Private John Charles Goodchild

John Goodchild was an 18 year old sign writer when he enlisted with the AIF in January 1917. Posted to the 9th Field Ambulance, Goodchild served on the Western Front in France. During his service, Goodchild contributed comedic cartoons and thoughtful drawings to the weekly one penny magazine, The Digger.
At the conclusion of the war, Goodchild spent a month with the Graves Detachment on the Western Front, making poignant drawings of graves and monuments to his fallen comrades. These 36 drawings formed the 1920 publication, Where the Australians rest.
Returning to Adelaide, South Australia, Goodchild then spent the next two decades pursuing his artistic practice, training in London, teaching in South Australia, and travelling widely overseas. In April 1945 at the distinguished age of 47, Goodchild was again called upon to serve his country, this time as an official war artist of the Second World War. Given the rank of Lieutenant, he was assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force, spending time in Point Cook, just outside of Melbourne, at Jervis Bay on the mid-south-coast of New South Wales, and then Rose Bay in Sydney. Goodchild completed many drawings of military bases, aerodromes control rooms, and portraits of servicemen and women.
In June 1945, Goodchild was sent to the South-West Pacific area, this time observing allied naval activities. He arrived in Japan and drew the destruction of Yokohama, the Yokosuka Naval Base, and the Ofuna prisoner of war camp. Goodchild was aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945, and witnessed the Japanese surrender. Goodchild photographed the event, and then at some later date completed a pen, ink and wash drawing of this historical event.
The Memorial holds more than 170 works by John in its collection.