No.8426, Private, Ernest Robert GOODFELLOW
Aged 30
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Born Robert Ernest, at 10 Old Barracks, Cemetery Road, on June 5th 1889 (3rd qtr Bury St.Edmunds 4a:691) son of Henry and Maria GOODFELLOW (née REYNOLDS), usually known as Ernest. CWGC have his age wrong. Baptised on 23rd November 1896 at St.James, Bury St.Edmunds.
1891 census...Aged 2, he was at 36 Cemetery Road, Bury St Edmunds with his father Henry GOODFELLOW [50] labourer; his mother Maria [33]; sisters Alice [10], Rose [8] and Ellen [4]; brother Harry [6]. All were born in Bury St.Edmunds. His mother died at the end of 1896. 1901 census...Aged 12, he was at 130 Cemetery Road, Bury St.Edmunds with his parents; brothers Henry W (errand boy), Walter J [10] and Thomas [4]; sisters Ellen R. and Louisa [7] 1911 census...Aged 22, a bricklayer's labourer, he was at 53 Chalk Lane with his widower father. No given names recorded, just an initial. Also there were brother Walter (porter), Thomas (errand boy); sister Alice (Mrs MEEKINS) her husband W MEEKINS [34] bricklayer's labourer) and their son W [8] and daughter L [4]. Alice had borne 5 children but 3 had died. The pension card and newspaper report have his father at 141 King's Road. His brother Henry William was killed in action in August 1914 see here and brother Walter James was killed in November 1915 see here |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. May 8th 1915 was one of the dark days in the history of the 1st Suffolks. The battle for the Frenzenberg Ridge broke out at 10 am. An intense artillery barrage of HE and gas poured down on the battalion, added to by machine gun and mortar fire in a seeminglingly endles hail of death and destruction. All communications were cut for two mles behid the line. Ypres itself was aflame and transport of necessary supples was impossible. The CO, Adjutant, most of the officers and the RSM were casualties and a breach in the line meant that by noon they were overwhelmed. At muster on the 9th, 3 officers and 27 men were all that met the incoming draft from Felixstowe. Stragglers did gradually filter in but the battalion that fought out the 8th May hardly existed. With the draft of new men, and the survivors, by 12th May the 1st Suffolk numbered 11 officers and 286 other ranks, as opposed to the usual nominal strength of around 900 . CWGC record the deaths that day ( many as on or since) as 95, of which just one man has a known grave.
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