Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

GOODHART Richard Akhurst MB BS FRACGP

1918 - 1988

Richard Akhurst Goodhart was born on 16th January 1918, in Adelaide. He was the son of James Alexander Meakin Goodhart and Mary Clare, nee Akhurst. He was educated at St Peter’s College and later, he studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating MB BS in 1942.

Goodhart was already serving as a captain, in the AAMC, in 10 CCS, in the CMF at the beginning of WW2.  He was detached from 10 CCS to 3 Trg Bn in Tanunda, SA, for preparation to enlist in the 2/AIF and was called up for full time duty on 2nd March 1942. He was admitted back to 10 CCS as a patient for an adverse reaction to his vaccinations. Goodhart then enlisted in the 2/AIF on 8th July 1942. He named his father as his next of kin, which was changed to his wife when he married. He was living at Park Terrace, Gilberton at the time of his enlistment. He was immediately sent to QLD, with 110 CCS, for embarkation on the Annui from Brisbane to Milne Bay, PNG in August 1942. He contracted dengue fever in December 1942. He was posted to 33 Australian Heavy Anti- Aircraft Battery from 19 May 1943 until 9th July 1943 and, served with 2/11 FdAmb, until he returned to Townsville QLD, on the Van Heutz, on 28th January 1944. He had a short period of leave without pay and returned to SA L o C area. Detached to 2/6 AGH on 3rd July 1944, he was evacuated to 2/2 AGH later that month with malaria. Goodhart returned to his unit on 8th August before a posting to 2/3rd FdAmb on 31st August.  He again embarked on the Van Heutz, in March 1945, this time for Morotai and subsequently Tarakan, Borneo, arriving on 22nd April 1945. He returned to SA on the Formidable on 26th November 1945 and was posted temporarily to 105 AMH, Adelaide. Goodhart was granted discharge leave but was admitted to hospital with tonsillitis before his discharge. He was transferred to the Reserve of Officers on 20th July 1946.

During the war, he married Joan Eirene Stuckey, of Highgate, they were engaged on 2nd April 1943.  She was the daughter of Mr Reginald Robert Stuckey the Under-Treasurer of SA and his first wife Jessie, nee Bridgman. In 1954 he gave evidence in court in a case where a woman had third-degree burns on her legs from a hot water bottle in St Anthony's Private Hospital. He obtained the MRACGP in 1958 and FRACCP in 1974. He had a practice on Magill Road, Trinity Gardens at the time. Richard Akhurst Goodhart died on 26th June 1988, when he was living in Leabrook, SA, and is buried at Kensington in St Matthews Anglican Cemetery. His wife and four children survived him; his wife Joan died in 2011.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears III: Medical Practitioners South Australia, who Served in World War 2. 

Swain, Jelly, Verco, Summers. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2019. 

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD