Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Bernard Maurice (Maurie) Goodwin was born in Macksville NSW on the 22nd of June 1933 and enlisted in the RAN in August 1951 at the age of 18. His occupation on enlistment was labourer.

Maurie trained at HMAS Cerberus before joining the heavy cruiser HMAS Australia as an ordinary seaman. After six months onboard HMAS Australia he underwent a year of courses before posting to the River Class Frigate HMAS Murchison. Maurie would spend nine months onboard Murchison, the majority of which was on active service in Korea. On the ship’s return to Australia he posted to the Aircraft Carrier HMAS Sydney for a few months and at the end of 1954 he joined the Q Class ASW frigate HMAS Queenborough. Whilst he was on Queenborough the ship deployed to the United Kingdom. Maurie left the ship on its return to Sydney be married in Wollongong in January 1956 to Aileen Jeanette Simmers.

Maurie spent most of 1956 ashore at HMAS Watson, during which time his son Mark was born. He then spent the last seven months of his permanent naval career at sea on the Q Class frigate HMAS Quadrant. In the 1950s men on discharge had to join the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Reserve for five years and undertake a periods of compulsory service. In early 1959 Maurie joined HMAS Watson for refresher training before a posting to the frigate HMAS Warrego. Maurie left Watson on the 14th of April but never arrived on Warrego and he was considered to have deserted. He was discharged, services no longer required (SNLR) a few months later.

After leaving the RAN, Maurie worked as a labourer and later as a greaser in the merchant navy. He and Aileen lived at various times at Towradgi and Berkely near Wollongong and in Annandale in Sydney. The marriage ultimately failed, and the couple divorced. His son Mark passed away in 1993 and eventually Maurie retired to South West Rocks not far from his birthplace of Macksville.

Able Seaman Bernard Maurice Goodwin passed away in Port Macquarie on the 3rd of August 2008. His body was cremated, and his ashes interred in the remembrance wall at the Arakoon Cemetery at South West Rocks.