GODFREY, Kirke Charles
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 May 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 7th Field Ambulance |
| Born: | Gelnelg, South Australia, 8 March 1888 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | St Peter's College, Adelaide University |
| Occupation: | Doctor |
| Died: | Perth, Western Australia, 13 November 1978, aged 90 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Adelaide University of Adelaide WW1 Honour Roll, Glenelg and District WW1 & WW2 Honour Board, Hackney St Peter's College Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 1 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Captain, Officer, 7th Field Ambulance | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1915: | Involvement Captain, 7th Field Ambulance, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 31 May 1915: | Embarked Captain, 7th Field Ambulance, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide |
Biography
Published Biography
Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1
Additional Biography
Education
Kirke attended St Peter’s College and completed his Junior, Senior and Higher Public Examinations from 1903 - 1907. In addition to a fine academic record, Kirke competed in swimming and athletics competitions.
Adelaide University
Kirke enrolled at the University of Adelaide in 1908 and completed his Medical Degree in 1914.
University Sport
Cricket
In 1908/9, the year that the Adelaide University Cricket Club (AUCC) was admitted to the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) A Grade competition, Kirke was playing B-Grade for Glenelg. Kirke did not possess the same cricketing skills of his father was not in-line for selection in the University team. University did have a second side the following season but was not selected in the B Grade XI, so he started with Glenelg again and in November fronted up against the University team. Even though he was a student at University, the SACA rules dictated that if he were not selected in any AUCC team he could play for his original club. The game was a chance to prove himself, however he only made a "duck" in the 1st innings and 1 run in the 2nd innings.
Kirke was selected to play for University later in December in a mid-week match against PAC, which probably was a game organised to prepare PAC for the following weeks intercollegiate match against St Peter's College. It appears though that Kirke was unavailable to bat for University on the 2nd day of the match.
The only other match that Kirke seems to have played for University is a match in Renmark in January 1910. With many of the students earning some money fruit picking during their vacation and although they were able to put a reasonable side together, they were thrashed by the locals. Kirke was one of the few players to reach double figures.
Lacrosse
He also played Lacrosse for University from 1911-14, representing the University in the 1909, 1912, 1913 and 1914 Intervarsity competitions.
Tennis
Kirke was also a keen tennis player and played competitively for University from 1909 to 1914. He also played in the University's annual tournament. Tennis as a summer sport, possibly explains why he gave cricket away for lawn tennis.
He competed in the South Australian Lawn Tennis Association tournament in March 1913.
WWI
Kirke enlisted and receive his commissioned on 1st May 1915 and was assigned to the 7th Field Ambulance. See the Published Biography for details of his war service.
Country Practice
Following his repatriation to Australia after being gassed during the Battle of Pozières, Kirke was discharged in February 1917 and return to civilian life and medical practice. In August 1918 he was appointed as health officer at Tungkillo.
After a year at Tungkillo, in August 1919 the Central Board of Health appointed Kirke as health office for Angas and he practised at Mt Pleasant until 1925 . He was also appointed as Justice of the Peace for the area.
As he had done in Mt Pleasant, when Kirke moved to Clare in the Mid North of South Australia he also became actively involved community activities. helping to raise funds for the building of the hospital at Mt Pleasant and playing Lawn Tennis in both towns.
In November 1928, his father’s exploits as a cricketer were brought up when his 41-year-old partnership record with the famed George Giffen against England was broken by Vic Richardson and Dave Pritchard.
Kirke was pictured at the Back to Clare celebrations in 1928.
In March 1929 Kirke sold his medical practice in Clare to Dr Clive Sangster and moved the family to Perth.
Perth
In 1929 Kirke moved, with his wife and two sons to Perth, WA. His wife, Beatrice, was heavily involved in the Girl Guide movement and frequently played bridge.
One son – Sergeant David Kirke Godfrey was involved in the sinking of a Japanese submarine of the eastern coast of Australia in June 1942. Sadly he was killed in action later that year. Their other son Robert Charles graduated from Adelaide University with a MB BS in 1944.
Death
Kirke Charles Godfrey died on the 13th November 1978.
Author EE (Beth) Filmer
For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project please see the document attached.
Submitted 10 June 2025 by Eleanor Filmer
Biography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Excerpt from Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1. Courtesy of the Authors
Kirke Charles Godfrey was born in Glenelg, South Australia on 8th March 1888. He was the son of Charles George Godfrey of Glenelg and his wife Mary Elizabeth, nee Kirkpatrick. Godfrey’s father was the fourth member to join the Stock Exchange, his election had taken place on 27th January 1891. His father was also a fine opening bat and a notable cricketer in the eighties. He played in several international games. Godfrey attended St Peter’s College in 1906 and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide graduating in May 1914.
Godfrey enlisted in the AIF and was commissioned on 1st May 1915 and allocated to 7FdAmb. He was single, aged 27 years of Althorpe Place, Glenelg with his father of the same address named as his next of kin. He sailed the same month. On arrival in Egypt he was transferred to 2 AGH and sent to Mena Hospital. He did not go to Gallipoli with the rest of his unit. He was posted to 6 FdAmb in February 1916 and went to France with this unit in March 1916. During the Battle of Pozières in August, Godfrey was gassed and evacuated to 4 LGH at Denmark Hill, London. As a result of this he became asthmatic, and was sent to No 2 Command Depot at Weymouth to await return to Australia for convalescence. He was taken off strength on the 12th November 1916 and sailed from Portland for Australia. Back in Australia he was passed as fit for Home Service only. He had served 624 days of which 579 were overseas. His appointment in the AIF was terminated on the 7th February 1917. Godfrey was issued with the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Godfrey married Beatrice Adelaide Gepp in the St Peter’s College Chapel on 6th April 1918. She was the youngest daughter of the late Thomas Gepp, S.M., and Mrs. Gepp, of 'Hockky,' Kensington Gardens. He remained in South Australia in the near country of Mt Pleasant and Clare where he became a Justice of the Peace in January 1921. Godfrey eventually moved to Perth WA in the 1930s. Godfrey made a round trip to Singapore from Fremantle as ship’s surgeon on board the Centaur in 1933. This ship’s name became renowned in 1943 when as 2/3 AHS she was sunk off Point Danger Queensland by a Japanese submarine. Godfrey’s son Sgt David Kirke Godfrey, serving with 6 SQN RAAF as an air gunner, was shot down and killed over New Guinea in 1942. Godfrey became an anaesthetist, and joined the staff of Perth Public Hospital with his rooms in 222 St George’s Tce and at 92 Thomas St, West Perth. He was elected to Honorary Membership of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists in 1961, recognising him as a pioneer specialist anaesthetist in Western Australia and a past president of the WA section of the society. Kirke Charles Godfrey died on the 13th November 1978.
Photo, AWM.6060
The Daily Herald Adelaide 18 Dec 1914
The Mail Adelaide 24 November 1917
The Mirror Perth 15 July 1939
Ancestry.com
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