Name
Edward James Godman
7/03/1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/09/1918
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
27696
Bedfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHIPPERFIELD (ST. PAUL) CHURCHYARD, KINGS LANGLEY
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS PEACE PERFECT PEACE
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, Kings Langley Village Memorial, All Saints Church Memorial, Kings Langley, Not on the Chipperfield memorials
Pre War
Edward James Godman was born in Chipperfield, near Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, on 7 March 1884, the son of George and Charlotte Godman and one of nine children. Sadly the oldest child, Alice Mary, died in 1874 aged 3.
On the 1891 Census, the family were living at Chapel Croft, Chipperfield, Kings Langley, Herts, where his father was working as a Farm Labourer. He left Apsley Boys' School in April 1897 to work on a farm. The family remained in Kings Langley in 1901 but had moved to Old Kennels Cottages. His father was a Farm Carter working with horses and Edward was listed as a Shepherd Boy.
By the time of the 1911 Census the family had moved to Rucklers Green, Kings Langley and Edward, aged 27, was working as a Farm Labourer. He was one of three sons still living at home with their parents,
Wartime Service
Edward attested in October 1915 in Bedford and was posted to the Army Reserve, being called up at the end of March 1916 when he was sent for basic training and was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 27696. It is likely he was sent to France in September or October 1916 and would have first seen action in the Battle of Transloy Ridge. The Battalion fought in major engagements for the next two years, including the Battles of Arras, Ypres (including Passchendaele), Albert and Baupame.
It is not known what led to Edward being repatriated to England, whether he was wounded or suffering from disease, but military records merely state that he 'died' in Colchester Military Hospital on 15 September 1918. He is buried in St. Paul’s Churchyard, Chipperfield, Herts.
Additional Information
His father, Mr. G. W. Godman, 66, Wellesley Rd. Slough, Bucks., ordered his headstone inscription: “SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS PEACE PERFECT PEACE ”. Brother to R/9497 Rifleman Christopher Godman of the 3rd Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps, who was killed in action on 3 October 1915, aged 25 and who is also named on the Hemel Hempstead and Kings Langley Memorials. His father received a war gratuity of £11 and pay owing of £24 11s 5d.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne, Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.hemelheroes.com.,
