Name
Godfrey Philpot
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/09/1916
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Captain
Royal Garrison Artillery
25th Siege Battery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BRONFAY FARM MILITARY CEMETERY, BRAY-SUR-SOMME
I. D. 43.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Saviour's Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd., Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Godfrey was born in Moreford Lodge, Kingston Hill, Surrey on the 23rd July 1891 and baptised on 2 September 1891 in St Luke's Church, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey. He was the son of Henry John and Geraldine Philpot (née Buttanshaw of Sherfield Manor. Romsey, Hants. ) they had married on 2 October 1890 in Edworth, Bedford.
In 1891 before Godfrey’s birth, his parents were living at Kingston, Surrey. Present were both future parents: Henry (24) and Geraldine (26), niece Henrietta F and 3 servants. Henry was a Member Of Stock Exchange.
By 1901 Godfrey was boarding and the Dane Court School, Parkstone, Dorset while the family. Both parents, brother Reginald Henry (7) and sisters: Beryl K (5) and Gwendoline M (4) were living at 84 Onslow Gardens, Kensington, London. They employed a nurse, house and kitchen maids and a cook..
He was educated in Cheltenham College (1905-10) and the Royal Military College, Woolwich (1911-12). At Cheltenham he was a College Prefect and captain of the Rugby XV (1910) and the Hockey XI, so a keen sportsman. He went on to play football for the United Services in 1912.
The census of 1911 shows that Godfrey had joined the army and was at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich Common, Woolwich as a ‘Gentleman Cadet’. His parents were living at 84 Onslow Gardens, South Kensington London, S W, with Beryl (15) and Gwendolyn (14), and at this time they also had 5 servants father’s occupation was Member of the Stock Exchange. The census recorded they had been married for 20 years with 4 children, all living.
He gazetted to 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery on the 19th July 1912 and served at Gibraltar in 1913.
Wartime Service
He was promoted to full Lieutenant on the 2nd June 1915 and was killed in action on the Somme whilst serving in the 25th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery equipped with 8" howitzers and part of the 4th Army. He was killed by a shell whilst acting as a Forward Observation Officer. This was a notoriously dangerous and uncomfortable job often in the front line with the infantry. The positions were usually evil stinking shellholes and would have been half full of water as mud and ooze crept over the battlefield at the end of August.
General Johnston, C.B., C.R.A., Gibraltar wrote to his mother: “I looked on your son's one of the most promising young officers, and had known from all accounts he had fully justified my opinion of him at the front.” Lieut. Col Jenour, Commanding 31st Heavy Artillery Group wrote of him Lieut.-Col. Channel commanding 31st heavily artillery group in France, also wrote: “I cannot tell you how much grieved I was to hear of your son's death. I knew him as a young officer at Plymouth, and about three months ago his battery joined my group. He was a most excellent officer, full of courage and cheerfulness under heavy shellfire and inspiring confidence in his men. His death is a great loss to the battery, as he was universally popular with officers and men, I was thoroughly proficient as an artillery officer. He had been recommended to command a Battery. Personally I had the highest opinion of your son in every way, and his death deprives us of a friend for whom I had great esteem.”
Additional Information
After his death £8 13s 1d was authorised on 16 September 1920 and then “s on 16 December 1920 to go to Cory(?) Co – presumably his solicitor and then 5s 7d on 16 October 1920 to C P Base.
His pension cards record x, his widow/father/mother, as his next of kin/dependant, living at x, Hitchin. She/He was awarded a pension of 6s 6d a week from 13 May 1919.
Probate was obtained by his father and his brother, Reginal Henry Philpot (stockbroker) on 30 October 1918, with the value of his effects £9078 13s 5d.
His connection with Hitchin has not been established and in Hitchin he is only remembered in St. Saviour's church. He may have been known to the vicar of St. Saviour's as his mother was the daughter of the Rector of Edworth.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
