Pearl Stella GOODMAN
Year of Birth: 1886
Place of Birth: Millthorpe, New South Wales
Date of Enlistment: 7 December 1916
Date and Place of Embarkation: 29 December 1916, Sydney, New South Wales
Ship: HMAT Themistocles A32
Rank: Staff Nurse
Unit(s): Reinforcements Australian Army Nursing Service., AIF
Regimental Number: N/A
Died: 6 March 1919
Pearley (Pearl) Stella Goodman was born in Millthorpe NSW on the 31 May 1886 to Thomas Goodman and Caroline Bentley and was one of 9 children. Annie A. born 1875, Frances H. 1876, Bertha M. 1877, Albert E. 1879, Rodger Frederick 1881, John H. L. 1884, then Pearly (Pearl) 1886, Thomas V. 1888 and Caroline I. J. 1892.
Two brothers, John Howard Leslie S/N 66309 and Thomas Vincent S/N 4299, served in World War 1 and both returned safely.
On her enlistment Pearl Stella gave her age as 30 years 9 months and was living at Enoggera and that she had served in the AANS (Australian Army Nursing Service) since 20th October 1915. Her sister Frances Helena Tait, Federal Farm, Forest Reefs was her next of kin. Her height was 5 feet 1 ½ inches and she weighed 126 pounds. Pearl had fair complexion, grey eyes and fair hair and her religion was Baptist.
Pearl trained at the Orange Hospital NSW and was senior sister at the Cairns District Hospital from February 1914, and acting Matron from May 1915 until her enlisment
After Pearl Stella had disembarked at Plymouth on the 3 March 1917 she proceeded to France on the 12 March 1917 and was posted to the 7th General Hospital, Rouen on the 14 March 1917. On the 22 October 1917 Pearl was admitted to 36th Casualty Clearing Station and was transferred to Southwell Gardens Hospital, England on 18 November 1917 suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. After her return to Australia on the 16 February 1918 she was discharged on the 15 August 1918 due to medical unfitness.
Although Pearl Stella’s sister Mrs Frances Tait was her next of kin, her medals, according to the defined line of succession for the distribution of medals that brothers must be considered before sisters, her medals were sent to her brother who was living in America.
Pearl Stella Goodman died in the Malabar Convalescent Home in Pennant Hills on the 6 March 1919 and is buried at Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney, NSW.
Online Resources
Photograph of the HMAT Themistocles: PS0369, Australian War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Goodman P S, National Archives of Australia
Photograph Nurse Pearl Goodman, Discovering Anzacs
NSW Birth Death and Marriage Index
Trove: Leader (Orange NSW) 12 March 1919, p3
NAA: B2455 Goodman J H L, National Archives of Australia
NAA: B2455, Goodman T V, National Archives of Australia
If you have a photograph or further information about this soldier you would like to share and add to his biography, please contact the Society at projects@cdfhs.org or leave a comment below. Thank you!
I have been looking into the lives of army nurses in WW1. On visiting Cairns (from my home in England), I was able to see Sister Goodman’s name along with that of Miss Lydia Grant (VAD) on the beautiful war memorial.
I noticed that Sister Goodman’s name has lost one of the ‘O’s. Could this be replaced?
Local to me in Mellis, Suffolk we also have a nurse who died on active service similar to those of Sister Goodman and nurse Grant. In this case ‘blood poisoning’ was the cause of death. Brave girls all.
Best wishes, Clive Mees
Hi Clive – I suggest you reach out to the Cairns Council or the RSL to see if they can assist with the O – as we dont own the memorial – Regards Mel