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Eric Lucas Goodacre (1895-1968)
Main BodyEric Lucas Goodacre, a farmhand from the Hamilton Ruakura Farm run by the Department of Agriculture, signed up early during the First World War. He joined the Auckland Mounted Rifles and served in Egypt and Palestine, including the Sinai and Palestine campaigns.
Like many soldiers he suffered from enteritis (a bad stomach), during his service and was admitted to hospital on several occasions in 1918. His military file notes that on termination of his period of engagement he was also ill (March 1919).
Many of Eric's letters home survived and were loaned to Tauranga City Libraries Research Collections for scanning in 2015, and then later gifted in 2021. In them the reader can learn of his training and travel to North Africa, as well as various engagements with the enemy, discomfort, privation, and the shock of his Father's passing, as well as some agricultural pursuits in Palestine.
Quick Facts
Appeared to be 20 years at enlistment, 5 foot 8, 61 kgs, Fair skinned, blue eyed and brown hair
Service number: 13/2324
Service Period August 23 1915 - March 1 1919
NZ 45 days recorded (actually 55)
Overseas 3 years 191 days
Service location
Australasia Egyptian 1915, 1916
Egyptian EF 1916, 1917, 1918
Decorations
1915-1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal Campaigns
Eric Goodacre participated in the Sinai Campaign between April 1916 and January 1917 and the Palestine Campaign beginning March 1917 and concluding September 1918.
One of the Goodacre brothers (Image 15-144)
Letters and movements from 1915
Movements are taken from Eric's Military War Record or gleamed from his letters.
August 23, War service in NZ begins
August 24, Recruiting Office 275 (JJ Raynes)
October 15, embarks overseas (won't return to NZ until March 1 1919).
Letter: Oct 18, 1915, written "at Sea"
November 18, disembarks HMT Aparima and reports for duty.
Letter: Dec 27, 1915, about to move camp somewhere in Egypt
Letters and movements from 1916
Letter: January 22, 1916, while stationed at Zeitoun Camp. "We keep on drilling drilling drilling". Packages in light tins get smashed up. Requests condensed milk and dried fruit. Is serving an Officer, gets a bit more pay therefore. "Congrats to John for his B.A."
January 23, Left for Canal from Zeitoun (Casualty Record)
Letter: March 13, 1916
Letter: March 16, 1916, Refers to a Mr Thorndon doing good work in the hospitals in Cairo
Letter: June 25, 1916, recalls an aeroplane machine gunning them, killing a horse
Letter: July 17, 1916 (with Australian mobile vetenarian unit)
Letter: August 31, 1916 (describes German underhand tactics)
October 5, on leave in Alexandria (Egypt), back on roll October 29
Letter: October 10, 1916, writes home to Father
Postcard: November 11, 1916, writes a quick postcard home to his mother
Letter: November 20, 1916, describes being on the line and a friend being fired upon
Letter written 1916, mentions thought of Camel Corp forming up
Letters and movements from 1917
Letter: January 7, 1917, describes 1200 Turks captured
Letter: January 12, 1917, wonders about visiting Canada after the war
Postcard: April 27, 1917 (post card sent to Eric)
July 31, noted as on the Auckland Mounted Rifles Roll
November 29, 1917 , near Jaffa, notes his regiment suffered heavy loses against the Germans, wonders how he came out alive
27 December 1917 to 13 May 1918, Volunteers to Transport Brigade
Letters and movements from 1918
Letter: January 6, 1918, 5 miles out of Jaffa, describes an attack on Turkish troops and doubts reports of a sinking in the Suez
Letter: March 10, 1918 as allied troops approach Damascus
Letter: April 28, 1918, "I am tired of this war…"
Letter: May 1, 1918, "Our chaps are having a rough time"
May 13. Rejoins his detachment in Cairo after being with the Transport Brigade
May 27, admitted to hospital, transferring in June through Kantara, Abbassia Cairo and Heliopolis
Letter: June 20, 1918, Letter to brother John after having tooth pulled
July 3-14 at Aotea home in Heliapolis
Letter:, July 3, 1918, while sick in Aotea Hospital
Letter: July 14, 1918, refers to father's Will
July 15, Attached to NZ base Ismalia (casualty record)
July 29, marched in and appointed appointed cook (until September 15)
Postcard: August 6, 1918, postcard to mother
Letter: August 12, 1918, friction at home re the Will, writes from near 'the Holy City'
Letter: August 20, 1918, "I'm where you always tell me to go when you're angry" (Gehenna outside Jerusalem?)
Letter: September 18, 1918, to Sis and Mother - after transporting prisoners to Jericho
Letter: October 24, 1918, to sister Lil, comparing old soldiers to new recruits
Letter: October 28, 1918, to younger brother
November 22 to December 8 (or 18), on detachment to DML rest camp at Port Said
December 23, coming from Rysho Le Zion, then Rafa. At Jaffa Agricultural College with 60 others
Letter: December 23, 1918, to Miss Darliell - learning to prune vines from the Jews at the Jaffa Agricultural School
Letter: December 23, 1918, to sister Lil - learning to prune vines from the Jews at the Jaffa Agricultural School
December 24 Ismalia, marched in from NZ Mounted Brigade to embark to NZ on H.T. Wiltshire.
Movements 1919
January 31 Returns from Wiltshire troop transport ship
March 1. Discharged from duty on termination of period of engagement
This article was archived at Perma CC on August 10, 2016 (https://perma.cc/PU5V-BNQH).
Like many soldiers he suffered from enteritis (a bad stomach), during his service and was admitted to hospital on several occasions in 1918. His military file notes that on termination of his period of engagement he was also ill (March 1919).
Many of Eric's letters home survived and were loaned to Tauranga City Libraries Research Collections for scanning in 2015, and then later gifted in 2021. In them the reader can learn of his training and travel to North Africa, as well as various engagements with the enemy, discomfort, privation, and the shock of his Father's passing, as well as some agricultural pursuits in Palestine.
Quick Facts
Service Period August 23 1915 - March 1 1919
Service location
Decorations
Eric Goodacre participated in the Sinai Campaign between April 1916 and January 1917 and the Palestine Campaign beginning March 1917 and concluding September 1918.
One of the Goodacre brothers (Image 15-144)
Letters and movements from 1915
Movements are taken from Eric's Military War Record or gleamed from his letters.
Letters and movements from 1916
Letters and movements from 1917
Letters and movements from 1918
Movements 1919
This article was archived at Perma CC on August 10, 2016 (https://perma.cc/PU5V-BNQH).
Usage
Personal Information
Whānau
Military Service
Relates To
Admin
Type of ContributionLibrary story
Tauranga City Libraries Staff - HC, Eric Lucas Goodacre (1895-1968). Pae Korokī, accessed 17/01/2025, https://paekoroki.tauranga.govt.nz/nodes/view/6021
