George Henry GOODWIN
Born 1898 in India [20]
Son of Peter GOODWIN and Elizabeth CHILDREY [20] [21]
He was the youngest of five children with elder siblings Helen, Lilian, John and Annie [20]
Their father was a Pioneer Sergeant in the 2nd Kings Own Scottish Borderers of the British Army [309]
His eldest sister Helen was born in Egypt while himself and his other siblings were all born in India [20]
After leaving the army his father received a commissionaire pension and worked as an organ builder [20]
He was living with his parents and siblings at 52 Pearson Place in Norton, Derbyshire, England in 1901 [20]
In 1911 he was living with his parents and siblings at 25 Suffolk Road in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England [20]
He was educated at the Duchess Road Council School in Sheffield [309]
In 1915 he was working as a Clerk and still living with his parents at 25 Suffolk Road, Sheffield [309]
Enlisted in the British Army in London, England on 6 July 1915 and was recorded as being 5 feet 9½ inches tall [309]
He had the signed consent of his father and a letter of reference from the minister of Saint Paul's Church in Sheffield [309]
The minister described him as "thoroughly honest and upright and dependable and trustworthy" [309]
Embarked for East Africa on 26 December 1916 where he served as Sapper 108235 in the Royal Engineers of Signals [309]
He was invalided back to England during November 1917 suffering from dysentery and malaria [309]
His role during the war had been as a telegraphist and he was reported to have been sober, reliable and intelligent [309]
Discharged from the British Army on 2 April 1919; received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal [309]
He was granted a part pension of 5/6 per week for at least a year due to a 20% disablement from malaria [309]
After the war he once again resided with his parents at 25 Suffolk Road in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England [309]
In 1924 he was working as a Clerk and living at 50 Burcot Road in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England [203]
Departed from London, England on the steamship Sophocles on 19 June 1924 bound for Albany, Western Australia [203]
He was living at 217 Beaufort Street in Perth, Western Australia and working as a Bookkeeper in 1925 [50]
Accountant for storekeeper L. Scott WYLIE in Carnamah, Western Australia in 1926 [86: 14-Dec-1926]
Member of the Carnamah Lodge of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows Friendly Society (M.U.O.F.S.) [86: 14-Dec-1926]
Member of the Carnamah Cricket Club - was Secretary and Treasurer in 1926 [39: 30-Oct-1926]
He made arrangements in 1926 to build a building in Carnamah, to lease it for the Post Office and to work as part-time Postmaster [330]
It was an asbestos and stone building at 23 Macpherson Street, Carnamah (Lot 4 of M1354) [3] [81: 18-Dec-1927]
Lot 4 was part of an extension of the Carnamah townsite surveyed from farmland owned by Mrs Annie NIVEN [3] [4: 7-Aug-1926]
He'd probably purchased Lot 4 at an auction that was held in Carnamah to sell 31 lots on 20 August 1926 [4: 7-Aug-1926]
The building was said to have been constructed by building contractor Eric J. CLARKE of the Perth suburb of Guildford [51]
It consisted of a main room measuring 18 by 18 foot, two rooms 9 foot by 12 foot and another room 8 foot by 10 foot [81: 18-Dec-1927]
Suffered a recurrence of malaria in Carnamah and again in Mingenew while being trained in post office work [86: 14-Dec-1926]
Received treatment at the North Midlands District Hospital in Three Springs and then the Victoria Hospital in Geraldton [86: 14-Dec-1926]
Died 14 December 1926 in Geraldton; buried at the Urch Street Cemetery in Geraldton, Western Australia [29] [86: 14-Dec-1926]
After the completion of his building at 23 Macpherson Street it was leased from his estate to the Postmaster General's Department [330]
It was leased for three years from 1 April 1927 at £84 per year with Carnamah's Post Office moving in on 23 June 1927 [330]
After an unsuccessful attempt was made at selling the building in late 1927 it remained part of his estate until 1932 [3] [81: 18-Dec-1927]
The Postmaster General's Department renewed their lease for another three years at the same rate of £84 from 1 April 1930 [330]
They sub-leased the building to Arthur PARRY from June 1932 when Carnamah's post office moved to a new building [330]
The building was sold to Mrs Amy F. SHEAHAN of Carnamah on 10 October 1932 [3]
From The Geraldton Guardian newspaper, Tuesday 14 December 1926:
Death of a Carnamah Resident
"The death occurred this morning at the Victoria Hospital, Geraldton, of Mr G. Goodwin, who had been a resident of Carnamah for about a year. Deceased, who was about 28 years of age, was employed as accountant by Mr. Scott Wylie, storekeeper, and some weeks ago went to Mingenew to receive instruction in post office work, as he was arranging to undertake similar work in Carnamah. Whilst at Mingenew he had a recurrence of malarial fever, of which he had had an attack at Carnamah. Becoming seriously ill he was removed to Three Springs Hospital, but as his condition became worse, he was transferred to the Victoria Hospital, Geraldton, where he gradually grew weaker, and his death occurred this morning. The deceased was highly respected in Carnamah for his many good qualities, and his death will be greatly deplored, whilst great sympathy will be felt with his parents, who reside in England. Deceased was the secretary of the Carnamah Cricket Club, and an active member of the Carnamah Lodge of the M.U.O.F.S. The funeral took place this afternoon at the Anglican Cemetery, Geraldton, the service being conducted by the Rev. H. Vine. The principal mourners were Miss Knowler, Mrs. McNamara, Miss McNamara, and Messrs. F. Badrick and L. Jost, whilst several members of the John Shipton Lodge of the M.U.O.F.S. were also present. Wreaths were seat by the Carnamah Cricket Club and the Carnamah Oddfellows."
From The Sheffield Independent newspaper, Saturday 22 January 1927:
Emigrant's Death - Sheffield Man Victim of Malaria
"After spending two and a half years' in Australia, a Sheffield emigrant, Mr George Henry Goodwin, who at one time was well known in the Meersbrook district, has died from malaria in Victoria Hospital, Geraldton, Western Australia.
Mr Goodwin served through the war in German East Africa. It was there that he contracted malaria and since that time he has been subject to frequent attacks of the disease. He was born in India but was brought to England while still very young.
A short time after landing in Australia he endeavoured to buy a block of land, but was unable to do so and spent a short time travelling about comparatively undeveloped district of Western Australia. After 18 months he settled at Carnamah, near Geraldton, and was employed there as an accountant for about a year before his death.
He was well known in the town and was secretary of the Carnamah Cricket Club. Mr Goodwin's mother, Mrs Elizabeth Goodwin, of 50 Burcot road, Sheffield, has received a cutting from an Australian newspaper in which a fine tribute is paid to her son and the sorrow of her fellow townsmen at his death is expressed."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'George Henry Goodwin' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 26 December 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/george-henry-goodwin [reference list] |
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