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Caleb Goodwin 1033147 Private 237th Battalion; 97th Battalion; Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry November 17, 1890 Pubnico Head, Yarmouth Co., NS July 19, 1916 Digby, Nova Scotia Pubnico Head, NS 25 6 feet, 1 inch light light blue Single Carpenter and Fisherman Baptist Rebecca Goodman (Mother) Pubnico Head, Yarmouth Co., NS September 28, 1918 27 Crest Cemetery, Fontaine-Notre-Dame, Departement du Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France. Plot: B. 15. Commemorated on Page 416 of the First World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on September 7 Commemorated on the Yarmouth War Memorial Commemorated on the Bronze Tablet in the Pubnico-Argyle United Baptist Church Caleb was the son of Melvin J. Goodwin (b.1849 - d. December 16, 1913) and Rebecca Mattie (Devine) Goodwin, (b.1854 - d. July 3, 1918) of Pubnico, Yarmouth Co., NS. Caleb enlisted on July 19, 1916 with the 237th Battalion at Digby, Nova Scotia and transferred to the 97th Battalion on September 15, 1916. He departed Canada, at Halifax, sailing on the SS Olympic on September 18, 1916. He disembarked at Liverpool on September 25, 1916. Private Goodwin was transferred to the PPCLI (Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry) at Seaford, in East Sussex, and disembarked in France on December 14, 1916. He left for his unit in the field on December 19, 1916 and joined his unit on January 19, 1917. Caleb was known as “Sky”. “Sky served in Jerry’s [Captain Gerald W. Guiou] platoon when Jerry was platoon commander. He described Sky as, ‘A fine chap at heart, a wonder in action but in trouble most of his time out of the line.’ Official records of his various misdemeanors detail why this was just not acceptable behaviour for a PPCLI.” [see Remembering Caleb Goodwin] On July 15, 1917 Private Goodwin was sentenced to seven days Field Punishment No.1 and forfeited three days pay for being absent from billet from 8:00 am July 13, 1917 until 7:00 am on July 15, 1917. He was again sentenced on August 9, 1917 to five days Field Punishment No. 1 and forfeited two days pay for being absent from billets from tattoo on August 9, 1917 until found in billets at Reveille on August 10, 1917 and being insolent to an Officer. On September 4, 1917 he was again sentenced to twenty-one days of Field Punishment No. 1 for being drunk on Parade, not complying with an order, appearing on parade unshaven and dirty when order to be shaved and clean. On October 30, 1917, Caleb suffered a gun shot wound to the back and was admitted to No.8 Canadian Field Ambulance. He was transferred to No. 26 General Hospital at Etaples on November 1, 1917 and on November 18, to No. 6 Convalescent Depot and on November 20, 1917 to No. 6 Convalescent Depot at Etaples. He was again sentenced to forfeit seven days pay on November 25, 1917 for overstaying pass from 8:30 pm until 9:45 pm. Discharged he rejoined his Battalion in France on December 3, 1917. He was granted fourteen days leave to England on December 2, 1917. On his return to the battalion he was sentenced to seven days of Field Punishment No.1 and forfeited four days pay for overstaying his England leave from midnight on December 17, 1917 until 9:00 am on December 21, 1917. Again on March 10, 1918, Private Goodwin was sentenced to twenty-one days of Field Punishment No. 1 for being intoxicated on line of March 6, 1918. “In June 1918 Sky was working for Captain Guiou, ‘other than the parades he detested.’ Every officer in the Regiment knew him and watched to see if he would, “stay with it as this work required a very sober man. It was not a job one could safely play on.” This was related to the responsibilities of the Bombing Officer and Sky reportedly measured up and became, ‘The cleanest, smartest man in the Regiment, and doing fine.’ … Jerry’s letters home tell of the level of mutual support among the men, particularly mentioning Sky Goodwin – “He is good as gold at heart – a Nova Scotia fisherman and as faithful as a man can be.” On September 28, 1918 Captain Guiou was one of the 9 officers wounded during battle. He maintained that he lived to recount the events of that day because of Sky Goodwin. A severe gunshot wound to his left thigh and another to his right hand meant that to survive Captain Guiou had to get to a forward Dressing Station immediately. Sky got him there under shell fire, all the way carrying his battle equipment. Having delivered the Captain to the Dressing Station, he returned to the battle with Headquarters Details moving from the “jumping off” trench, to new positions, during an attack near the villages of Raillencourt and Sailly, he came under heavy shell fire, and together with two companion took shelter in an old shell hole. An enemy shell exploded nearby and he was hit in the stomach and instantly killed by a shell fragment. Caleb Goodwin is buried at Crest Cemetery, France.
Caleb Goodwin
Return to Casualty List In February of 1918, Caleb wrote the following to his sister:  France February 28, 1918 Dear Sister  Received your letter today and was very glad to hear from home.  I also received the box a while ago. You can send one real often as they come in Handy out here  Some time last summer I received two parcels from the Pubnico Red Cross Society.  Tell the ladies I thank them very much as the things are much appreciated.  I hope God will spare me this year as He did last and hope by next fall I will be back.  Tell mother not to worry about me.  If I die in this country I will die happy and prepare to meet me in the land where there is no pain nor sorrow.  I will close with love to alGood-bye and God bless you.  Caleb Goodwin B.E.F. France Medals of Caleb Goodwin
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