3290, Private, John GOODCHILD
Aged 29
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John Stanley GOODCHILD was born Kedington in 1886 (Risbridge Q3-1886 4A:616), baptised in Kedington on 14th November 1886, son of John and Ellen GOODCHILD (née BYFORD).
1891 census...Aged 4, he was at Baythorn Lodge, Kedington with his father John GOODCHILD [33] farmer/maltster born Kedington; his mother Ellen[33] born Saffron Walden; sister Margaret H [2] born Kedington. 1901 census...Aged 14 he was at Wood Hall, Balsham with his parents; sisters Margaret H and Rachel M [9] born Kedington and Rose M.BYFORD [36] born Long Melford, recorded a a relative (his aunt perhaps) 1911 census...Aged 24, a farmer,still single, he was at Yole Farm, Balsham with his sister Rachel mary as housekeeper. His mother had died in 1901 and father, in 1910, remarried to Mary (Jane JOHNSON?) [45] born Sutton Donnington, Notts and was living at Wood Hall, Balsham. No pension card has been found |
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The 1st Suffolk Yeomanry on 25 September 1915 were dismounted and sailed from Liverpool on SS 'Olympic' to Gallipoli. Landing on 10th October at Anzac Cove and came under orders of the 54th (East Anglian) Division.
John enlisted at Woodbridge. "Soldiers Died" has him born and resident in Balsham, only the latter is correct. Major actions in Gallipoli ceased around the end of August, beginning of September 1915, but disease and wounds added to the toll and 58 men died on 29th November 1915 on the peninsular . It is highly likely that John was not killed by an enemy bullet. Disease was so rife in that campaign that by the 28th November the Suffolk were down to a fighting strength of 274 men. In fact the worst storm known in the region hit on 26th/27th. The blizzard was so severe there were even reports of bodies being washed out of graves and down to the sea. Contemporary reports say that both sides were fully pre-occupied with mere survival on the 28th trying to salvage their kit and repair trenches. John was the only man recorded dying on the 29th from the Suffolk Yeomanry.
Memorial plaque commemorating John in Kedington (St.Peter and St.Paul) Church and also commemorated in Kedington. click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
