Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Esmond Goodwin was born on 21 August 1892 at Timaru, the elder son of John Eden and Mary (née Islip) Goodwin, and was baptised on 20 November 1892 at St Alban’s Anglican Church, Pleasant Point. He was educated at Fairlie School, where he was awarded a Standard III prize and an Attendance prize in 1902. In 1903 he was placed first in Standard IV. Mr John Eden Goodwin, of Eversley, one of the earliest farmers in the Fairlie district and a very highly esteemed resident, died suddenly on 13 October 1911. The youngest child was only six months old.

In March 1916, Mr Esmond Goodwin left for Trentham and enlisted on 8 March 1916 at Featherson. He was serving with the 8thy South Canterbury Mounted Rifles. Esmond was farming at Fairlie and named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs Mary Goodwin, Fairlie, South Canterbury. At the annual meeting of the Mackenzie A. & P. Association in September 1916, he tendered his resignation from the committee as he had enlisted. He was subsequently elected a life member of the Society in appreciation of his own patriotic action, and as a recognition of the family’s service to the Society. His late father was looked upon as the founder of the show. Esmond left for Trentham after final leave in mid-October 1916. Corporal E. Goodwin embarked with the Mounted Machine-gun Section of the 20th Reinforcements Mounted Rifles Brigade, departing for Suez, Egypt, on 14 December 1916 per the “Moeraki” and transferring to the “Mooltan” at Sydney.

E. Goodwin returned to New Zealand by a draft which was on the ex-German Liner Adolf Woermann and was expected at Wellington on 28 September 1919. He was discharged on 31 October 1919 and awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. The wedding took place on 24 April 1923 at All Saints’ Church, Palmerston North, of Miss Ida Mary Humphrys, second daughter of Mrs G. H. Humphrys, to Mr Esmond Goodwin, elder son of the late Mr John Goodwin and of Mrs Goodwin, of Eversley, Fairlie. Thereafter Esmond and Ida lived at “Eversley”, Fairlie.

Esmond Goodwin died on 10 January 1984 at Fairlie, aged 91 years. After a funeral service at St Stephen’s Anglican Church, Fairlie, he was cremated at Salisbury Park Crematorium, Timaru. His wife Ida had died on 13 July 1976 and was also cremated after a service at St Stephen’s. On 17 June 2020, their ashes were disinterred from Salisbury Park and interred at Fairlie Cemetery. They were survived by two daughters and a son. Esmond’s younger brother, Arthur Norman Raymond Goodwin, served in World War Two and was taken prisoner of war. In May 1945 his mother was advised that he was safe in England. After his return home Arthur married, but sadly, he was to inflict severe wounds to his head on 10 August 1948 at his Cheviot farm. The two oldest of Esmond’s sisters (Meriol Margaret and Joyce Elizabeth) married in England, Joyce later returning to New Zealand with her family. The youngest of the family, Margaret Ethel Goodwin, married a South Canterbury returned serviceman, Edwin Rowland Guinness, in 1932. Mrs Mary Goodwin died in 1955 and was buried with her husband at Fairlie.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [04 November 2023]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [04 November 2023]; School Admission record (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [05 November 2023]; Timaru Herald, 23 December 1902, 21 December 1903, 13 September 1916, 21 October 1916, 9 September 1919, Manawatu Standard, 28 April 1923, Press, 17 May 1945, 13 August 1948 [x 2], 15 July 1976, 11 January 1984 (Papers Past) [04, 05 & 06 November 2023]; Baptism record (South Canterbury Genealogy Society records) [05 November 2023]; Salisbury Park Crematorium records [05 November 2023]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

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