Name
John Clifton Goadby
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/08/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
London Regiment *1
13th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
H.A.C. CEMETERY, ECOUST-ST. MEIN
Sp. Mem. B. 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial, St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance
Pre War
Born in Hornsey, Middlesex in January 1898 (registered in Edmonton district), John Clifton Goadby was the eldest son of Joseph Stubbins and Mary (née Monk) Goadby. His parents were married in 1892 (registered Q3 1892 in Henley, Oxon, district). Joseph died, aged 71, in February 1931 in Reading, Berks. Mary died, aged 91, in January 1954 in Padworth, Berks.
His parents married 1892 in the Henley, Oxon, district. Joseph died 16 February 1931 in Reading, Berks, aged 71, and was buried 19 February at St Paul’s, Wokingham, Berks; Mary died 24 January 1954 in Padworth, Berks, aged 91, and was buried 27 January, also at St Paul’s, Wokingham.
At the 1901 Census, John was three years old and living at 22, Marlborough Road, Watford with his parents and a one-year old brother Hugh Clifton, born in 1889. His father’s occupation was given as a Surveyor and Valuer with London County Council. The places of birth are given as India for Joseph, Henley on Thames for Mary Wife (age 41), Highgate for John and Watford for Hugh.
By the time of the 1911 Census, the family was living at Ashcroft, Bushey Hall Rd, Bushey with John now 13, Hugh 11 and one servant. Joseph, now aged 51, is recorded as Principal Assistant Estates Surveyor with London County Council and give his place of birth as Bombay, India. Mary is 48 years old.
John attended Watford Grammar School from March 1906 to April 1911 before going on to West Buckland School for four and a half years. West Buckland School had started as a Rifle Club in 1906 and this was later set up as a Cadet Force in 1909. This was a junior division, intended for public schools, of the Officers Training Corps. established in July 1908.
West Buckland was the inspiration for the novel by R F Delderfield ‘To Serve Them All My Days’ and there is a film clip about the school on the BBC’s First World War at Home webpages.
Wartime Service
John attested, aged 18, on 5 June 1916 in Kensington, London, for Short Service (Duration of the War with the Colours and in the Army Reserve) as Private 5418/492363 with the 13th (County of London) Battalion London Regiment (Kensington Rifles), having previously served four years in the Officer Training Corps at West Buckland School, Devon. John gave his occupation at enlistment as a dentist’s apprentice.
He was discharged to a commission in the 13th Battalion London Regiment and gazetted as second lieutenant on 10 March 1917. He was attached to the Queen’s Westminster Rifles and served from 23 May 1917 on the Western Front. He was killed in action near Heudecourt on 20 August 1918. He had been recommended for the Military Medal. His father applied for his medals and his address at that time was given as Finch Lane, Bushey.
He is buried at the H A C Cemetery, Ecoust-St Mein in France and is also commemorated on the Bushey Memorial, at St James’ Parish Church and at St Paul’s Church, Bushey.
He has an entry in De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, which states his Commanding Officer wrote; “He was by far the most popular platoon commander in the battalion, which is saying much as our officers were all splendid….he was not only a brave and conscientious officer, but took great pains to see to the comfort of his men.”
His brother, Hugh, enlisted as a Private with the London Regiment when he was 18 and survived the war.
Additional Information
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads: “GOADBY, JOHN CLIFTON. School period: March, 1906, to April, 1911. Second Lieutenant, 13th London Regiment. Killed in action, 28th August, 1918; had been recommended for M.C.”
There is an article about and a Death announcement for John in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 7 September 1918.
Information provided with the kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk. Information also drawn from the Our Watford History website - please visit www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk.
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London)
Bn. London Regiment (Kensington).
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
