GODLEE, John
| Service Number: | 274 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 October 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Royal Flying Corps |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 12 August 1891 |
| Home Town: | Fullarton, Unley, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Prince Alfred College |
| Occupation: | Stockman |
| Died: | Killed In Action, France, 19 July 1916, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
Bethune Town Cemetery, France Plot III. Row K. Grave 30. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, East Adelaide Public School Roll of Honour, Kent Town Prince Alfred College 'Nobly Striving, Nobly Fell' Roll of Honour, Kent Town Wesleyan Methodist Church WW1 Honour Roll, St Peters Heroes War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Oct 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 274, 10th Light Horse Regiment | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Feb 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 274, 10th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Mashobra embarkation_ship_number: A47 public_note: '' | |
| 12 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Trooper, 274, 10th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 27 Dec 1915: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 274, 10th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 28 Dec 1915: | Enlisted Second Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement Second Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps, AFC / RFC operations Western Front / Middle East |
Help us honour John Godlee's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Virtual Australia
Text supplied by Chas Schaedel and the South Australian Aviation Museum History Group
John GODLEE was born in St Peters and attended Prince Alfred College where he served in the Cadets Corps. Afetr finishing school he was employed as a stockman before he enlisted aged 22 at Guilford in WA on 21 October 1914. He embarked from Freemantle as a Trooper in the 10th Light Horse Regiment (3rd Light Horse Brigade) aboard HMAT A47 Mashobra on 8 February 1915. After a period of training in Egypt he sailed from Alexandria to Gallipoli on 16 May and served there gaining a promotion to Corporal until he fell ill with enteric fever and was evacuated to hospital on Malta on 19 August 1915.
Godlee was transferred to England from Malta aboard HS Fanconia on 28 August 1915 and admitted to No 4 London General Hospital at Denmark Hill on 9 September 1915. Upon recovery he was given his discharge from the AIF on 27 December 1915. He was issued with the 1914-1915 Star recgnising his service in the Dardanelles Campaign. On 28 December 1915 he was granted a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps. He trianed at Gasport gaining his RAeC Certificate on 20 February 1916 and graduated as as 2nd Lieutenant Flying Office before being posted to No.32 Squadron RFC in France.
On 15 July 1916 whilst flying a DH2 6006 Godlee destoyed an enemy biplane for his first victory, Four days later on 19 July he was mortally wounded during combat with a Fokker EIII which he sent down out of control. He is recorded on the Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll as Killed in Action on 19 July 1916 , aged 24 years.
Biography contributed
Biography written Archibald McEwin, Prince Alfred College, SA attached as a document. Winning entry for 2020 Premier's Anzac Spirit School Prize.
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