Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Oswald, affectionately know as Os was born in Adelaide on the 4th November 1915 the youngest son of Charles Archibald and Eva Marie Gooden. His siblings included two brothers, Norman and Eric and two sisters Eileen and Marjorie, with the family living in Seaton Estate. Post school, Oswald worked as a clerk until the outbreak of WWII.
His older brother, Eric Charles, was the first to enlist on the 15th July ’40 as SX8911. With the push for young, single men to enlist to serve, 24-year-old Os enlisted just days later, on the 20th July 1940, finding his middle name mis-spelt as Davey. He was allocated the number SX9377 and eventually posted to the 2/48th Battalion on the 14th March ’41 with the rank of Lieutenant. (Eric later also was allocated to the 2/48th Battalion in November ’41.)
With the battalion preparing to head overseas, Oswald married Margaret Ruth Fisher on the 11th March ’41, with the Advertiser carrying the announcement of their wedding in that day’s newspaper. “The marriage of Margaret R., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Fisher, of Westbourne Park, with Oswald D. son of Mr. and Mrs. C. A Gooden. of Fullarton Estate, will be celebrated at 7:30 pm tonight at the Westbourne Park Methodist Church.”
By April ’41 Os embarked for the Middle East, arriving on the 14th May with preliminary training followed by Officers’ School. By August that year, rumours abounded within the battalion about their prospective evacuation by sea and a return to Australia. Many of the men had developed what came to be known as ‘Rommel’s Rash’. These were cuts which quickly became infected and were frequently sustained when the men went to ground if a shell landed nearby. They were also probably a side effect of the lack of fresh fruit and vegetables in their diet. However, with Lieutenant Gooden’s arrived with 30 men on the 16th, the rumour was initially dispelled as other reinforcements arrived. Inevitably, the rumours began again, with some of the troops starting a ‘book’ predicting when they would move out.
By the 21st July ’42 orders were received to capture West Point and thrust forward on the whole Alamein front. During this offensive, Oswald’s D Company was pinned down by fire and had lost several men. Captain Williams had been killed and both platoon commanders, Lieutenants Ossie and Jim Smith (SX8325) wounded. Oswald was initially placed on the dangerously ill list, then downgraded to seriously ill list for the gunshot wound to his buttock and groin, finally being able to return to the 2/48th in November ‘42
John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan recorded that “Casualties all round had been extremely heavy.” The intense heat made conditions horrific, but still, fellow Companies became part of the relieving support of the men, thus enabling the remnants of Ossie’s company to withdraw. Glenn summarised the fighting. “ Tel el Eisa was ours, but the price we had been forced to pay had been high. On the tortured, bloody slopes of this sandy ridge fifty-three men had been killed and sixty-nine wounded, (Including Ossie). “ That battle prompted Padre Archibald to write a poignant poem as a tribute to those men. It included the stanza;
“Though willing be the flesh of gallant men,
The strongest, bravest spirit is subdued
When overwhelming weight of force and fire
Batters and blasts, as wounded rise again
To reach a comrade’s side to render aid
Or to press on in desert’s heat, where shade
And water are but things to torment those
Who think and suffer lying near their foes.”

Darren Paech is his book Adelaide to Alamein based on the war diaries of his grandfather, Captain Ivor Paech SX7138, found the diary entry was more blunt for Wednesday 22nd July ’42. “The attack didn’t succeed, and we lost many of the best men, including Col Williams, Lance Heffron and Frank Thredgold. Dick LeMessurier and Os Gooden were wounded. It was a very sad day for our battalion.” Ivor later recorded that the “heavy loss of life for the scant gains troubling. It all seemed so futile and many of his close friends were now dead or wounded” including Os Gooden.
Desert conditions inevitably affected the health of the soldiers with Oswald developing Jaundice and later that year in August, Bronchitis. Finally, the 2/48th began their return to Australia via Melbourne, arriving in February ’43 for well-earned rest.
Training in Queensland followed in preparation for the tropical conditions of New Guinea and a very different enemy. Oswald arrived in August ’43 but within weeks developed conjunctivitis and soon after, migraine. Early in January the following year Oswald then contracted dengue fever and later malaria.
Back in Australia, Oswald attended Tactical School and by the end of the year was promoted to Captain, within days of his daughter being born in January ’45. His time with the new family was brief as Oswald left Cairns headed to Morotai in March and thence to Tarakan.
On the 4th May ’45, in 90% humidity Captain Goodens and A Company dug in on the south spur of a ridge, in preparation for an assault on Sykes and Otway early the following day. Following a thorough reconnaissance, A Company leaders, including Ossie discussed their tactics for the advance. Later in the morning John Glenn shared that A Company was held up by heavy fire, requiring tanks to be brought up to clear the way. Realizing that a direct assault would be costly to his men, Oswald instigated a clever strategy of sending Lieutenant ‘Diver’ Derrick to encircle and strike Otway from the east while the remainder of A Company attacked from the south. “This unexpected line of approach took the Japs completely by surprise. Otway was overrun.”
Sykes also was overrun. Captain Gooden then commanded a composite of the 8th, 13th and 15th Platoons on the 6th with the men digging in for the night. At that stage, unbeknown to Ossie, tragedy struck. His older brother, Lance Sergeant Eric was killed in action at Morotai. John Glenn outlined how the Japanese had perfected the art of climbing trees, just waiting for a clear shot. Lieutenant Burke, to reassure his Platoon ‘had stood up at dawn and said, “There are no sniper in this area.” Hardly had he finished speaking when he fell, mortally wounded. He had been shot by a sniper who was concealed among trees on a small hillock twenty yards from C Company.’ The previous day this jap had killed D.W. McKinnon and Captain Gooden’s brother Eric (SX8911). ‘Before he himself was shot he would add two more names to the list of our dead: Private Merv W. Arnold (SX19552) and Private W.G. (Finlay)Barnett (SX10571).’
By May ’45 Oswald was recommended for the Military Cross for his ‘outstanding leadership and great personal bravery in the attack on “Freda” feature during the Tarakan operations.’ The strongly held Freda, was the site of a bitter battle for ownership, the difficulty exacerbated by being on a heavily jungled ridge with precipitous slopes. Despite heavy casualties in which only four section leaders remained, A Company, led by Captain Gooden continued to attack over two days. During this time the men were under constant fire. Gooden, however continued to move between his platoons, encouraging and sharing vital tactical information. Finally, A Company were able to encircle the enemy, succeeding at all costs. Glenn added that “It was only when ordered to do so that he withdrew, and his company fought its way back carrying its wounded.”
Local Adelaide newspapers shared the news of Captain Gooden being awarded the Military Cross on the 9th August ’45 with the News carrying a photo of Oswald with its report. The previous day the News also carried a report of other South Australians whose bravery had been recognised.
News Wednesday 8 August 1945, ‘CANBERRA. - Three South Australian soldiers are in the latest list of awards for bravery in the South-West Pacific. The awards--comprising in all five of the Military Cross, two of the Distinguished Conduct Medal. and 24 of the Military Medal-were announced today by the Duke of Gloucester. South Australian recipients are
MILITARY CROSS Captain O. D. Gooden, of Fullarton Estate, who with a platoon greatly depleted by casualties at Tarakan was enabled by great skill and personal bravery to encircle and liquidate a powerful enemy post.
MILITARY MEDAL Private W. J.' Fennell, of Berri. (SX6832 2/48th Battalion) who, acting on his own initiative, went forward to reconnoitre an enemy post, and later singlehanded went forward with a submachine-gun to silence it. Private K. W. Pickering. of Prospect, 2/ 6th (SX26271) who located an enemy machine-gun post and in an advance on it brought in a wounded section leader under heavy fire.’

The years of warfare and poor nutrition continued to affect Oswald’s health with him being hospitalised at the Adelaide Military Hospital in September ’45 with a range of issues including suspected diabetes, the after-effects of his gunshot wounds and also malaria. He was finally discharged on the 28th September that year and was formally presented with the Military Cross.
Oswald’s mother, Eva lived to see him return home. She died unexpectedly on the 27th May ’52 with Cannon Gooden officiating at her private cremation, West Terrace. Her death was announced in the Advertiser. ‘GOODEN.— On May 26 (suddenly), at her residence, 62 Wattle street, Fullarton Estate, Eva Maria, dearly beloved wife of Charles Archibald Gooden and loving mother of Norman, Eileen, Os and Marjorie.’
Aged 92 Oswald died on the 9th March 2007. A plaque honouring his service is in the Garden of Remembrance.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.