Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Private Cyril Charles Godfrey (1918–1997)

Private Cyril Charles Godfrey (SX17077) was born on 23 July 1918 at Rose Park, South Australia, the son of Harold Charles Godfrey and Susannah Leedham. He grew up in Adelaide and was educated in South Australia before entering the workforce as a labourer.

On 25 November 1940, Cyril married Daphne Edith Packer at Yorketown, South Australia. Their first child, Graham John Godfrey, was born at Murray Bridge in October 1941, and the family would eventually grow to seven children. His military attestation records that he was already married with one child when he enlisted.

With Australia deeply involved in the Second World War, Cyril enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force on 31 January 1942 at Wayville, South Australia. Aged twenty-three, he joined the Army as SX17077 Private Cyril Charles Godfrey and was posted to the 2/27th Australian Infantry Battalion, one of the battalions of the famed 9th Australian Division. His attestation records his occupation as labourer, religion as Church of England, and names his wife, Daphne Edith Godfrey, as his next of kin.

After completing his training in Australia, Cyril embarked for overseas service with the South-West Pacific Area. He served in the arduous New Guinea campaign and later on Morotai, where Australian infantry units operated under harsh tropical conditions while supporting the final Allied advance toward the Philippines and Borneo.

Like many Australian servicemen who fought in the tropics, Cyril contracted malaria and spent periods in military hospitals before returning to duty. Despite these setbacks, he completed his wartime service and remained with his battalion until the end of the conflict. His discharge records show that he completed over four and a half years of military service, including 1,430 days of active service, before being honourably discharged on 14 August 1946 following the cessation of hostilities.

Following the war, Cyril returned to civilian life in South Australia. Electoral Roll records show that he worked initially as a labourer and later as a bag merchant. Together, Cyril and Daphne raised their family, eventually becoming grandparents and great-grandparents. Daphne's memorial records that she was the loving mother of seven, Nanna of eighteen, and Great Nanna of ten.

An interesting glimpse into Cyril's post-war life survives in his National Archives file. In August 1951, he signed a statutory declaration explaining that he had misplaced his Certificate of Discharge after presenting it to the War Service Homes Division and requested a replacement Statement of Service.

Cyril was predeceased by his parents, Harold Charles Godfrey (1957) and Susannah Leedham (1971). He also experienced the loss of his brother Arnold Arthur William Godfrey (1991) and later his daughter Pauline Anne Godfrey (1993).

Cyril Charles Godfrey died at Salisbury, South Australia, on 8 October 1997, aged 79 years. His death notice appeared in The Advertiser on 10 October 1997. He was commemorated at Enfield Memorial Park, where his military plaque proudly records:

SX17077 PTE.

CYRIL C. GODFREY

2/27 BN.

His life reflected the experience of many Australians of his generation—growing up during the First World War, raising a young family during the Second, serving overseas in defence of his country, and returning home to build a life founded on family, hard work and service.

Sources

National Archives of Australia, B883, SX17077 – Cyril Charles Godfrey, attestation, service and discharge papers, confirming date and place of birth, enlistment, occupation, next of kin, unit, overseas service, hospital admissions, discharge and post-war declaration.
South Australian Birth Registration: Cyril Charles Godfrey, born 23 July 1918, Rose Park; parents Harold Charles Godfrey and Susannah Leedham (Book 21A, Page 520).
South Australian Marriage Registration: Cyril Charles Godfrey and Daphne Edith Packer, Yorketown, 25 November 1940.
South Australian Electoral Rolls (occupation recorded as Labourer and later Bag Merchant).
The Advertiser (Adelaide), Death Notice, published 10 October 1997.
Enfield Memorial Park military memorial plaque and cemetery records, commemorating Private SX17077 Cyril Charles Godfrey, 2/27 Battalion, died 8 October 1997, aged 79 years.

Biography by Trevor Pyatt 7/07/2026