Ernest Goddard
1911 railway porter/drayman.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Ernest Goddard was born in Radford, Nottingham, the son of Thomas and Jane Goddard (née Gretton).
His parents were married at Nottingham St Ann on 26 December 1878; Thomas was a timber merchant and both he and Jane were living at 72 Corporation Road, Nottingham. The couple had two sons, William Albert b. 1879 (OND), and Ernest b. 1881 (JAS).
Jane, a brass bobbin winder, was recorded on the 1881 census in the home of her parents, Noah and Hannah Gretton, at 23 Althorpe Street, Radford. Her second son was born a few months later.
Thomas Goddard died in 1888 age 34 and in 1891 his widow, a machinist, and her sons were living at 3 Timber Yard, North Sherwood Street. Jane continued to live at the same address until her death on 21 December 1918 but neither of her sons were recorded in the home on the two subsequent census in 1901 and 1911. However, by 1911 Jane, a bobbin minder (lace trade), had a boarder, Elizabeth Good (31, single) a brass winder (lace trade).
The youngest son Ernest, who had joined the army in 1899 but had transferred to the Army Reserve by 1907, married Mary Elizabeth Enerby (b. East Bridgford 22 March 1881) at Nottingham St Saviour on 22 January 1910. There were no children of the marriage.
Ernest's brother, William, married an army widow, Florence Emily O'Sullivan (née Gardner), also in 1910 (OND Petersfield Hampshire), and their son, Thomas William Alleyne, was born the following year. (For further information see record on this Roll of Honour.)
Ernest and his wife may have lived initially at Millgate, East Bridgford, but in 1911 he and Mary (27) were living at 228 Waterway Street, Nottingham; Ernest was a railway porter/drayman.
The notices of Ernest's death placed by his mother in the local newspaper suggested that his home address might have been Sherwood Street, Nottingham, but notices from his widow Mary gave her address as East Bridgford, so she had probably returned to live with her parents.
Mary married secondly Private George Dawson, 14th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, on 10 February 1917.
Ernest attested in the Milita, 3526 Private, 4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, on 14 October 1899. He was aged 18y 3m, living in Radford, and employed as a labourer by Mr Rudd of Grantham, Lincolnshire. He named his mother, Jane Goddard, of 3 Timber Yard, Sherwood Street, as his next of kin. When he joined the regular army he named his next of kin as his mother and his brother William, 'serving in the Royal Engineers'.
Three months later, at the age of 18y 6m, he applied to join the regular army, giving his full name as Ernest Edward Goddard, declaring his service with the Militia and that he had been rejected as 'unfit for her Majesty's service' citing 'underweight and chest'. However he was accepted into the Army and joined the 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment on 4 December 1889 (5456 Private).
Ernest enlisted on a 12 year engagement: '7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve, or, if the man completes his 7 years' service with the Colours while beyond the seas, then for a further period, not exceeding one year, with the Colours, and the remainder of the 12 years in the Reserve.' He transferred to the Army Reserve on 30 December 1906 and was discharged 'on the termination of first period of engagement' on 3 December 1911.'
His service record shows that he served overseas from 27 November 1900 to 27 December 1906: Home, 4 December 1999-26 November 1900, 358d; South Africa 27 November 1900-7 March 1902, 1y 101d; India 8 March 1902-27 December 1906, 5y 295d; Home 28 December 1907. With Army Reserve time (discharged 3 December 1911), he completed 12 years service.
During his service, Ernest passed the following classes of Instruction: Mounted Infantry Certificate, Bangalore, 20 September 1902. Stretcher Bearer Class, Wellington Depot, 21 August 1903. Ambulance, Bangalore, 24 June 1902.
He was awarded campaign medals for service in South Africa 1899-1902: South Africa Medal with Clasps, ‘Cape Colony’, ‘Orange Free State’ and ‘Transval’, South Africa 1901 and 1902. The uniform Ernest is wearing in the photograph published in the Nottingham Evening Post in March 1915 suggests the photograph was taken when he was serving overseas 1900-1906.
Ernest rejoined the 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment and was killed in action on 5 February 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His brother, 3466 Sergeant William Albert Goddard, 15th Field Coy Royal Engineers, was killed in action on 25 September 1915. (See record on this Roll of Honour)
His nephew, Thomas William Alleyne Goddard, his brother William's son, served in the Second World War (Lieutenant, South Wales Borderers), and was taken prisoner of war, date/theatre not known, and held in POW Camp Oflag XII-B in Germany. The camp was initially in the citaldel of Mainz, western Germany, but prisoners were transferred to Oflag XII-A in Hadamar, near Limburg, in June 1942 and the camp was then renamed Oflag XII-B.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 22 March 1915: ‘Goddard. Killed in action on February 5th, Ernest Goddard, 1st Lincolns, beloved son Mrs J Goddard, Sherwood-street, aged 33 years. Deeply mourned.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 25 March 1915: ‘Goddard. Killed in action February 5th, Ernest Goddard, 1st Lincolns, beloved husband of Mary E Goddard, of East Bridgford, Notts. He did his duty.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 26 March 1915, photograph with caption: ‘Pte. E Goddard, 1st Lincolns, Sherwood St., Nottingham. Killed in action February 5. Aged 33.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 19 October 1915: 'Goddard. Killed in action September 25th Sergeant WA Goddard, Royal Engineers, age 35; also brother Ernest, killed in action February 5th. Sherwood Street Nottingham. Mother.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 5 February 1916: ‘Goddard. In loving memory of Ernest, the beloved husband of Lizzie Goddard, East Bridgford, killed in action February 5th, 1915. Sadly missed.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 25 September 1916: ‘Goddard. Killed in action, September 25th, 1915, Sergt. WA Goddard, 16 years in the Royal Engineers, aged 35. Also brother Ernest, killed in action February 5th, of Sherwood-street, Nottingham. Ever in my thoughts. Mother.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Probate. Goodard Jane of 3 Timber-yard Sherwood-street Nottingham widow died 21 December 1918 Probate Nottingham 14 March to Florence Emily Goddard widow [widow of William Goddard] and Laura Elizabeth Sheppard spinster. Effects £261 13s 6d.
Additional research, record updated, RF (June 2026).
Ernest Goddard
Nottingham Evening Post, 26 March 1915. Source: Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Photo of Ernest Goddard
Commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (www.cwgc.org)