GOODCHILD, William
No. L/7768, Sergeant, William Edward GOODCHILD
Aged 31
"B" Coy., 8th Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment
Killed in Action on Wednesday 23rd May 1917
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Born in Exning in Q3- 1885 [Newmarket 3b:537], the son of Robert and Priscilla GOODCHILD (née MUNKS) of High Street, Exning. 1891 census...William {6] was at High Street, Exning with his father Robert 42] a butcher, born Newmarket..his mother Priscilla [44] born Grantham, Lincs.. his sister Mary E. [9] born Exning. 1901 census...The same family members were at the Butchers Shop, Exning, William [16] now being a journeyman butcher. 1911 census...Just possible he is the Sidings Porter on the railway in Chesterfield, boarding at 42 Queen St., New Brimington Chesterfield. One problem is the number of William Goodchild from Newmarket area of about the same age. His parents and sister are still in Exning in Oxford Street He married in Romford, Essex in q4-1916, to Hilda Emily UNDERWOOD (b.26-9-1885), who, on the pension card, was at 1 Portland Mansion, Portland Road, South Norwood London. She re married in 1923 in Sheffield to William COLLIER of 37 Mitchell Road, Woodseats, Sheffield. |
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He enlisted in Woolwich, Kent. As he died before the institution of the clasp it appears no application was made for the award to add to his 1914 Star. Known to have been buried in Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, near Ypres in Belgium, but he has no known grave. In the summer of 1917 a considerable number of graves were obliterated by shell fire before they could be marked. The 8th Battalion in Reserve or at least only suffering from an occasional shell or sniper fire since from 20th to 27th may, six were killed on 23rd and four on 24th, and none on the other days. They were relieved by the 2nd Bedfords on 29th May. |
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