53490 Rifleman Ernest Jesse Goer
B Company 1st Battalion
3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
7th December 1917
Born in Wellington New Zealand on 13/06/1881. His parents were James Goer(08/09/1844-15/08/1927) and
Besty Ann Derbyshire(07/06/1846-19/09/1902).
They were married on 21/04/1867.
Ernest had 5 brothers, Thomas William(1868-03/06/1953), Robert James(1871-1880),
Charles Arthur(24/06/1872-04/10/1917),
James Arthur(31/12/1879-26/12/1956) and
Albert John(04/06/1884-06/10/1954).
He also had 5 sisters, Sarah Ellen(1870-1872),
Rebecca Ann( 1874-1915), Eliza Jane(1876-1950),
Mary Elizabeth(1878-1926) and Harriet(born in 1883).
On 10/09/1906, Ernest married Olive Minnie Charlotte Murch(10/07/1885-11/11/1940). They had 2 children,
Gladys(22/05/1904-08/12/1965) and
Olive Cleta Charlotte(12/11/1908-02/08/1988).
Ernest was employed as a driver for the Wellington Corporation and the family lived on Thule Street, Taitville, Wellington.
Ernest enlisted in Wellington on 03/02/1917. Details of his medical, performed on the same day are as follows,
Apparent Age - 35 years
Height - 5ft 10 inches, Weight - 140lbs
Chest Measurement - Minimum - 33 inches, Maximum - 361/2 inches
Complexion - Dark, Colour of eyes - Grey, Colour of hair - Dark
Religious Profession - Church of England.
He was called up on 12/04/1917 and posted to F Company 28th Reinforcements as a Private, before being transferred to
F Company 27th Reinforcements on 14/06/1917.
When he had completed his training he embarked for England from Wellington aboard the Maunganui on 12/06/1917 having been transferred to G Company of the 26th Reinforcements.
His journey took just over 2 months before arriving in England and dis-embarking on 16/08/1917 in Devonport, then marching into Tidmouth Camp the same day . Later he was to move to Brocton Camp and it was from here that he left for France on 23/10/1917. it was 3 days later when he marched into Etaples Camp in France and stayed here for a week before being posted as a Rifleman to B Company 1st Battalion 3rd NZ Rifle Brigade.
Ernest was killed in action on 07/12/1917.
He was awarded the 1914-1918 British War and Allied Victory medals.
Ernest's' widow Olive, remarried in 1919 to Anker Jakob Charlo Yensen(born in 1891)
Evening Post 7 December 1925 Page 1
New Zealand Roll of Honour
In Memoriam
Goer – In loving memory of my dear father, Ernest Jesse Goer, killed in action on 7th December 1917.
Ever Remembered.
Inserted by his loving daughter and son-in-law, G., and E(dward). Mouton.
Ernest is also remembered on side 1 of the Mitchelltown War Memorial. Erected by the Mitchelltown Welcome Home Association and friends in 1920.
His brother Charles, Private (26756) 1st Company 2nd Battalion Auckland Infantry Regiment
had previously been killed in action on 04/10/1917 (originally buried at map ref – D.13.b.0.30.
reburied in Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot XII Row A Grave 9 having been identified
by disc & book that was in his procession).