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).