Thomas Charles Edward Godfrey MC | Bacchus Marsh Avenue Of Honour

Captain Thomas Charles Edward Godfrey MC

Service No.:

Unit:

24^th Battalion

Tree No.:

S112

Planted by:

Mrs Godfrey (Mother)

Image of plaque on tree S112 for Thomas Godfrey

Thomas was born on the 25^th of April 1891 at Richmond, VIC to Charles Godfrey and Elizabeth Amelia Gaynor⁽¹⁾.

KIA

Thomas was an accountant and gave his address as East Melbourne when he was appointed as a 2^nd Lieutenant⁽²⁾ in the AIF, 24^th Battalion on the the 28^th of April 1915, aged 24. He had previously passed his exam for 2^nd Lieutenant in the 63^rd Battalion in 1913. He embarked aboard the HMAT A14 Euripides in May, arriving at Alexandria, Egypt in June.

Thomas was promoted to Lieutenant shortly before he embarked for Gallipoli in late August 1915. He was made a temporary Captain in December before returning to Egypt.

Group portrait of the officers of the 24th Battalion
Thomas is in the front row, third from the right.
Courtesy of the AWM

In late March 1916 Thomas disembarked at Marseilles, France. He was promoted to Captain in late May 1916 and involved in some of the major battles - Pozieres and Mouquet Farm in July and August 1916. He spent two weeks in hospital in April 1917 with Urticaria. His battalion also participated in the Second Battle of Bullecourt. It was involved for only a single day - 3 May - but suffered almost 80 per cent casualties.

Courtesy
Menin Gate Memorial
Roll of Honour

On the 17^th of July 1917 Thomas was awarded the Military Cross.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an attack upon enemy lines he secured the left bank against counter attacks and, though blown down by a shell during the charge, remained at the head of his men, upon whom his coolness and courage had a splendid effect.
Source: recommendation for the Military Cross

Thomas was killed in action on the 4^th of October 1917 during the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge - shot through the head by a sniper and killed instantly. He was buried in the field the next day.

He is listed on the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour. He is also remembered in the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Notes

Location of Tree Number S112

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Tree Position (accuracy ±1 tree) -37.68221138178631, 144.45922110312276

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Captain Thomas Charles Edward Godfrey MC

Notes

Location of Tree Number S112

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