GOODA, Alfred Charles

Alfred was one of six children and the eldest son of John and Lydia Gooda. His birth was registered at Inverell in 1895 just three years before the death of his mother. Alfred enlisted at Armidale NSW in April 1916 when he was twenty one years old and working as a Station Hand at Wallangra north of Inverell. He left Australia on HMAT A40 Ceramic in October 1916 with the Light Trench Mortar Battery, Reinforcement 2. They arrived in England on 2 November where further training was undertaken before being sent to France in March 1917. 

Alfred was then attached to the 17th Battalion Reinforcements at Etaples in Northern France. Just thirty three days later he was reported as missing. A Court of Inquiry held in November 1917 confirmed that he had been Killed in Action on 3 May 1917.  Private Gooda has no known grave and his name is among those inscribed on the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France.

At Inverell Private Gooda’s name is inscribed on the town’s Honor Roll and Cenotaph. At Wallangra his name is also recorded on their Honor Roll.  In 1919 he was one of the men for whom a memorial tree was planted in Kurrajong Parade, Inverell. 

Photo: Courtesy AWM Image No P09113.006