A month after his 18th birthday, 24th. January 1916 he put his age up to 21, enlisted in his Majesty’s Forces and became a member of the 1st Australian Imperial Force.
In due course Chris was assigned to the Signal Corps and at Kiama where he learned Morse code, semaphore, heliograph, & Begby lamp.
When volunteers were required for the 1st. Australian Wireless Squadron to serve with the Indian army in Mesopotamia Chris stepped forward and was transferred back to the Engineers Depot at Moore Park. Two days later, in spit of the fact that the only horses he had seen were in baker’s carts and hansom cabs, he responded to the command “Anyone who knows how to handle horses step forward” and for the next two and a half years he was never away from horses day or night. Chris recalled his gratitude to 2 great horsemen from the Snowy Mountains who covered for his early ignorance of things equine whilst teaching him all he needed to know.
On 23 December 1916 he embarked at Sydney on a troop transport bound for Basra via Colombo, Karachi & Bombay
It was in Karachi that Goy was court marshalled for the 1st. time. He and 3 companions took 8 hours of unauthorized shore leave after fooling the Pommy sentry at the bottom of the gangplank that they were Aussie officers. On their return they posed as a “fatigue party” but were spotted by the provost Sergeant who threw them in the clink. The Colonel next morning threatened them with the firing squad but settled for “14 days number 2 field punishment”
The second time was when he was caught bathing in the Tigris out of permitted hours after his mates had put his watch forward. This conviction was never recorded as Goy resorted to the old trick of tearing the relevant page from his pay book.
The third occasion also happened whilst swimming in the river where in a playful mood he ducked a bald soldier saying, “Good heavens, how old are you? The Army should be ashamed to send a silly old man like you on active service.” In a perfect Oxford accent the figure replied, “Do you know who I am?” to which goy answered, “I haven’t a clue.” This brought forth the curt retort, “I’m Major-General Norton and you will report to my quarters in an hour’s time!” When paraded before the General the officer remarked “I had an idea you were an Australian – have you anything to say?” “Sir” Goy replied, “Please accept my apology, but it is rather difficult to distinguish the rank of any person in the nude.” The General’s finding: “The evidence in this case is unimpeachable – case dismissed.
Chris Goy served in Mesopotamia as a driver, 1st Australian Wireless squadron, 26th infantry brigade, fighting the Turks until the cessation of hostilities in November 1918.
Among the engagements in which he participated was the famous charge of the Australian Light Horse at Beersheba on 31st October 1917.