Name
Hugh John Goodair
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/10/1914
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
CH/17409
Royal Marine Light Infantry
H.M.S. “Hawke”
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL
7.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial,
St. Mary’s Church Memorial, Rickmansworth
St. Peter's C & E Primary School Memorial, Mill End
Pre War
Hugh was born on the 23rd of February 1895 in Stonebridge, Harlesden, and baptised at St Michael and All Saints Church, Hillside, Willesden, on the 14th of April 1895. His parents were Hugh William George and Isabella (nee Southall ) Goodair.
In 1901, with their four children, they were living in Talbot Road, Rickmansworth, Hugh’s father being a Gas Stoker. In 1911 they were at 102 Norfolk Road, Rickmansworth, now with eight children. Hugh senior had become a Railway Foreman while Hugh junior age 16, was a Plumber.
He enlisted on 22nd of April 1912, place not known.
Wartime Service
Hugh was serving on an old cruiser, HMS Hawke, when it was torpedoed by the German U Boat U9 on the 15th of October 1914 while on patrol in the North Sea.
The Hawke's ready ammunition magazine was hit and exploded, killing many of the crew, with the ship sinking within minutes. Hawke was slow and obsolete having been designed for the protection of trade routes in the 1880’s.
Hugh’s body was never recovered. 524 officers and men were lost.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Tanya Britton, Mike Collins
