Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Father Charles Edward Rowlandson GODFREY (a bank clerk from India) and
Mother Isabel Frances Godfrey (nee Langham) Victorian born
prior to embarking he lived with his parents at 4 Scotchmer Street, North Fitzroy, Victoria.

Previous service:   70th Infantry Battalion (Ballarat Regiment)

WWI - Service #1953

Described on enlisting as 18 years old; single; a Clerk;
Church of England

11/1/1915      enlisted in Melbourne, Victoria

March 1915    promoted to Sergeant

17/4/1915      embarked from Port of Melbourne on board HMAT Hororata A20
                     as a Private in the 5th reinforcements, 5th Infantry Battalion

Commissioned in March 1916, he was sent to the 58th Battalion.

June 1916      58th Battalion was transferred to the Western Front

Aug 1916       he was promoted to Lieutenant

17/9/1916      that night, near Petillon, France,  he led a raiding party against a section of the German trenches. Although he encountered 'strong opposition', he 'secured identifications and laid two charges of gun cotton. He was the last to leave, and then carried back a wounded Sergeant'.

23/9/1916      Lieutenant Godfrey was recommended for a MILITARY CROSS
2/10/1916      awarded the MILITARY CROSS

December 1916 to May 1917 he served as adjutant of the battalion

In 1917-18     Captain Godfrey performed staff duties, first at the Headquarters of the
                     British 48th Division, and then at those of the 15th and 14th Australian
                     Infantry brigades.

May 1918        He was gassed and evacuated to England.

15/6/1918       married Mabel Sophia Barrett-Lennard at St John's Episcopal Church, Edinburgh

Returning to the 14th Brigade in France in July, he was detached that month to the 30th American
Division with which he remained until the Armistice.

27/7/1919       he was discharged from service in AIF

Between the wars Arthur lived at Newtown, Geelong, worked as an auctioneer for Strachan & Co. Ltd,
stock and station agents, and was an active Freemason.

He resumed his involvement with the Citizen Military Forces as Captain (1920) and Major (1925) in the 23rd Battalion.

In 1927 he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and commanded the unit (1927-29) and the composite 23rd-21st Battalion (1929-32 and 1935-39).

Prior to leaving Australia Arthur had a daughter and three sons.

WWII - Service # VX25

Next of kin:      Mabel Sophia Godfrey (living at 6 William Street, Newtown, Geelong, VIC)
                       Son - E A Godfrey

13/10/1939       Seconded to the A.I.F.
                        he was given  Command of the 2nd/6th Battalion

21/10/1939       enlisted in Newtown, Victoria (later signing up at Geelong, Victoria)

2/1/1940          Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Henry Langham Godfrey, was in Puckapunyal,
                       Victoria - Commanding Officer of 2/6th Battalion.

April 1940         embarked for the Middle East
May 1940          trained in Palestine

28/12/1940       2nd/6th relieved a British battalion outside Bardia, Libya

3-5/1/1941        For his part in the next eight days of operations, culminating in the successful
                        attack on the fortified town, Lte-Col Godfrey was awarded the Distinguished
                        Service Order (DSO) and Mentioned In Despatches (MID).

His brigade commander (Sir) Stanley Savige praised his example:   'as a soldier and a man'.

20/1/1941          Promoted Colonel and Temporary Brigadier

21-22/1/1941     The battalion took part in the assault on Tobruk

28/1/1941          Godfrey relinquished his Command of the 2nd/6th  and  became Commander,
                         of the Tobruk Lines of Communication Sub-Area and the AIF Reinforcements Depot.

13/3/1941          he was appointed to Command the 24th Brigade.

Apr-Sept 1941    he led the formation with 'ability and purposefulness' in the defence of Tobruk
                         (for this he was later recommended and awarded a Bar to the DSO and again
                          Mentioned In Despatches).

9/5/1941            Recommended for DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER (DSO)

30/12/1941         Recommended for a Bar to DSO
                         (Soldier qualities and power of command at Tobruk)

Jan-June 1942     the brigade held defensive positions in Syria, before being moved to Egypt to
                          help block Axis forces advancing towards Cairo. 

30/6/1942           Awarded a MENTION IN DESPATCHES - in London Gazette

July 1942            The 24th Brigade fought at Tel el Makh Khad, and attacked Ruin Ridge where
                          the 2nd/28th Battalion was captured.

23-24/10/1942     The battle of El Alamein, a turning point in the war.
                          Godfrey directed the brigade's operations until the evening of 1/11/1942 when
                          his tactical headquarters received a direct hit during an enemy artillery barrage.

Seriously wounded in the abdomen, he died on 4 November 1942.

4/11/1942         Direct hit by shell (died of wounds received in action)
                        a Brigadier in HQ 24 Australian Infantry Battalion
buried in:          El Alamein Military Cemetery
                        Grave 20, Row A, Plot 1

24/6/1943         Awarded a MENTION IN DESPATCHES - in London Gazette

He was mentioned in dispatches a third time.

1945                 Brigadier Godfrey's remains were exhumed and reburied in:
                        El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt

Brigadier Godfrey was remembered as:
'happy go lucky, always smiling',   a  'good mixer and a very sincere man'.
Resourceful, courageous and compassionate, he administered discipline firmly and fairly.

A former adjutant said of him:
'He had the priceless gift of being able to move about, and be equally [at] home with all ranks . . .
 he was a fine Commander too, clear and incisive'.

Brigadier Godfrey was the most senior AIF officer killed in action at El Alamein.

Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 12/6/2015. Lest we forget.