Name: Merton Howard Goodwin Regimental Number: 734307 Rank: Private Regiment: Canadian Infantry Battalion: 112th Battalion / 25th Battalion Date of Birth: September 24, 1897 Place of Birth: East Pubnico, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia Date of Enlistment: March 15, 1916 Place of Enlistment: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Address at Enlistment: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Age at Enlistment: 18 years, 6 months Height: 5 Feet 6 Inches Complexion: Fair Eyes: Blue Hair: Bark Brown Prior Military Experience: 29th Battery, CFA (Yarmouth, NS) Trade: Fisherman Marital Status: Single Religion: Baptist Next of Kin: Mrs. Calvin Goodwin (Grandmother and Guardian), East Pubnico, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia Date of Death: April 29, 1917 Age at Death: 18 Listed on: Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France Commemorated on Page 245 of the First World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on May 31 and June 1 Listed on the Nominal Roll of the 112th Battalion. Memorial located in Round Hill Cemetery, Highway 3, East Pubnico, Nova Scotia Merton was the son of the late Amiel and Flora Goodwin, of East Pubnico, Nova Scotia. He completed his Medical at Yarmouth on March 1, 1916 and joined the 112th Battalion at Yarmouth on March 15, 1916. He was actually 17 years, 6 months of age when he enlisted, born September 24, 1898 and why the Goodwin Memorial gives his age at death at 18 years, 7 months. He embarked Canada on the SS Olympic, at Halifax, on July 23, 1916 and disembarked in England, at Liverpool, on July 31, 1916 and proceeding to Bramshott Military Camp, Hampshire, where he was transferred to the 25th Battalion. He moved with the 25th Battalion to France on November 29, 1916. Following the victory at Vimy Ridge, the Canadians continued to push against the enemy front lines advancing for two weeks in mid-April before encountering heavy German resistance. On April 28 and 29, 1917 a four- battalion attack was undertaken by the Canadians on the troublesome “Arleux Loop” at Arleux-en-Gohelle. The two- day battle cost the Canadians 1,255 casualties. During the advance on April 29, Private Goodwin, while on duty in the front line trench on Winnipeg Road, Arleux Loop was killed instantly by an enemy shell. Having no known grave, Private Goodwin’s name is listed on the Vimy Memorial.

Sources: Library and Archives Canada Commonwealth War Grave Commission Canadian Virtual War Memorial photos: Philip Jones