Portrait of Brigadier (Brig) Arthur Harry Langham Godfrey, DSO, MC, Commanding Officer of the ...

Portrait of Brigadier (Brig) Arthur Harry Langham Godfrey, DSO, MC, Commanding Officer of the 24th Infantry Brigade. In 1915 Godrey enlisted as a Private with the 5th Battalion AIF. Following a promotion to Sergeant he was attached to AIF Headquarters in Egypt. Commissioned in March 1916 he transferred to the 58th Battalion. In August on the Western Front he was promoted to Lieutenant (Lt). For his actions on the night of 17/18 September Lt Godfrey was awarded the Military Cross. From December 1916 to May 1917 he served as adjutant of the battalion. With the rank of Captain, Godfrey performed staff duties at the headquarters of the British 48th Division, then the 14th and 15th Infantry brigades. Captain Godfrey was gassed in May 1918 and evacuated to England. In July 1918 he returned to the 14th Brigade in France, was later detached to the 30th American Division, and returned to Australia in July 1919. During the Second World War Lieutenant Colonel Godfrey commanded 2/6 Battalion in the Middle East, being awarded the Distinguished Service Order for 'courage, initiative and coolness' at Bardia, 3-5 January 1941. The battalion then took part in the assault in Tobruk on 21-22 January. In March 1941 Godfrey was appointed to command the 24th Brigade and was awarded a Bar to the DSO for 'soldier qualities and power of command at Tobruk'. Godfrey directed the brigade's operations at El Alamein until 1 November 1942 when he was wounded in action. He died on 4 November 1942 and is buried in the El Alamein war cemetery.