Rehabilitation embroidery : Sergeant J C Goodman, 3 Pioneer Battalion

Unframed rehabilitation embroidery worked on a black cotton background with long cotton stitching. The embroidery shows a crossed Union Flag and French tricolour.

Associated with the service of 435 Sergeant James Christopher Goodman. Goodman was born in Mudgee, NSW in 1893 and was a labourer on enlistment in the 3rd Pioneer Battalion on 23 November 1915. He embarked for overseas service aboard HMAT Wandilla with the rank of lance sergeant on 6 June 1916 arriving in Plymouth on 20 July. Goodman was promoted to sergeant on 23 July and proceeded overseas to France on 24 November. He was detached for duty to the Pioneers Training Battalion, England on 11 March 1917 where he remained until 1 March 1918.

Goodman rejoined his unit in France on 10 March. He was wounded in action on 29 May and admitted to 10 Australian Field Ambulance, before transferring to 5 Casualty Clearing Station with shrapnel wounds to his right leg and foot. Goodman was transferred to 12 General Hospital, Rouen via an ambulance train on 8 June, before being invalided back to England. He was admitted to 4 Southern General Hospital, Plymouth on 21 July, where he remained until 7 November. It is thought that Goodman completed this embroidery during this period of convalescence. He was transferred to 1 Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, before being discharged to Australian Headquarters on 14 November. He marched into 2 Communications Depot, Weymouth on 28 November and was invalided back to Australia aboard HMAT Morvada on 4 January, arriving in Melbourne on 20 February. He was discharged from the AIF on 3 July 1920.