Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Elizabeth and Richard Webb, of Parkes, NSW, welcomed Godfrey Joseph Webb, on 28th
November 1898, their eighth and youngest child.

A happy childhood, surrounded by his older brothers and sisters, in Edwardian Australia,
Godfrey’s young life was ordered and arranged, as a child’s life at the time would be. A
lively child, he was always on the “go” and had a wicked sense of humour, often practical
joking his siblings.
I remember my grandmother (Grandma), his older sister, Eliza, telling
me, on one occasion, how he hid her embroidery, until she was nearly frantic, as the item was
an entry in the local agricultural show. He received a stern rebuke from his mother regarding
this “prank”, not to mention sharp words from my grandmother, whom he adored.

In another memory from Grandma, Godfrey and his brothers, Richard, and Albert, spent
many a school holiday, learning about sheep farming, hunting, and shooting, at their Uncle
Iram’s farm, “Roselan”, near Wee Waa, north of Parkes. This is where Godfrey’s love of the
outdoors, farm life and all it entailed developed.

One blight on his early life, was his father’s death in August of 1909. His death devastated
his family, but especially Godfrey and his mother. This left the family business in the hands
of his three eldest brothers, Alfred, Nelson, and Albert. His other brother, Richard, was still at
school when their father died.

An average school student, Godfrey did not want to go to university, unlike his brother
Nelson, but wanted to stay in Parkes, preferably not in the family business. While he did not
mind the idea of being on the land, he did not want to make it his career, thus, Godfrey’s
mother organised an apprenticeship with a local tailor, Denning and Lockhart, in 1913, when
Godfrey was 15.

In 1911, while at school, he joined the local Parkes cadet unit (2nd Lieutenant for 16 months),
as part of the compulsory military training introduced into schools during that year. He
enjoyed the cadets and learnt a lot about himself during the four cadet years, and he thought
an Army career would be quite a good balance between Parkes and The World.

Godfrey’s cadet service resulted in him deciding to join the Army proper in January 1916,
with his mother’s permission. Unfortunately, the Army discharged him after 99 days,
rendered “medically unfit” after a bout of appendicitis and an operation.

Godfrey tried again in December of 1916, and again joined the Army, found fit and shipped
out to England in February 1917, on the A19 Wiltshire, after basic training in Australia.

From April to August 1917, Godfrey joined various training groups, 63rd Battalion at
Windmill Hill, and the 5th Training Battalion at Rollestone, on the Salisbury Plain in
Wiltshire. On the 4th of August 1917, Godfrey started at the Hurdcott Signals School, also on
the Salisbury Plain.

Whether he expressed a wish to join the Signal Corps, is unknown, but Grandma remembered
from letters sent to her and their mother, he thought it would keep him out of harm’s way,
which is what his mother wanted. Assigned to the Signals Corps, Godfrey’s slight build may
have been the reason, rather than given a more physical assignment.

Grandma remembered Godfrey being an outgoing and gregarious chap - the camaraderie and
mateship of the Army suiting him down to the ground. Days off would find him with others
from the Signals School, visiting the regional sights, such as Stonehenge, and no doubt,
sampling the local beverages, even though he was underage.

Signals training complete, Godfrey reported to the 20th Battalion on September 19, in
preparation for travelling to France on October 18.

Another memory from Grandma, that in a letter to his mother, Godfrey outlined his
excitement at finally finishing training and going to the Western Front; he and his mates were
finally going to get “to do their bit”.
Godfrey first saw action in October 1917, in the Third Battle of Ypres, also unofficially
known as the Passchendaele Offensive.

How Godfrey coped with, the cold, the rats, the smell, the mud, and disease in the trenches is
unknown. In the cramped conditions, he slept where he could, insects were a big problem,
continual artillery noise, cold, damp and the constant threat from snipers, added to his stress.
A hot, meal and clean water were practically unknown, along with working latrines.

Wounded while on duty in the trenches, in the early morning hours, of May 20th, 1918.
Godfrey suffered from a shot to his right arm which went through his lungs. Conveyed to the
5th Field Ambulance, he died later that day of these wounds.

Private Godfrey Joseph Webb is interred in Section C 17 of the Querrieu Military Cemetery,
north-east of Amiens, with 195 other slain soldiers.