Date of birth:

January 26th, 1896 (Camberwell/Melbourne, Australia)

Date of death:

November 4th, 1942 (El Alamein, Egypt)

Nationality:

Australian

Arthur Godfrey went into service with the Australian Imperial Force on January 11th 1915 and was placed with the Regiment I. He was registered under number 1953, with the rank of Private. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant on March 18th 1916 and received the Military Cross on November 15th 1916 for his part in the actions round Perillon on France.

On Octobre 13th 1939 he was placed form the "Militia"to the 2nd AIF with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and comanding the 2/6th Infantry Battalion.. His promotion to Brigadier followed on January 20th 1941. died of his wounds received during an artillery fire (November 1st) on November 4th 1942.

Service number: VX25

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant Colonel

Unit:

2/6th Infantry Battalion

Awarded on:

May 9th, 1941

Citation:
"During the action at BARDIA 3-5 Jan 41 Lt.-Col GODFREY showed initiative and coolness in command of his Battalion under intense fire. By daring reconnaissance and keeping close touch with forward tps. during the fight he was able to inspire his officers and men. The role of the 2/6 Bn. was to engage the enemy in the South-Western sector to deceive him as to the real point of the attack. This sector was the most heavily defended part of the front and by his own activity in the forward area and his example under heavy fire Lt.-Col GODFREY encouraged his Bn. to resist several counter attacks and complete its task successfully."

London Gazette 9 May 1941, page 2645, position 4

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant Colonel

Unit:

2/6th Infantry Battalion

Awarded on:

May 9th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Brigadier

Unit:

24th Brigade

Awarded on:

December 30th, 1941

Citation:
"A commander of ability and purposefulness, Brig. Godfrey has led his Bde. throughout the operations in Tobruk with great success. Both in attack and defence his Bde. has always done remarkably well, all the more so as it had not completed its training before being operationally engaged. By his power of command, his soldierly qualities and his personal example, Brig. Godfrey secures the fullest response from all his sub-ordinates."

Received as a bar for on the ribbon of the first DSO.
London Gazette 30 December 1941, page 7332, position 1

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Brigadier

Unit:

24th Brigade

Awarded on:

June 30th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Brigadier

Unit:

9th Division

Awarded on:

June 24th, 1943

London Gazette 24 June 1943, page 2865, position 2
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 16 March 1944, page 650, position 20

• Photo 1: David Grimshaw
• - Service Record in de National Australian Archives
  - London Gazette 9 May 1941, page 2645, position 4
  - London Gazette 9 May 1941, page 2648, position 2
  - London Gazette 30 December 1941, page 7332, position 1
  - London Gazette 30 June 1942, page 2857, position 4
  - London Gazette 24 June 1943, page 2865, position 2
  - Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 16 March 1944, page 650, position 20
  - Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition
  - Australian War Memorial