Name
Frederick John Godman
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/04/1919
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
39379
Royal Army Ordance Corps
48th Ammunition Section
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KORTRIJK (ST. JAN) COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Row B, Grave 23.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford, St James' Church Memorial, Watford Fields,
Pre War
Son of Eliza (nee HOOD) and the late Philip Matthew GODMAN; husband of Daisy (nee BAKER) GODMAN.
His parents married 3 October 1869 at St Mary’s, Watford. Philip died 1906 in Watford aged 62, and was buried 7 August in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Eliza died 1931 in Watford aged 82, and was buried 7 April, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Frederick was born 9 December 1888 in Watford, and baptised 4 January 1889 at St Mary’s, Watford. He attended first Beechen Grove Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School from 23 January to 15 February 1895. He married 12 February 1912 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey, Herts; they had two children. Daisy remarried 1919 in the Portsmouth district to Arthur C FLEET, and died 1968 in the Portsmouth district aged 74.
On the 1891 Census, aged 2 he lived in Watford, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 11 he still lived in Watford, with his parents and five siblings. On the 1911 Census, a packing case maker aged 22, he still lived in Watford, with his widowed mother and one sibling.
Wartime Service
He was formerly Private 18697 Bedfordshire Regiment and 35075 Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.
He was accidentally killed, and was entitled to the Victory and British War medals which were sent to his widow of Portsmouth, Hants.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Frederick’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing; nor does he appear to have an entry in Soldiers died in the Great War 1914-1919.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
