Name
John William Goodwin
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
39
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
269127
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BEDFORD HOUSE CEMETERY
Enclosure No.4 VIII. H. 34.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Ashwell Village Memorial,
St Mary’s Church Memorial Roll of Honour, Ashwell(*1),
Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Born Arlesey. Resident Ashwell. Enlisted Hitchin.
Before the war John was employed as representative of the Prudential Insurance Company where he was well liked and respected.
Wartime Service
An article in the Hertfordshire Express published on the 15th of September 1915 states that John had been missing since the 31st of July.
The 1st Hertfordshire Battalion were in support of an attack on the Langemarck Line and a general bombardment of the German lines commenced at 3.45am on the 31st July and and the planned assault began. It had three objectives to achieve known as Blue, Black & Green and units of the 116th Brigade easily captured the first two objectives, preparing the way for the forward companies of the Hertfordshire battalion, to take the third objective. At 05.00am the Hertfordshires left their assembly positions to attack their objective, which lay over the crest of a ridge.
As they made their way forward they came under heavy fire from both German machine guns and snipers but after eliminating a German strongpoint moved up towards St.Juliaan, which was only lightly held. The battalion crossed the Steenbeek with some difficulty and two of its supporting Tanks became bogged down in the mud. Things then went from bad to worse. A pre-arranged artillery barrage never materialised due to the guns being unable to move forward over the muddy terrain and the German barbed wire defences, which were fifteen feet deep in some places, were found to still be intact. It was soon realised that ground could only be won by section " rushes" supported by the unit’s own fire.
The Cheshire Regiment were on the right of the battalion but the Black Watch, who were due to cover the left flank, had been seriously delayed. This left the Hertfordshire Regiment seriously exposed and the Germans exploited this by bringing a hurricane of fire down upon the stricken troops. This was followed by a German counter-attack and by 10.30am it was clear that the objective could not be achieved. Casualties were very heavy with 459 men being killed, missing or wounded.
Additional Information
Husband of Sarah Goodwin, of 28, London Rd., Arlesey, Beds.
*1 The St Mary's Church Roll of Honour incorrectly indicates that he survived.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Derry Warners
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson, Jonty Wild
