Oscar Godlee’s WW1 journey from Adelaide University to France revealed in telling battlefield journals

OSCAR Godlee’s World War I journals reveal how the Prospect medical student found himself in the thick of the action in France.

10/03/15 - Judy Wallace of Belair, has the original war diaries of her father's uncle, Oscar Leondard Godlee (known as Len). Picture Dean Martin

OSCAR Godlee was about to embark on a career in medicine when he enlisted to serve – and die – in World War I.

Godlee, who grew up in Prospect, was studying at Adelaide University when he joined up in December 1915.

Posted to the 3rd Division, he left aboard HMAT Ballarat in August 1916, aged 21.

He was offered a hospital job in England, but turned it down and headed to the front.

After spending time in hospital with influenza, he was posted to the 9th Australian Field Ambulance.

Judy Wallace, from Belair, has been reading diaries written by Godlee, her father’s uncle, and transcribing them for the Australian War Memorial.

The last journal entry was on June 6, 1917.

The next day, the first day of the Battle of Messines, Godlee was killed in action.

According to the story passed down by her family, he was killed by a shell that landed on the stretcher he was carrying.

She says she came to know Godlee through his diary.

“Pretty much every day he has written,” she says.

“There is all this detail about the war and the conditions and the terrible places they had to stay in.”

Godlee is buried at Pont D’Achelles British Cemetery near Armentieres.

THIS story is part of Messenger’s 100 Years, 100 Days, 100 Stories project, which will profile 100 South Australian World War I heroes as the nation builds up to the centenary of the Allied landing on Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. If you have the details and war record of a family member who served during World War I, let us know. Please go to your local Messenger’s Facebook page and send us the details.

Originally published as Oscar Godlee’s WW1 journey from Adelaide University to France revealed in telling battlefield journals