Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Gordon Powell Goode was born on the 22nd January1886, at Port Pirie, SA, the son of William Goode and Marion Jones. William Goode and his brothers owned a large store in Port Pirie trading under the name of Messrs Goode Bros. William was a well respected businessman in the town and did much toward the progress of Port Pirie.

Gordon’s siblings were William Ernest (b 1874), Henry Edward (b 1876), Helen Marion (b 1877), Samuel Walter (b 1878), Alfred Britten (b 1881, d 1882, aged 17 months), Myra Elizabeth (b 1882), Nita Frances (b 1884), Clive (b 1887, d 1887), Grant Jones (b 1888, d 1892), Muriel Gertrude (b 1890) and Eric Ralf (b 1893, d 27 April 1915).

Schooling

After his early schooling at Port Pirie, Gordon attended Prince Alfred College, Adelaide from 1902.

In 1903 he competed in various intercollegiate football matches and acquitted himself well in PAC and Intercollegiate athletics competitions. By 1904 he was playing both cricket and football for PAC and was the Vice Captain of the PAC football team. Gordon also competed in intercollegiate gymnastics competitions and won the PAC College Cup for Athletics by 20 points. In 1905 he again played both cricket and football for PAC and won the College Cup. In his final year at PAC Gordon captained both the PAC Cricket and Football teams and took out the College Cup for athletics for the third year in a row. In 1906 Gordon captained the PAC Intercollegiate Tennis team.

Gordon matched his fine athletic record with a fine academic record passing English Literature (credit), Algebra and Inorganic Chemistry in the Junior Examinations in 1904, the Senior Examination in English Literature in 1905 and five subjects in the Senior Examinations in 1906. In March 1907 Gordon passed the Senior Examination in Latin. Gordon also served in the Commonwealth Cadet Corps while at PAC.

Medical Studies

Gordon departed Australia on the Orient Royal Mail steamer ‘Ophir’ which left East Circular Quay, Sydney on the 20th March 1907 via Hobart and other ports. He attended medical school in Edinburgh and was unable to attend the PAC Old Scholars function in London in August 1907 but sent an apology. He returned to Adelaide without completing his studies following the sudden death of his father, William, on the 21st January 1910, aged 69.

Gordon departed from Liverpool, UK on the 30th July 1910 onboard the ‘Medic” and arrived at Albany, WA on the 5th September 1910 and in Adelaide on the 9th September 1910.

In December 1910 Gordon competed in a PAC v Old Boys cricket match.

Adelaide University

In 1911 Gordon commenced a Bachelor of Arts degree at Adelaide University; however he left before completing his degree.

Adelaide University Sport

Football

Gordon played football for Adelaide University in the first season of the Amateur League competition. He kicked two goals for the Blacks in the first Amateur League Grand Final helping complete the University’s undefeated run to the flag. Unfortunately Gordon is not in the one newspaper photograph of the 1911 team.

Tennis

Gordon played tennis for Adelaide University in the South Australian Lawn Tennis Class 1A competition in 1911 and in the 1911 SA Lawn Tennis tournament. In April 1911 Gordon competed for Adelaide University in the Intervarsity Tennis competition versus Sydney University.

Career

In 1912 Gordon returned to Port Pirie and became a member of the Port Pirie branch of the Agricultural Bureau.

In 1913 Gordon received an advance on his inheritance from his father’s estate and invested in a quarry at Burnside. Unfortunately the quarry was subject to a lengthy legal matter which resulted in Gordon and his partner getting into financial difficulties.

Gordon was working as a station hand at the outbreak of WWI. It is possible that he was working at Martin’s Wells Station, via Hawker, as his will dated 13th July 1915 leaves the sum of £10 to Herbert Hesicke of that address. Gordon arranged for the assets of the quarry business to be transferred to a limited liability company pending the judgement in the case and went to the war a free man. The court case was not resolved until more than a year after Gordon’s death. 

World War I

Gordon enlisted in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment on 7th October 1914 and departed for Europe on board HMAT A17 Port Lincoln on 22 October 1914. He was described as 28 years and 9 months old, 5”6” tall and 142 lbs, with a fair complexion, grey eyes and reddish brown hair.

Gordon landed at Gallipoli less than two weeks after his younger brother, Eric, lost his life on 27th April 1915.

Gordon was promoted to the rank of Corporal on 11th August 1915.

Death

In mid-September 1915 Gordon was admitted to hospital with enteric fever. Although he returned to his regiment a few days later, he had not fully recovered and was soon evacuated to Egypt. By the 10th October he was described as dangerously ill. Gordon passed away as a result of his illness on the 16th October 1915 at the Military Hospital at Alexandrina, Egypt.

His death is sometimes recorded as the 17th October, which was the date he was buried at the nearby Chatby Military Cemetery, aged 30. His headstone also commemorates his brother Eric, whose body was never recovered, and who has no known grave. It reads, “They did their duty.”

Gordon left an estate valued at £2,330. Goode Road, Port Pirie is named in honour of Eric and Gordon Goode.

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared by Beth Filmer for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (with assistance from Rob O'Shannassy & Janne Filmer) please see the document attached or the Adelaide University site AdelaideConnect at
https://connect.adelaide.edu.au/nodes/view/25703