Herman James Good

Charged enemy machine guns and captured three artillery guns

Herman James Good was born at South Bathurst, New Brunswick, on 29 November 1887. He attended school at Big River and worked in the lumber industry before enlisting at Sussex in June 1915. He sailed to Britain with the 55th Battalion and transferred to the 13th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, in April 1916.

Service in France brought both physical wounds and the strain of prolonged fighting. Good was wounded in June 1916 and later spent time recovering from shell shock before rejoining his battalion. He became a lance corporal in 1917 and a corporal in May 1918.

On 8 August 1918, during the opening attack at Amiens, his company was held up near Hangard Wood by three German machine guns. Good advanced alone, killed several defenders and captured the others, allowing the infantry to continue. Later he encountered a battery of heavy guns still firing. Gathering three men from his section, he attacked under close-range fire and captured the crews of all three guns.

The Victoria Cross recognized his initiative in overcoming two obstacles to the advance. He was gassed the following day and evacuated to Britain. Later promoted lance sergeant, he received his Victoria Cross from George V at Buckingham Palace in March 1919 and was discharged at Saint John in April.

Good returned to New Brunswick and married Martha Blanche Moore that August. He resumed lumbering and subsequently worked for more than twenty years as a game, fish and fire warden in the Bathurst district. His working life thus remained closely connected to the forests and communities of his home province. He suffered a stroke in April 1969 and died in Bathurst on 18 April. He was buried with military honours in St Alban's Cemetery.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery and leading when in attack his company was held up by heavy fire from three enemy machine guns, which were seriously delaying the advance. Realising the gravity of the situation, this N.C.O. dashed forward alone, killing several of the garrison and capturing the remainder. Later on Cpl. Good, while alone, encountered a battery of 5.9-inch guns, which were in action at the time. Collecting three men of his section, he charged the battery under pointblank fire and captured the entire crews of three guns.

Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 24 September 1918. 27 September 1918, Numb. 30922, p. 11430