GOODWIN, Albert Vincent

GOODWIN, Albert Vincent

Albert was one of several sons of James and Mary Goodwin of Tingha.  He attended St Joseph’s Convent School at Tingha before becoming a Miner.  He was a keen Rugby Union player at Tingha. At the age of 19 he enlisted at Liverpool NSW and became a Private with the 20^th Battalion, 4^th Reinforcement.  During September 1915 he left Australia on the ship HMAT A8 Argyllshire and served at Gallipoli. 

In March 1916 he was transferred to France and in July 1916 reported as Missing in Action.  A Court of Inquiry in 1917 determined he had been Killed in Action at Pozieres, France. The Tingha Advocate newspaper 13 October 1916 printed a letter from fellow soldier, Private Markham, to Albert’s brother saying ‘I am sorry to say that I have been unable to find out anything that could possibly give much hope … Take my word for it Jim, there is not much chance for men who are missing and it would be wise not to hold out much hope for Albert. … The party he was with were filing along in the night, moving in the intervals between the flares or star shells the Germans kept throwing. The shrapnel and high explosive shells were coming over pretty thick and when they returned two were missing, one of whom was Albert. His Sergeant went back and searched for him, but without any result.’

Private Albert Goodwin has no known grave and his name is inscribed on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France. At Inverell his name is inscribed on the Cenotaph and Honor Roll.  His name is also on the Tingha War Memorial.  During 1919 he was one of the men for whom a memorial tree was planted in Kurrajong Parade, Inverell. 

Photo: Private Goodwin (left) with an unknown British Officer. Australian War Memorial Image P08115.001