Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Sources Veterans Affairs Canada 9th Coast Regiment

John (Jack) Claydon Goodman Gunner 880328 British Royal Artillery, 9th Coast Regiment July 3, 1943 28 Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand 6. A. 40. Commemorated on page 164 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on April 5 Gunner John Claydon Goodman was the son of William H. Goodman (b. 1880) and Fannie Goodman (b. 1889), of Ferguson's Cove, Halifax Co., NS. He was the brother of William (1910-1969), Charles, Sydney, and Florence. His parents were from Birmingham, England, arriving in Nova Scotia in 1905. During WWI his father served with the Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery having served previously for some eleven years and eight years with the Royal Garrison Artillery. In 1921 his father was serving as a Gunner with the Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery. During WWII, Gunner John (Jack) Goodman served with the British Royal Artillery, 9th Coast Regiment. On the outbreak of War in September 1939 the Singapore defences included the 9th Heavy Regiment Royal Artillery. In the summer of 1940 Coast Units had their title changed from Heavy Regiments to Coast Regiments. In February 1942, the Singapore Fixed Defences included the 9th Coast Regiment Royal Artillery. On February 12, 1942 the Coastal Batteries were destroyed and on February 13, 1942 the garrison was marched to the Indian Recreation Ground in Singapore where it was formed into an Infantry Battalion and used as support troops. Singapore fell to the Japanese Army on February 15 and numerous British and Australian soldiers were taken prisoner and many died in captivity. While some remained in Singapore's Changi Prison others were shipped out on prisoner transports to other parts of Asia, including Japan, to be used as forced labour on projects such as the Siam–Burma Death Railway and Sandakan airfield in North Borneo. Gunner Goodman was transported to work on the Siam–Burma Railway where he died in captivity. He is buried in the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand where 6,982 Allied Prisoners of War are buried, having perished during the construction of the “death railway”.

British Soldiers surrender to the Japanese in Singapore, February 1942