Name
Theodore William Goddard
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/01/1918
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
610667
London Regiment *1
19th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ROCQUIGNY-EQUANCOURT ROAD BRITISH CEMETERY, MANANCOURT
IX. C. 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Abbots Langley Village Memorial, St. Lawrence Church Memorial, Abbots Langley
Biography
Theodore was admitted to hospital (21 Casualty Clearing Station) soon after returning from Christmas leave and died of illness on the same day, 10th January 1918. His death was caused by a combination of Nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys which can be caused by infection) and Rheumatism. He enlisted at Camden Town on 18th September 1914 and embarked for France on 9th March 1915.
The initials report of his death in the Herts Advertiser Confirmed that Theodore was of Abbots Langley but formerly of Brickets Wood.
His death was reported in the Hertfordshire Advertiser
“The keenest sympathy has been aroused by the death, under singularly sad circumstances, of Sergt. T.W.Goddard, of the 19th City of London Regiment, only son of Mr and Mrs Goddard, of Abbot’s Langley, who as recently as December 21st, at Park Street, was married to Hilda Gray, daughter of Mr and Mrs W.F.Gray and niece of Mr and Mrs H.Gray of Bricket Wood.
For a number of years, Sergt Goddard resided at Bricket Wood, where his father was gardener at Hansteads, the residence of Sir David Yule, before he proceeded to Abbot’s Langley as gardener to Sir Robert Kindersley at Langley House. Sergt Goddard was therefore well-known in the district where he identified himself with a number of local movements. He was Secretary of the Bricket Wood Adult School, he helped in the formation of the Slate Club, was a member of the Men’s Society at Bricket Wood, and was also a member and an active player of the old Bricket Wood Football Club. Upon the removal of the family to Abbot’s Langley he identified himself there with local movements and among other positions of a public nature that he occupied was that of Secretary of the Abbot’s Langley Horticultural Society.
In civil life he was in the Railway Clearing House at Euston. He joined the Army soon after the outbreak of war and proceeded to France nearly three years ago. He had seen a good deal of fighting, being in the first Battle of Loos and a number of subsequent engagements. More recently he had participated in the fighting at Bourlon Wood. He fortunately got through without serious hurt.
In December last he came home on leave and was then married and, after a short honeymoon, returned to France, where he was taken ill and died within about a week. The young widow, for whom, as well as other relatives, much sympathy is felt, is still staying with Mr and Mrs H.Gray, at Bricket Wood.Of Sergt Goddard’s two sisters, one (Ada) is engaged in hospital work in France, and the other who lives at Walton-on-Thames, is married, her husband being with the Army in France."
A memorial service is being conducted by the Rev W.J.McAdam of St Albans at Bricket Wood Congregational Church on Sunday afternoon.
The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine reported in January 1918
“Another name has been added to our long and growing list of those who have lost their lives in the great adventure, and under peculiarly pathetic circumstances. Sergeant Theodore William Goddard was home for his fourteen days' leave at Christmas, during which time he was married, and he was in Church with his wife on Sunday evening, December 30th. He returned to France the following day, was admitted to Hospital with illness on January 10th, and died the same day. Sergeant Goddard was for some years joint Hon. Secretary of our Horticultural Society, in which he took a great interest, and served with true business capacity, We offer our sincerest sympathy to his father and mother and wife.”
Theodore Goddard was buried at Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Manacourt, France and was commemorated on the Abbots Langley War Memorial.
Additional Information
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London)
Bn. London Regiment (St Pancras).
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
