and D329 road junction, some east-northeast of Amiens....
and the attack on the Hindenburg Line
Battle of the Hindenburg Line
The Battle of St Quentin Canal was a pivotal battle of World War I that began on 29 September 1918 and involved British, Australian and American forces in the spearhead attack and as a single combined force against the German Siegfried Stellung of the Hindenburg Line...
. For these battles, Goddard was mentioned in dispatches once more and made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1919 New Year's list.
Post war
Goddard moved to Sydney after the war where he pursued his business and military interests. He commanded the 14th Infantry Brigade from 1921 to 1926 and was honorary colonel of the 17th Infantry Battalion. He was placed on the retired list in 1931 with the rank of brigadier general.Goddard ran an importing company, H. A. Goddard Pty Ltd with his son Horace, who had served as a private in the 35th Infantry Battalion during the war. Goddard continued to travel, and was commercial representative of The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He died at the Concord Repatriation Hospital
Concord Repatriation General Hospital
Concord Repatriation General Hospital , commonly referred to as simply Concord Hospital, is a major hospital in Sydney, Australia, located on Hospital Road in Concord...
in Sydney on 24 October 1955 and was cremated.