Name
Daniel (Dan) Goodship
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/11/1917
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/21250
The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL
Panel 3
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Dan was born in 1898 in Hitchin and christened there on 30 April 1898 at the Holy Saviour Church. His parents were Daniel and Gertrude Alice Goodship.
In 1901 the family were living at 11 Union Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Daniel (32) and Gertrude (29). with Daniel (senior) working as a bricklayer. Their children were: Arthur (4), Dan (2) and William at two months.
By 1911 the family were living at the same address and his father emplyed in the same work. Present were both parents, x now working as a bricklayer. The census recorded they had been married for 18 years with 5 children, all living. All the children listed above were present, plus Reggie (8) and Gertrude at 9 months.
Before being called up he was employed by Phoenix Motors of Letchworth.
Officially Dan was recorded as born, living and enlisting Hitchin, Herts.
Wartime Service
Dan was given the Regimental Number G/21250 and posted to the 6th Battalion and was killed in action.
The day of his death was on the opening day of the Battle of Cambrai. The weather was misty and threatening rain. The Battalion was in the 37th Brigade of the 12th Division in the III Corps of the 3rd Army. The 12th Division formed a defensive flank on the right of the battle and the 37th Brigade was in the second wave following the 35th Brigade. At about 8.50am the 37th Brigade took up the advance close to the main road from Gouzeaucourt to Maznieres. The 6th Battalion East Kent Regiment encountered obstinate resistance at Pam Pam Farm in the Hindenburg Support System. They advanced through Bonavis Farm then to Lateau Wood where resistance was overcome by 11.00am. The Di vision had stormed the fortress village of La Vacquerie and had made an advance of nearly 5,000 yards with the help of a number of tanks.
Daniel has no known grave, but is remembered on Panel 3 of the Cambrai Memorial to the Missing at Louverval in France.
It seems that his parent received news of his death before any official notification as one of Dan’s friends wrote saying their sone had fallen in action. Official news was reported the following month in the Hertfordshire Express.
Additional Information
After his death £4 17s 11d was authorised to go to his father, Daniel, on 15 April 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to him, on 19 November 1919.
His pension cards record Gertrude Alice Goodship as his mother, and his dependant, living at 29 Union Road, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 7s 6d a week from 16 July 1918.
‘In Memoriam’ notices were placed, at least twice, in the Herefordshire Express, as similar notices have been found in the 16 November 1918 and 15 November 1919.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
