GOODMAN, Eric George


2nd Lieutenant, Eric George GOODMAN
Aged 23


6th Battalion, Dorset Regiment
formerly 1616, L/Cpl.,1/15th (County of London) Battalion, (Prince of Wales' Own Civil Service Rifles)
Killed in Action on Thursday, 12th April 1917


Eric George GOODMAN was born in Hilgay, Norfolk on 10th May 1894 (Downham Q2-1894 4B:347), son of Dr. Thomas Herbert and Mary Ann GOODMAN (née TINGEY).


1901 census...Aged 6 he was at 39 High Street, Haverhill with his father Thomas Herbert GOODMAN, [36] physician/surgeon born Strand, London; his mother Mary Ann [33] born Hilgay; twin brother Alan, brother Roy [4] and sister Muriel Edna [2] both born in Haverhill. There was an elder sister, Elsie Florence [8] who was away visiting Herbert and Georgina Stammers at Chapel Mill, Gressenhall, Norfolk. (Georgina was his aunt)

On 1st May 1906 he was admitted to Northgate Grammar School, Ipswich. He had been educated privately until then. The family were still in Haverhill.

1911 census...Aged 16, he was at School House, Skipton in Craven, Yorkshire. His parents were still at 39 High Street, Haverhill with sister Elsie (assistant governess) and brother Alan, an engineering apprentice.

His Army records have the family at 39 High Street, Haverhill.


He enlisted in the Territorials - Civil Service Rifles (15th County of London Regiment) on 4th April 1913 at Somerset House. He was 18 years 11 months old, born Hilgay, Downham Market, was 5 feet 8.5 inches (174 cm) tall, chest 33" to 37" (83.8 to 94 cm). He as a civil servant (Government Board of Education at 362 King's St., Hammersmith, next of kin his father at 39 High Street, Haverhill. Embodied 5th August 1914. Posted to BEF via Southampton-Le Havre on 17th March 1915, he was promoted to unpaid L/Cpl on that day and to paid L/Cpl on 15th July 1915. He then applied for a commission and was commissioned on 22nd January 1916 in the 6th Battalion, Dorset Regiment.


Photo of Eric Goodman attributed to 'Craven's Part in the Great War http://www.cpgw.org.uk/cpgwbook/page-63/

On 7th July 1916 he received a rifle bullet wound to the left temple at Mametz and was evacuated to UK on 14th. Time spent in 5 Military Hospital, Leicester. He was declared unfit for duty until 30th August and then given 2 month leave with one month light duties. This was all eventually extended until he was declared fit again for General Service on 23rd November.

The Bury Free Press of 22nd July 1916 reported :-
LIEUT.GOODMAN OF HAVERHILL

News has been received by Dr. T.H.Goodman of Haverhill that his son, Second Lieut. E.G.Goodman, of the Dorsetshire Regiment, was admitted to the 20th General Hospital Canvers (sic - it was Camiers), on July 8th, suffering from serious gun shot wound in the face.Lieut.Goodman was acting as bombing officer.


The war diary is in parts too lengthy, but they were attacking in the PELVES-ROEUX-GAVRELLE area. 2nd Lt Eric Goodman was initially recorded as missing.
CWGC record 28 of the battalion killed, only 6 with known graves, the rest are named on the Arras Memorial.

His death was noted in the South West Suffolk Echo on 28th April 1917:-
"The sympathy of all readers will be extended to Dr. and Mrs. T.H.Goodman of 39 High Street, Haverhill, on the occasion of the loss of their son, 2nd Lieut. Eric Goodman of the Dorsetshire Regt., who was killed in action in France on April 12th. Last week Dr.Goodman received a telegram announcing that Lieut. Goodman was" missing believed killed" and since then he has been the recipient of a letter from a companion officer giving greater details in a sympathetic communication which unfortunately offer no grounds for hope that the official notification is inaccurate.
The late Lieut.Goodman was 22 years of age and was very popular with all who knew him. He was educated at Epsom college and Skipton Grammar School, being at the latter place, Captain of the rugby and cricket teams and sports champion in 1910. On leaving the School he passed the Senior Oxford Examination with honours and exemption from London Matriculation. During his stay at home he was frequently seen in local cricket and often participated in the competitions at the swimming baths. Rather more than four years ago he joined the Civil Service Rifles, and on August14th, 1914 he volunteered for service. He first went to France in March 1915, and was twice wounded. Dr. and Mrs. Goodman have two other sons serving, one in France and the other in Ceylon invalided..;"


A letter from the Battalion Commander Lt.Col. A.S.Moulton Barrett, 27th April 1917:-
I very much regret not having written to you sooner but we have been fighting since the 11th April and have only just come back for a few days rest.Please accept my deepest sympathy in your sad and terrible loss. I greatly regret that I can not give you any hope as to your boy not being killed. It was on the evening of 12th April, when we attacked the German position between Monchy village and the River Scarpe. Your boy was Commanding his Company and had just reached his objective when the Germans put a heavy barrage on the position we had just won. The shells fired were of a very heavy type and the whole ground was blown up and torn to a depth of several feet. Your boy was not seen again and I am afraid there can be no doubt that he was killed and buried by one of these large shells. A search of the battle field was made that night and the next morning but no trace could be found of him. He was a most excellent officer and quite fearless.His loss is keenly felt by the officers and men. It is with the deepest regret that I can give you no hope.


23rd April - 114025 Spencer No 13 Gen.Hosp. Etaples:-
He was blown to pieces by a shell during the attack at Arras. A/CSM Briars was also killed by the same shell. Some of the pieces were collected. Sgt. Burgess, the M.O's orderly told me about it and could give further information. L/Cpl Davey, the Colonel's orderly also told me that he gave Mr. Goodman a cup of tea just before he started, and that his parting words were "The third time pays for all". It was the third time he had been over the top.


26h July 1917 a submission was recorded from 25750 Pte C POOLE stated that he saw this officer killed by a shell at Arras.
In September 1917 the Army Council, writing to the family to confirm the death referred to the above, which had been received via the British Red Cross Society. In point of fact the report was
At Arras, on the left of Morrissy, during the attack he was wounded and on his way back to the dressing station he was killed by a shell. This I witnessed. Ref Pte C.Poole 25750..No 11 Con Camp Buchy, nr Rouen.


12349, Sgt Bukley 23rd July 1917:-
I am Orderly Room Sergt, and this officer was reported missing with Sgt.Tendrick. Mr.Goodman was acting C.O.at the time and Sgt.Temndrick was acting Sgt.Maj. From information received in C Coy.,it is pretty well established that they were both blown up by a shell.It was in No Man's Land that they were both missing and we have taken the ground since which was in front of Monchy, and no sign of their bodies were found. It would have been impossible almost for the Germans to have got them as the ground was too hot and patrols were constantly going out. At the time they were thought to be seen blown up it was not quite certain so they were reported as missing. This had now been reported to D.A.C. Casualty Base


There are several other submissions in a similar vein.

A Miss Ethel M.SAUNDERS of Burghest, King's Lane, Sutton, Surrey visited some War Office Department on 11th July 1917 enquiring as to his kit and was given a bundle of letters. A previous form ( June 5h) had given his effects as a driver's licence, leather belt, religious book and a bundle of letters

The font in the Old Independent Church was provided by Eric’s family as a permanent tribute. Dr Goodman, in memory of his son Eric presented to the Old Independent Church a beautiful font. Octagonal in shape. and in Gothic style, with carved panels, and made of Derbyshire marble.
Inscribed on the font are the following words:-
<>i> "Erected in loving memory of Eric George Goodman, 2nd Lieut.,6th Dorset Regt.,killed in action in France, April12th, 1917, aged 22 years".





photo: Rodney Gibson

Eric Goodman is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Faubourg d'Amiens, bay 6
also commemorated in the Old Independent Church, Haverhill and on the font at the Congregational Church
also the roll of honour at Epsom College

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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