Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Lot 2139    SESSION 11 (9.30AM THURSDAY 31ST MARCH)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Estimate $1,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au

GROUP OF FOUR TO KIA: Military Cross (GVR) with bar; 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19 with MID. 17 L/Cpl F.W.Goodwin 8/BN A.I.F. on second medal, Lieut F.W.Goodwin A.I.F. on remaining two medals. First medal unnamed, second and fourth medals renamed and engraved, third medal impressed. The first medal appears to be a contemporary copy, very fine.

Together with identity disc named to '17/Goodwin F.W./8.A.I.' on chain.

MID: LG 28/1/1916, p1208; CAG 06/4/1916, p862, to 17 Sergeant F.W.Goodwin 8Bn.

MC: LG 22/9/1916, p9286; CAG 14/12/1916, p3382, to 17 Regimental Sergeant-Major Frank Willie Goodwin.

Citation: 'For conspicuous gallantry during protracted operations. He led a patrol forward, gaining valuable information, supervised supplies for the front line, and worked without ceasing for three days and nights in the removal of the wounded under heavy fire.'

(Recommended for VC but awarded Bar to MC)
Bar to MC: LG 14/11/1916, p11084; CAG 19/4/1917, p922, to 2nd Lieutenant Francis William (sic) Goodwin MC.

Recommendation: At Pozieres, France on night of 18th August 1916 after the third attack on enemy trench between Munster Alley and Tramline, our line had fallen back on its original trench, 2/Lieut. Goodwin brought in a badly wounded man and then returned to assist others. Whilst dressing a wounded man a shell burst killing this man and knocking Goodwin out for half an hour; in spite of this when he came to his senses he brought in two others. All this time the enemy kept up a constant fire from Machine Guns and Artillery.

On the next day, 19th, he observed one of our men, No.3495, Pte. G.H.Groves, lying wounded close to enemy parapet, and at night accompanied by Lieut. Mummery went to the spot which was within 5 yards of the enemy trench.

Lieut. Mummery placed the man on Goodwin's back and they started off but were observed by the enemy who poured in a rain of bullets.

However both officers brought this man safely across the 150 yards space between trenches which was swept by machine gun and artillery fire. In addition this officer did invaluable work in supervising the rationing of the men in the front line and getting the wounded down to the Dressing Station.

He was also recommended for a DCM, 31Jul1916; Russian Cross of St George 27Aug1916; VC 27Aug1916; MM (undated).

Francis Willie Goodwin, farmer, age 26yrs, born Colwall, UK; Enl.28Aug1914 at Broadmeadows, Vic; Emb. 19Oct1914 Melbourne; WIA 25Apr1915 Anzac landing day at Gallipoli, GSW leg; promoted Cpl 04Aug1915; Sgt 13Aug1915; Comp Sgt Mjr 20Nov1915; Regt Sgt Mjr 10Feb1916; appointed 2nd Lieut 05 Aug1916; promoted Lieut 21Feb1917; KIA 04Oct1917 by a burst of M.G. bullets near Zonnebeke, Belgium; Commemorated Hooge Crater Cemetery Belgium.

With extensive research including copy of Service Record, photographs, photocopy extract from 'Cobbers in Khaki - History of the 8th Battalion 1914-18'.