Z5116
GOODRIDGE, Clair James
| Service Number: | 1057 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 January 1916, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Booborowie, South Australia, 26 January 1895 |
| Home Town: | Booborowie, Goyder, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | From his wounds he carried a piece of shrapnel in his back for several years, In hospital at Heathfield, South Australia, 26 October 1933, aged 38 years |
| Cemetery: |
West Terrace Cemetery (AIF Section) Row 3S; C/E/W: W; Site # 22 Section: LO, Road: 3S, Site No: 22 |
| Memorials: | Booborowie Leighton WW1 Roll of Honor, Burra District WW1 Honor Roll, Mount Bryan Roll of Honor WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1916: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Private, 1057, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' |
|
| 9 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1057, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide | |
| 14 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1 | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 1057, 43rd Infantry Battalion |
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Born: 26 January 1895 in Booborowie, South Australia
(SA Birth Record 1842 - 1906 Book: 556 Page: 305 District: Bur.)
Grandfather Eli Goodridge.
Father Isaac James Goodridge (b.__/1856 - d. ____)
m. 28/5/1881 - Residence of Thomas Hutchins, Iron Mine S.A.
Mother Mary Ann Goodridge (nee Hutchins - b.__/1856 - d. ____)
living at Booborowie, South Australia
Siblings:
Sister Maria Ann Goodridge b. 20/8/1882 - Iron Mine SA
Sister Harriet Jane Goodridge b. 18/9/1884 - Iron Mine SA
Brother Thomas Eli George Goodridge b. 17/3/1888 - Aberdeen SA
Sister Hilda Lillian Goodridge b. 22/11/1889 - Redruth, Burra, SA
Sister Matilda Joyner Goodridge b. 7/10/1892 - Booborowie, SA
Himself Clair James Goodridge b. 26/1/1895 - Booborowie, SA
Sister Clara Pearl Goodridge b.
Clair spent his early life in Boobowrie.
On enlisting Clair had been living at Mount Bryan, South Australia.
Described on enlisting as 21 years old; single; 5' 8 3/4" tall; 144 lbs; fair complexion;
blue eyes; brown hair; Methodist.
24/1/1916 Enlisted in Adelaide, SA
completed medical - fit for service
16/4/1916 Commanding Officer appoined Clair to B Company, 43rd Battalion
Morphettville Camp
The 43rd Battalion was South Australia’s contribution to the strength of the division. Along with the 41st, 42nd, and 44th Battalions, plus support troops, it formed the 11th Brigade.
9/6/1916 Embarked from Outer Harbour, Port Adelaide, on board HMAT Afric A19
Private with 11th Infantry Brigade, 43rd Infantry Battalion, B Company
The battalion embarked in June 1916 and, after landing briefly in Egypt, went on to
Britain for further training
20/7/1916 disembarked into Marseilles France.
25/11/1916 Proceeded overseas to France, ex Southampton, England
The battalion arrived on the Western Front in late December 1916.
The 43rd Battalion spent 1917 bogged in bloody trench warfare in Flanders.
June 1917 the battalion took part in the battle of Messines
In the interval he was twice wounded, he was also gassed and suffered from shell shock,
but had the honor during that period to be mentioned twice in English dispatches.
Mention in Despatches
31/7/1917
"Private Goodridge was North of the River Douve, he was a runner
between Battalion HQ and Company HQ, his work taking him
through heavy enemy barrage fire on our support lines.
Notwithstanding this he delivered his communications without delay
until finally, while returing overland through an intense enemy
bombardment he was badly wounded in the leg.
Though in great pain, he made his way some distance to discover
somebody to whom he could deliver his despatch.
This done, he reported to Battalion HQ the action he had taken, and
not til then did he go to the Dressing Station to have his wound
attended to."
Witnessed by: Lieutenant Colonel C P Butler
2/8/1917 Embarked for England on board HS St Denis
3//1917 Admitted to Kitchener Military Hospital, England
October 1917 the Third Battle of Ypres.
19/12/1917 proceeded overseas to France, ex Longbridge
26/12/1917 rejoined 43rd Battalion, France
April 1918 they helped stop the German Spring offensive at Villers-Bretonneux.
July 1918 the battalion was part of General Monash’s attack at Hamel.
Aug & Sept the battalion helped drive the Germans back to the Hindenburg Line.
The 43rd joined the advance that followed the 2nd Division’s victory
at Mont St Quentin.
1/9/1918 wounded in action
4/9/1918 invalided to UK
5/9/1918 admitted to Military Hospital
The battalion spent much of 1918 fighting in the Somme valley.
At 11am on 11/11/1918, the guns fell silent on the Western Front.
The November Armistice was followed by the Treaty of Versailles signed on 28/6/1919.
20/5/1919 Returned to Australia on board HMT Nestor, ex Liverpool
29/6/1919 disembarked into Australia
14/8/1919 discharged from service
Medals:
British War medal (13373) and Victory medal (13188).
On returning from active service he married Annie (only daughter of the late
Mrs. Jehu Lomman of Mt Bryan East), who passed away in 1922 leaving a little daughter.
1929 he married Irene (eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Willmott, of Booborowie).
Mrs. Irene Goodridge moved to Collinswood with his daughter.
As a result of his wounds he carried a piece of shrapnel in his back for several years and
finally as a result of war injuries he passed away.
26/10/1933 Clair passed away in Hospital at Northfield (38 years young)
(SA Death Record 1916 - 1972, Book : 552, Page 462, District Code : PtA)
buried in: AIF West Terrace Light Oval, Adelaide, SA
Row 3S; C/E/W: W; Site # 22
Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 20/12/2014. Lest we forget.
Click images to start slideshow.