Godfrey Robert Goldin (10 June 1919 – 7 February 1943) was a champion schoolboy Australian rules footballer who also played with Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL).Holmesby & Main (2007).
He died of wounds sustained in action while serving with the Second AIF in New Guinea during World War II.
Family The son of Robert Vane Goldin (1886-1969),World War One Service Record: Driver Robert Vain (sic) Goldin (1245), National Archives of Australia.He put Army on sound footing, The Argus, (Saturday, 16 June 1951), p.5; Foot Note, The Herald, (Saturday, 16 June 1951), p.3. and Ellen Christina Goldin (1890-1973), née Graham, Godfrey Robert Goldin was born on 10 June 1919.
He was engaged to Grace Lillian Osborne in September 1942.Personal, The Melton Express, (Saturday, 5 September 1942), p.2. They never married.In Memoriam: On Active Service: Goldin, The Herald, (Thursday, 7 February 1946), p.4.
His younger brother, Allan "Dick" Goldin, played 104 games in six seasons (1947 to 1952) for the Preston Football Club in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).Richard Goldin, at The VFA Project.Dick Goldin, at Boyles Football Photos. He later coached Preston Seconds.Priestley, John, "Players benefit from VFA fund, The Herald (Wednesday, 20 May 1953), p.24.
Football East Coburg State School He was a champion schoolboy footballer, he played for the East Coburg State School team (coached by Jack Baggott,State Schools' Association, The Age, (Wednesday, 13 September 1933), p.12. and represented Victoria in the 1933 Inter-State Schoolboys' Australian Rules Carnival in Brisbane.Schoolboys' Carnival, The Brisbane Courier, (Wednesday, 2 August 1933) p.5; National Rules, The (Brisbane) Sunday Mail, (Sunday, 6 August 1933), p.9.
Coburg Amateurs He played for the Coburg Amateurs team that won the D Grade premiership in 1936.
Essendon (VFL) Recruited by Essendon in 1937, he played a season with Essendon's Second XVIII before making his debut against North Melbourne on 27 May 1939.Dons' New Man, The Herald, (Friday, 26 May 1939), p.19; Amateur Helps Essendon, The Sporting Globe, (Wednesday, 19 July 1939), p.10.
With his early preseason training restricted by illness and injury,Essendon's Newcomers, The Age, (Wednesday 27 March 1940), p.8; Around League Clubs, The Argus, (Friday, 31 May 1940), p.12; Around League Clubs, The Argus, (Friday, 21 July 1940), p.15. Goldin played several games with the Second XVIII in 1940.
Cricket He played for Preston Cricket Club in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association.Blake, Jim, "Who's Who of Football: No.12. Essendon", The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 6 July 1940), p.5.
Military service He enlisted in the Second AIF on 11 March 1941.
Death Having served in the North Africa, he died in New Guinea on 7 February 1943 of wounds he had sustained fighting against the Japanese in the Battle of Wau.Deaths: On Active Service: Goldin, The Argus, (Wednesday, 17 February 1943), p.2.In Memoriam: Roll of Honour—On Active Service: Goldin, The Argus, (Monday, 7 February 1944), p.2.
He was buried at the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery.
See also List of Victorian Football League players who died on active service
Footnotes
References
Main, J. & Allen, D., "Goldin, Godfrey", pp. 254–257 in Main, J. & Allen, D., Fallen – The Ultimate Heroes: Footballers Who Never Returned From War, Crown Content, (Melbourne), 2002. Maplestone, M., Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996, Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996. World War Two Nominal Roll: Private Godfrey Robert Goldin (VX51038), Department of Veterans' Affairs. Roll of Honour: Private Godfrey Robert Goldin (VX51038), Australian War Memorial. Roll of Honour Circular: Private Godfrey Robert Goldin (VX51038), collection of the Australian War Memorial. Victorians in Casualty List: Australia and The Islands: Wounded in Action and Placed on the Dangerously Ill List, The Argus, (Friday, 19 February 1943), p.4. Victorians in Army Casualty List: Australia and The Islands: Previously Reported Wounded in Action, Now Reported Died of Wounds, The Argus, (Thursday, 4 March 1943), p.5.
External links
Private Godfrey Robert Goldin (VX51038), Commonwealth War Graves Commission.