Name
Henry William Goodson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/07/1916
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4/6984
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Much Hadham Village Memorial
St Andrew’s Church Memorial, Much Hadham
Stone Bench Plaque, Much Hadham
Congregational Church Memorial, Hadham Cross
Pre War
Born on 9 Sep 1896 and baptised on 4 Oct 1896 in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire son of Henry William and Emma Goodson and lived in Woodside Cottage, Much Hadham in 1901 and Puddledock, Perry Green, Much Hadham in 1911. He was then working as a handy boy at the Doctor’s.
Wartime Service
Enlisted at Hertford and was killed in action on the Somme while attacking Trones Wood. 2nd Bedfordshire War Diary Extract: (Attack on Trones Wood) The Battalion were in position by 1.30am and were formed up in 1/2 companies with an interval of five paces between the men. Orders had been received that the Battalion was to enter the wood at 3.27am, so the leading line commenced to advance at 3.10am, towards the south-eastern edge of Trones Wood. It being almost dark, the advance was not observed until the leading line was 400 yards from the wood, when enemy machine guns opened fire. The Battalion suffered many casualties before getting into the wood at 3.45am. However, owing to the enemy machine gun and shell fire they had entered too much into the southern end of the wood, and because of the denseness of the undergrowth, they couldn't see more that 4 yards in front of them. Several companies got separated and had to withdraw during the day. By 7pm they had dug themselves in on the southeast and southwest side of the wood, having suffered many casualties.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, “Lest We Forget – Much Hadham 1914-18” by Richard Maddams (Much Hadham Forge Museum)
