A First War Pair, to the Canadian Machine Gun Brigade

British War Medal (440707 PTE. W.E. GOODRICH. C.M.G. BDE.); and Victory Medal (440707 PTE. W.E. GOODRICH. C.M.G. BDE.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, replacement ribbons, edge nicks on the BWM, gilt wear and contact marks on the VM, very fine. Accompanied by a 53rd Infantry Battalion Locket (two sliding panels in bronze gilt, cover of top panel illustrating the 53rd Infantry Battalion insignia surrounded by the inscription "FOR KING AND EMPIRE / UNITED WE STAND", bottom panel with a voided centre on the inside and housing a black and white photo of Private Goodrich, the frame illustrating a cluster of maple leaves and inscribed "GOD BLESS AND PROTECT YOU", the two panels joined by a ring, 32.5 mm, wear evident on the reverse of the bottom panel); a 53rd Infantry Battalion Brooch Pin (silver, composed of three conjoined 53rd Infantry Battalion insignias, marked "MANUFACTURED BY D.R. DINGWALL LTD. WINNIPEG" on the reverse of each maple leaf, 14 mm x 36.3 mm, horizontal pinback); and Medals Box Shipping Label (brown kraft paper, stamped "R" inside a circle (Registered), with a partial Registration stamp, number stamped "23390", typewriter addressed to "No.440707 / Pte. W.E. Goodrich, / 1734 Dundas St. W., / Toronto, Ont.", 57 mm x 80 mm).

 

Footnote: Wayne Emory Goodrich was born on March 9, 1889 in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, United States of America. He later joined the United States Navy Hospital Corps and was discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1911. He married Gertrude Bertha Goodrich and moved to Canada. After enlisting, he was admitted to Winnipeg General Hospital on January 19, 1916, with a bout of Influenza, his stay lasting five days, before being discharged on the 24th. Goodrichsigned his Attestation Paper as a Private (440707) with the 53rd Infantry Battalion, on March 14, 1916 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, at the age of 26, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Mrs. Gertrude B. Goodrich of Paddockwood, Saskatchewan (which was later changed to Jamaica Plain, Boston, Massachusetts), stating that he belonged to an active militia, the 52nd Regiment (Prince Albert Volunteers), that he had four years' previous service with the United States Navy Hospital Corps, that he was married and that his trade was that of Farmer. The Battalion was raised in Saskatchewan and Manitoba under the authority of G.O. 86, July 1, 1915. The Mobilization headquarters was at Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Battalion embarked Halifax, Nova Scotia, on March 29, 1916 aboard the S.S. Empress of Britain, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel R.M. Dennistoun with a strength of 35 officers and 1,063 other ranks, arriving in Liverpool, England on April 9th. In England, the Battalion was absorbed into the 15th Reserve Battalion. Two months after arriving in England, he was transferred to the 11th Infantry Brigade, Canadian Machine Gun Company for overseas service in the French theatre, on June 8, 1916, arriving in Le Havre, France on the 12th. Seventeen months later, Private Goodrich was with the 11th Infantry Brigade, Canadian Machine Gun Company when he was wounded on November 13, 1917, when a gas shell exploded and he suffered gas poisoning and was admitted to No. 13 Canadian Field Ambulance the same day. He was transferred to No. 47 General Hospital at Le Treport on November 15th, where he would be treated for the next few days, before being invalided to England, where he was struck off strength to the Machine Gun Company Depot at Seaford on November 19, 1917. That day, he was admitted to Norfolk War Hospital, Thorpe, Norfolk, where it was noted that he had "marked conjunctivitis, slight laryrgitis, scattered burns and sores on (the) body practically healed, does not complain of lungs." After two and a half weeks at Norfolk, he was transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Monks Horton, Kent on December 8th, where he would recuperate for the next four weeks, before being discharged to duty on January 4, 1918. He was posted to the Machine Gun Company Depot before receiving orders to return to France, where he would join the 4th Machine Gun Battalion. He was struck off strength to the Machine Gun Pool overseas on April 11, 1918, arriving in France on the 12th. Almost six weeks after arriving in France, he was admitted to No. 6 Casualty Clearing Station with a "Carbuncle" (an abscess larger than a boil, usually caused by a bacterial infection, which can be lethal and is contagious) on May 23, 1918. Two days later, he was transferred to No. 26 General Hospital at Etaples on May 25th for ten days, followed by a brief transfer to No. 74 General Hospital at Trouville on June 4th, before arriving at No. 13 Convalescent Depot at Trouville on June 15th, where he would recuperate for the next seven weeks before being discharged on August 5th. Private Goodrich ran afoul of the authorities, when he was forced to forfeit two days' pay and was awarded fourteen days Confinement to Base for being Absent Without Leave from 6:00 am on June 19th to 8:25 on June 20th, the sentence being handed down on June 21, 1918. That Fall, he was struck off strength to the 4th Canadian Machine Gun Corps on September 3rd. Private Goodrich was in battle of September 30, 1918, when he suffered a gun shot (shrapnel) wound to his right hip and buttock. He was evacuated and was admitted to No. 26 General Hospital at Etaples shortly thereafter. Three days later he was transferred to No. 6 Convalescent Depot at Etaples on October 3rd, where he showed improvement, the doctor noting his "wound healed readily", then discharged on the 4th. He returned to duty but suffered another setback four weeks later, as he was admitted to No. 25 General Hospital at Hardelot with a bout of Influenza on October 29, 1918. Two weeks after his admission to hospital, he was transferred to No. 1 Convalescent Depot at Boulogne on November 11th for a two day stay, before arriving at No. 10 Convalescent Depot at Ecault on November 13th for nine days recuperation, before being discharged on the 22nd and posted to the Canadian Machine Gun Base Depot at Etaples. As hostilities had ceased the day he entered the Convalescent Depot at Boulogne, the decision was made to invalid him to England, where he was posted to the Canadian Machine Gun Corps (Canadian Machine Gun Regimental Pool) at Seaford, enabling him to recover fully from the flu. Now in better health, he was posted to the Canadian Machine Gun Company Depot on December 22nd. Four weeks later, Private Goodrich was posted to No. 2 Wing, Canadian Concentration Camp at Kinmel Park, Rhyl for return to Canada on January 25, 1919, departing England on February 10th aboard the RMS Royal George, arriving in Halifax on the 20th. Upon arrival in Toronto, Ontario, he was posted to the Casualty Company at Exhibition Camp (Hospital Section). He was admitted to Base Hospital on March 11th, where he was treated for a case of "Scabbies", the doctor noting that Goodrich was "covered with scabbies and (had) a secondary infection. General over (the) body & extremities". It was also noted that he had developed an abscess in his right hip shortly after arriving in hospital. Once the Scabbies was treated, he was transferred to Toronto General Hospital on March 29th for treatment on his right hip and buttock. He was successfully operated on, the doctors removing shrapnel from his right hip on April 10th. After six weeks in Toronto General, he was transferred to St. Andrews Military Hospital on May 9th. In his Medical History of an Invalid, dated May 16, 1919 at St. Andrews Military Hospital, Private Goodrich was re-assessed, regarding the recent operation and the long term results from his gun shot wounds. The doctor noted that he had a "Partial loss of function of (the) right hip" and when on to state that the "Scar (was the) size of a quarter on (the) lower part of (the) posterior right buttock where shrapnel entered & was removed from. Scar 3" long, 2 1/2" above (the) vertical, where (an) incision was made over (the) abscess which (had) formed on (the) right buttock about 24th Mar./19. There is slight tenderness on moderate pressure over the lower scar. All movements of the right hip are normal on power & range. Patient says he has a dull aching pain in (his) right leg in wet weather. He has some slight stiffness for (the) first few steps on starting to walk after sitting for 1/2 hour", the doctor recommending that he be discharged. He was transferred to the Casualty Company at Park School on May 23rd and was discharged to duty on May 25th. Four days later, Private Wayne Emory Goodrich, 53rd Infantry Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Brigade was discharged as "Medically Unfit" at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, on May 29, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France, entitled to wear the War Service Badge, Class "A", number 136406 and entitled to 183 days War Service Gratuity. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. In his Military Will, dated June 6, 1916, he stated that "In the event of my death, I bequeath the whole of my property and effects to my wife Gertrude Bertha Goodrich, Paddock Wood, Sask. Can.", but of course, the Will was never executed.