GODDING, Clarence Sydney
| Service Number: | 5342 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 February 1916, Enlisted at Lismore |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 19th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Grafton, New South Wales, Australia, 1898 |
| Home Town: | Newtown (NSW), Inner West, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Grafton Superior Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farm Hand |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 3 May 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" No known grave, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Newtown Superior Public School Great War Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5342, 19th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Lismore | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 5342, 19th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 5342, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wiltshire, Sydney |
Help us honour Clarence Sydney Godding's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of Charles James and Florence Maud Godding of 'Lorraine', Beaumont Street, Rose Bay, NSW; brother of Geoff Godding
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
The father of this soldier, Charles James Godding, had served with the New South Wales Contingent in the Sudan War. He lost all of his three sons to war, two during WW1 and the youngest in WW2.
Clarence Sydney Godding was working as a farm hand on a dairy Farm, before joining the 19th Battalion AIF in 1916 as a Private, and had been living with his parents. He fought at Pozieres and Flers during 1916. During 1917 he fought at Lagnicourt, and was officially listed as missing in action at Bullecourt on the 3 May 1917.
Clarence’s brother Private Fines Henry Godding wrote to the Red Cross several times seeking information but none was ever forthcoming. Clarence was listed as missing until July 1918, when he was declared as KIA 3 May 1917.
In a letter to Base Records dated October 1917, the father wrote,
‘Dear Sir, I am writing to you to ask you if you could give me any information regarding my son 5342 Pte. C.S. Godding of the 19th Battalion who was reported to me as missing 3-5-17. Am anxiously waiting to hear something about him. I have the Red Cross people trying to find him. Surely by now there ought to be some trace of him. If he has been killed in action or taken prisoner of war. I am dreadfully worried about him. I thought you may be able to give me some idea if you think he may be a prisoner of war in Germany or if any of the men reported missing on that date have been found….’
Clarence’s older brother, 891 Pte. Fines Henry Godding 53rd Battalion AIF was killed in action during one of the last Australian fights on the Western Front, 30 September 1918, having served since Gallipoli.
The youngest son of Charles James Godding, NX17069 Gunner James Keith Godding 2/6th Field Regiment Australian Army died of illness in Sydney 27 September 1943, aged 38.