Brigadier General Henry Arthur Goddard

image: E02284 image: E02284
Photograph E02284
Ranks Held Brigadier General, Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Temporary Brigadier General
Birth Date 13/12/1869
Birth Place United Kingdom: England, Greater London, Ilford
Death Date 24/10/1955
Death Place Australia: New South Wales, Sydney
Final Rank Brigadier General
Service Australian Imperial Force
Units
  • 17th Australian Infantry Battalion
  • 17th Australian Infantry Battalion
Places
Conflict/Operation First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Henry Arthur Goddard was born in England in 1869 and, immigrated to Brisbane, Australia in 1890. He married Elizabeth Maud Morrow in 1897. Goddard was placed in command of Brisbane defences at the outbreak of war in 1914. He joined Australian Imperial Force as Lieutenant Colonel in 1915 and appointed to command 25 Battalion. He was transferred to 17th Battalion and left Sydney on 12 May 1915 for Egypt. Goddard didn't get to Gallipoli until 2 September due to illness. He served at Quinn's Post and remained there until evacuation on 20 December 1915.

Suffering further sickness he was invalided to Australian in 1916. In July 1916 he embarked again, being appointed commander of 35 Battalion. He arrived in France in November and took part in the battle of Messines and was awarded the DSO. Goddard also served at Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele; and repealed an attack at Amiens in April 1918; and Morlancourt. Appointed to command 9th Brigade in May 1918, Goddard, led the Somme offensive until the end of the war, including the battle of Bray-sur-Somme and the attack on the Hindenburg line. Goddard was mentioned in despatches three times, and after the Armistice the awards of the CMG and the Belgian Croix de Guerre were announced. He returned to Australia in 1920.

Collection items

    Media


    Outdoor portrait of Colonel Henry Arthur Goddard DSO, 35th Battalion.

    Outdoor portrait of Colonel Henry Arthur Goddard DSO, 35th Battalion.

    Mr C E W Bean, Australian Official Correspondent (left), the Right Honourable W. M. Hughes, Prime ...

    Group portrait of headquarters officers, 17th Battalion taken outside a tent probably in Egypt. ...

    Document


    Personal Files Book 15, 10 May - 9 June 1917

    Personal Files Book 17, 14 January - 11 February 1918

    Personal Files Book 18, 21 April - 8 May 1918

Rolls

Timeline

Date of birth 13/12/1869
Other 1890 Immigrated to Australia.
Date commissioned 30/11/1899 Commissioned as a lieutenant in the Moreton Regimenht.
Other 1906 - 1915 Consul for Paraguay.
Date promoted 11/02/1913 Promoted to lieutenant and given command of the regiment.
Other 1914 Placed in charge of the Brisbane Defences when war broke out.
Other 12/05/1915 Took charge of the 17th Infantry Battalion on board the transport Themistocles, sailing for Egypt.
Date of enlistment 06/03/1915
Date and unit at appointment (Officers) 16/03/1915 Appointed to the AIF with the rank of lieutenant colonel and given command of the 25th Infantry Battalion.
Date of embarkation 12/05/1915
Other units 09/05/1915 Ordered to take over the command of the 17th Infantry Battalion.
Other 01/08/1916 Departed from Melbourne on board HMAT Miltiades for London.
Date returned to Australia 18/05/1916
Other 18/01/1916 Admitted to hospital with a serious case of dysentry.
Other 10/04/1916 Evacuated to Australia.
Other units 13/10/1916 Given command of the 35th Battalion.
Other 16/07/1916 Rejoined the AIF.
Date of recommendation honour or award 06/10/1917
Date of honour or award 1918 Mention in Despatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his part in the action at Messines, Broodeseinde and Passchendaele.
Date of recommendation honour or award 21/09/1918
Other units 1918-01-05 - 1918-02-18 Acting commander of the 9th Infantry Brigade.
Date promoted 01/06/1918 Promoted to full colonel and temporary brigadier general.
Date of recommendation honour or award 30/09/1918
Other units 21/05/1918 Took over command of the 9th Infantry Brigade.
Date of recommendation honour or award 16/10/1918
Date of recommendation honour or award 30/03/1919
Date of honour or award 1919 Mention in Despatches and made a Companion of St Michael and St George (CMG) for his part in the Bray-sur-Somme battle and the attack on the Hindenburg Line.
Date of recommendation honour or award 27/03/1919
Date of recommendation honour or award 07/02/1919
Other 11/05/1920 AIF appointment terminated.
Date returned to Australia 03/01/1920
Other units 1921 - 1926 Commanded the 14th Infantry Brigade and was honorary colonel of the 17th Infantry Battalion.
Other 1931 Placed on the retired list with the rank of brigadier general.
Date of death 24/10/1955

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