This is the Statement Made by Repatriated Prisoner of War. Statement was taken at No.1 rest Camp, Victoria Park, Dover, 27.11.18 (1).

Rank : Lieutenant
Name : GOODSON, E.J.
Squadron : 4th Squadron
Unit : Australian Flying Corps

Circumstance of Capture :
a ) Date : 4th November 1918
b ) Place : Tournai, Belgium

I was one of a patrol of four machines that elft the aerodrome at Ennetieres at 9 am on the 4th of November 1918, led by 2/Lieut Cato, to do a line patrol. Whilst patrolling the line we were being shelled by anti-aircraft guns from the German artillery. When at 13,000 feet I was hit in my lateral controls and bottom of control lever. The machine immediately went into a left hand spin from which it did not recover. When at about 3,000 feet, I received two more direct hits under the right wing. I spun into the canal between two bridges in the centre of Tournai. One wing of the machine was carried away by the bridge and the machine became a total wreck on striking the water.

I was pulled out of the canal by some German soldiers. I was wounded slightly by a piece of shell in the head and badly shaked by the fall of the machine.

After four days in differant prisons, I eventually arrived at Louvain in Belgium.

Immediately after capture my wound was dressed. I remained in my wet clothes until they dried on me. No rations were issued to me at Tournai on leaving and all the food I recieved on the journey was given me by the gaurd who begged it for me from the Belgian civilians.

While a prisoner of war I heard from another RAF prisoner of war that Lieutenant Rhodes, AFC was captured and was safe in German hands. I have since had this information confirmed by other prisoners of war who have seen him.

At Louvain on refusing to give information I was put into a room with a Canadian Officer. There was a dictaphone connected with the room. I suspected its presence and afterwards confirmed my suspicions while on parole, after the Armistice was signed. I was the only Australian in the camp I was in.

When the Armistice was signed. I was placed under the protection of the Dutch consul and on parole- not to leave the building. The building I was in was made a receiving depot for british prisoners of war., brought there by the Germans and placed under my charge. I sent the men towards the frontier in batches of between 50 and 150 in charge of officers or NCO's with a passport for the Germans Soldiers Committee. Only 10 days of rations were left for 30 men. Over 200 came the next day. We had no rations with which to supply the men moving out. We were fed entirely by the Belgian Relief Committee.

After clearing the camp of Prisoner of War I was given permission to leave and made my way to Calais.

I arrived in Calais at 7.30 am on 27th November 1918 and sailed for Dover the same day.

1. Prisoner of War Statement courtesy of Gordon Branch.