UAT migration preview · Preserved EMHS content · Not the live society website
East Melbourne Historical Society
Society menu

Person

GODFREY, Richard Arthur

Subjects

Author
Jill Fenwick
Family name
GODFREY
Given names
Richard Arthur
Gender
Male
Religion
Chruch of England
Date of birth
1 April 1891
Place of birth
Birth London
, United Kingdom
East Melbourne addresses
Year
1916
1916
121 Powlett Street
, East Melbourne, Victoria
, Australia
Military service
WW1
Regimental number
4653
Rank
Company Quarter Master Sergeant
Military units
26th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement
Decorations and medallions
Forfeited for Desertion

Biographical notes

Richrd Arthur Godfrey enlisted on 23 August, 1915. He was  26 years old, single and worked as a contractor, and gave his home address as 121 Powlett Street, East Melbourne. His next of kin was his father, Alfred Godfrey, living at 63 Queen Margaret Grove, Mildmay, London. Richard Mildmay was placed with the 12 Reinforcements of the 26th Battalion, which left for Egypt on board RMS Mooltan for Egypt on 12 April, 1916. Perhaps because of his background, Richard Godfrey was made Quartermaster Sergeant.

On 21 May, 1916, Godfrey was taken to hospital in Egypt, suffering from VD. He was transferred to a VD Hospital and was finally released on 13 July, 1916. However, there was another health problem, an iguinal hernia, which meant he was invalided out of the service and sent back to Australia on 17 July from Suez on the Seong Choon. 

He returned to duty on 7 December, 1916, but subsequently deserted from camp and was struck off strength on 24 March 1917 under Camp Routine Order No 1054. He forfeited his war gratuity and received no medals for the short time that he was enlisted.  No other information is available.

 

Acknowledgments

Australian War Memorial Embarkation Record

Australian National Archives Service Record

← Explore more history

Document reader

of —

The document will appear here. You can also open or download the PDF.

Use Open in a new tab if this device doesn't support the embedded reader.