| Goodwin | Thomas Herbert John Chapman | | Surgeon Captain | GOODWIN, THOMAS HERBERT JOHN CHAPMAN, Captain, was born at Kandy, Ceylon, 24 May 1871, eldest son of Surgeon Major John Goodwin, Army Medical Staff, and Marion Agnes Power. He was educated at Newton College, Devon, and St Mary's Hospital, London; joined the Army 29 July 1893, and became Captain 29 July 1896. He served on the North-West Frontier of India, 1897-98; was present at the Battle of Shabkadr; was mentioned in Despatches 4 January 1898; received the Medal and clasp, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 20 May 1898]: "Thomas Herbert John Chapman Goodwin, Surgeon Captain, Army Medical Staff. In recognition of services in the recent operations on the North-West Frontier of India", (Insignia presented by Major General Moorsorn at Murree 20 February 1898.) He became Major 30 January 1905. Major Goodwin served in the European War from 1914, being present at Mons and the retreat to the Marne, the First and Second Ypres Battles, the fighting on the Somme, etc Commanded No 4 Cavalry Field Ambulance, No 14 General Hospital, and was Assistant Director of Medical Services, 2nd Cavalry Division, British Expeditionary Force, 22 September 1914 to 21 June 1915; became Lieutenant Colonel 1 March 1915; was Assistant Director of Medical Services, Guards Division, British Armies in France, 21 January 1917 to 16 April 1917. In April 1917, he was appointed ADMS with Mr Balfour's Mission to America (with acting rank as Colonel). Promoted Colonel 26 December 1917; appointed Honorary Surgeon to the King 26 December 1917; became Major General 18 January 1918; was Deputy Director-General, Army Medical Service, 24 March 1918 to 28 February 1918; Director-General, Army Medical Service (temporary), 1 March 1918 to 31 March 1918; Director-General 1 June 1918, with the rank of Lieutenant General. A newspaper correspondent wrote: "The choice of Colonel Goodwin as the new Acting Director General of Army Medical Services is appropriate on more than professional grounds. For the entry of the United States into the war has brought this country an increasingly large number of American medical men, who, with great, devotion, offered their help at the first call made upon them, and it is fitting that the soldier who, as Assistant Director of Medical Services to the British Mission which went to America under Mr Balfour and later Lord Northcliffe, was foremost in voicing the call for help, and who, from the beginning of his work in the United States, endeared himself to the whole of a great and very critical medical profession, should become the new Director-General. Colonel Goodwin was one of those who served through the heroic days of Mons, and the Marne and Ypres, and has placed British Medicine deeply in his debt by the manner in which he has fostered and strengthened the bond between our doctors in this country and the American doctors who are, coming to work side by side with them. The fruits of his labours are manifest already, for a strong spirit of comradeship has sprung up. An American physician of high standing, who has recently come to this country says of Colonel Goodwin: ‘He is a splendid man. We took to him from the first minute. He was so sound in the advice he gave to us, so 'live' and so thorough ... and over all so tactful. It would be a joy to serve under him'. That impression was certainly no isolated one. When the degree of Master of Arts was conferred on Colonel Goodwin by the University of Michigan on 12 October last, the Journal of the American Medical Association commented thus: ‘Distinguished scholar and soldier, possessor of the Order of St Michael and St George, one of the few survivors of the first British Force in France, gentle in word and in manner, resolute in action'. Colonel Goodwin, therefore, almost more than any living man, will be in a position to understand the respective points of view of the British and American Medical Services, and to encourage the close co-operation between them upon which so much depends. Moreover, his own splendid record of service—North-West Frontier, 1897-1898, Battle of Shabkadr, Despatches, DSO, Medal and clasp, three times mentioned in the present war—proves that the welfare of the righting men will be safe in his hands. He has learnt his war medicine in the field; ho knows, above all, the practical necessities of the situation". He became Lieutenant General 1 June 1919, and was created a CMG in 1915; a CB in 1918; a KCB in 1919; FRCS, England, in 1919; and was a Knight of Grace of St John of Jerusalem; Commander, Belgian Order of Leopold; Commander of the Italian Order of the Crown; was awarded the American Distinguished Service Medal. In 1917 he was made Honorary Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and Master of Arts of the University of Michigan. He was the author of 'Notes for Medical Officers on Field Service in India', 'Field Service Notes for RAMC', 'Prevention of Disease when on Active Service', 'Notes for Army Medical Officers', etc. On 29 December 1897, at Simla, Sir J Goodwin married Lilian Isabel Ronaldson, youngest daughter of James Torrance Ronaldson.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Army Medical Service |
