GOFFIN, Benjamin
| Service Number: | 5014 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 February 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 22nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Tulchin, Podolia, Ukraine , 10 May 1896 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Painter |
| Died: | Accident with Horse & Cart, Walpole, Plantagenet, Western Australia, 5 October 1931, aged 35 years |
| Cemetery: |
Denmark Cemetery, Denmark Shire, Western Australia |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 22nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 5014, 22nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ayrshire embarkation_ship_number: A33 public_note: '' | |
| 3 Jul 1916: | Embarked Private, 5014, 22nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ayrshire, Melbourne | |
| 12 Nov 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5014, 22nd Infantry Battalion, Private Ben Goffin enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 18 February 1916 — the same day he arrived in Melbourne from America. He embarked aboard HMAT Ayrshire on 3 July 1916, proceeding to France with the 22nd Battalion, 13th Reinforcements. He served on the Western Front 1916-1918, seeing action at Étaples, Bullecourt and Villers-Bretonneux. He was wounded in action three times and gassed. He was transported back to Australia aboard the Demosthenes, disembarking March 1919, and was discharged permanently unfit for general service on 14 May 1919. Awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. | |
| 14 May 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1 |
My Ukranian ANZAC
Dad told us the story of how Ben and his brothers escaped to the United States about 1914 in the lead up to the Russian Revolution. Ben had several brothers and sisters but only the boys made the trip with their father, leaving their mother and sisters behind. The intent was to arrange passage for the women once they had made it safely to America.
Unfortunately, Ben’s mother and sisters never escaped. Ben decided to leave the USA and headed to Australia, arriving in Melbourne in 1916. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on the very day he arrived.
As a member of the 22nd Battalion between 1916 - 1918, Ben served on the western front; Étaples, Bullecourt, Villers-Bretonneux. He was wounded several times, also gassed. He was transported back to Melbourne and discharged in 1919.
Whilst in Melbourne, he met and married Anne Koodak, they had twin boys, Steve and Maurice (my father). As part of a soldier settler scheme, the family moved to Walpole, W.A
Sadly, Ben was killed in a terrible accident in 1931. He was moving some fencing posts with horse and cart. The horse got startled, causing the dray to turn over, its load fell on Ben, crushing him. He was just 35 years old.
We had always assumed Ben was originally from Russia, but through Elena Govor's research, we discovered he was in fact from Ukraine.
Ben's story is just one of many. In the early part of the 20th century, lots of men and women escaping the increasing tensions in eastern Europe found their way to Australia. Many ended up serving in WW1 for their newly adopted country. Many were injured and many gave their lives.
Submitted 27 April 2026 by Richard Goffin
Click images to start slideshow.