No.12202, Private, James William GOODCHILD
Aged 21
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Born in Burwell on 7th April 1894 [Newmarket 3b:513], the eldest of 7 sons and 4 daughters of William and Maud Mary GOODCHILD (nee BADCOCK) of Bedlam Square,
Burwell. 1901 census...William [6] was at Maltings Cottages, Fordham Road, Newmarket with his father William[27], a machine worker in Maltings, born Burwell; his mother Maud [26] born Burwell; sister Lilian [5] born Burwell, and brothers George [3] and Edward [2] both born in Exning. 1911 census...James [16] now a grocers assistant, was at Maltings Cottages still, with his parents, brothers George and Edward (now recorded as Newmarket born), and new brothers Frederick [9]; Alfred [7]; and sisters Isabel [5]; Gladys [2] and Eveline [1] all born Newmarket. One child had died. His father died as a result of an accident at work in 1914. The pension card has his mother at 3 Mafeking Terrace, Field Terrace Road, Newmarket |
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He enlisted in London. On St Swithin's Day, 15th July 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, the 6th Bedfords were part of the attack from Bailiff Wood,
to Contalmaison Wood, past the Chalk Pit and up the rise to Pozieres. Sometimes known as the Battle of Bazentin. Of the 200+ casualties of the 6th Bedfords, 67 were killed. They are mostly either buried in Pozieres Cemetery or named on the Thiepval Memorial. |
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The war dairy of the battalion has:- Pozieres - 15-7-16- At 9:20 am after heavy bombardment of POZIÈRES for one hour the battalion led a Brigade attack on the village. "A" and "B" Coys in the front line, "C" and "D" Coys in support. Owing to artillery barrage and machine gun fire the Battalion was unable to achieve it objective but it was gained by other units of the Brigade and consolidated existing trenches to east and south east of POZIÈRES. At 5pm a further bombardment of POZIÈRES was carried out and the Battalion with the remainder of Brigade attempted another assault on POZIÈRES at 6 - 9pm, this assault was again held up by machine gun fire and the wire not being cut in the hedges surrounding the village. The battalion handed over the trenches to the 10th Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regt at 2:20 and proceeded to trenches in close support. Casualties: Officers killed One, Wounded 8.Other ranks killed 56, wounded 276, missing 33. |
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details