Death Of Mrs. Gladys

Godson

A YOUNG woman well known and well loved in Papua, Mrs. Gladys Godson (formerly Miss Gladys English), died in Prince Henry Hospital, Sydney, on March 27. The funeral, on March 28, was attended by many of the Papuan “evacuees” in Sydney.

Gladys English was a daughter of the very well-known Papuan pioneer, Mr.

A. C. English. In his fascinating book “Two Lugs on a Lugger”, published about five years ago, the American photo grapher, George Dromgold, who visited the English family at Rigo, referred to Mrs. English, and her two daughters, Marjorie and Gladys, as “charming and delightful personalities”. “The girls” he said, “had only recently returned from school in Sydney and assured us they were having a glorious time back home again with the family, in their own jungles of Rigo. Both girls are seriously interested in story-writing and butterfly collecting Gladys proudly displayed their collection of jewelled wings cap tured in the surrounding jungles. Many were of such size and indescribable beauty that I don't believe them yet.”

Gladys English later married one of the well-known Godson family, of Koitaki. She had been in poor health for some time prior to the evacuation in December. The English and Godson families have a thousand friends, and her untimely death will be sincerely mourned.