William Albert Goddard
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
William Albert Goddard was born in St Ann's, 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).
William probably enlisted in the Royal Engineers in about 1899 and his brother Ernest joined the Militia and then enlisted in the regular army in December 1899; he had transferred to the Army Reserve by 1907.
Ernest 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. (For further information see record on this Roll of Honour.)
William, who was still serving with the Royal Engineers, married an army widow, Florence Emily O'Sullivan (née Gardner b. 1886), also in 1910 (OND Petersfield Hampshire). Florence had married Sapper Eugene O'Sullivan, Royal Engineers, at St Silas, Nunhead, Southwark, on 1 September 1907; her husband had died in Mauritius in 1910 aged 33.
In 1911 William was serving with the 8th (Railway) Company, Royal Engineers, and recorded at Longmoor Camp, East Liss, Hampshire. His wife Florence was living with her parents, Alleyne John and Florence Emily Gardner, and her four siblings (three younger sisters and a brother), at 3 Reynolds Road, Peckham, Rye.
William and Florence's son, Thomas William Alleyne, was born on 10 May 1911 and was baptised at Nunhead St Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic church, Southwark, on 15 April 1912.
The CWGC record gives Florence's address as 94, Peckham Road, Peckham, London.
Their son Thomas was recorded on the 1939 England & Wales Register at 7 Rosebury Avenue, New Malden, Surrey, in the household of James Alexander, an engineers' manager, and his family. Thomas was already serving in the Army (41910), 'C' Coy, 1st Battalion, London Irish Regiment. At the same address was Eileen Violet Goddard (b. 1916), a chiropodist. Thomas and Eileen were married in 1939 (JAS Surrey), and they probably had one child, David A. b. 1943 (JAS Hammersmith London, Bott).
Eileen died in February 1965 (reg. JFM Bromley Kent) aged 48. The probate record gave her address as Mead Hayes, Bromley; administration of her Will was awarded to her husband, a sales representative. Thomas may have married Gladys E Hall in 1975 (reg. AMJ Bromley). He died in 1989 (reg. JAS Ipswich).
Willam Albert Goddard enlisted in Nottingham, probably in about 1899, and served with the Royal Engineers.
In 1911 William was recorded at Longmoor Camp, East Liss, Hampshire; he was a corporal and an engine fitter with the 8th (Railway) Company, Royal Engineers.
He was serving with the 15th Field Company, Royal Engineers, when he was killed in action on 25 September 1915. He was buried in Y Farm Cemetery, Bois-Grenier, France (grave ref. G17).
He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC history of Y Farm Cemetery (extract): the village of Bois-Grenier is about 4km from the town of Armentieres. 'The cemetery was named after a nearby farm, called by the Army "Y" (or Wye) Farm. It was begun in March 1915 and used by units holding this sector until February 1918. At the Armistice it contained 335 burials, but it was then increased when graves were brought in from the battlefields south of Armentieres and from the following cemeteries [listed].' (www.cwgc.org)
His brother 7829 Private Ernest Goddard, 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, was killed in action on 5 February 1915. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. (See record on this Roll of Honour)
His son, Thomas William Alleyne, served in the TA before the Second World War but then served with the South Wales Borderers (lieutenant, 145136). There is a prisoner of war record for Thomas which unfortunately does not give date/place/theatre of capture but that he was held in POW Camp Oflag XIIB. This camp was in the citadel of Mainz, western Germany and had been used as a POW camp in the Great War. However, in June 1942 all prisoners were transferred to Oflag XII-A in Hadamar near Limburg, which was then renumbered Oflag XII-B.
CWGC Additional information: Son of Thomas Goddard, of Nottingham; husband of F. E. Goddard, of 94, Peckham Rd., Peckham, London.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Gone but not forgotten'
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.'
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)
Sergeant Goddard's widow was awarded a penson of 16 shillings a week commencing 10th April 1916 and rising to 33 shillings and 10 pence a week by 9th July 1918.
Probate Jane Goddard, Nottingham 14 March 1918 to Florence Emily Goddard widow [William's widow] and Laura Elizabeth Sheppard spinster. Effects £261 13s 6d. Burial 26 December 1918 Nottinghamshire.
Additional research, record updated, RF (June 2026)
Photo of William Albert Goddard
Y Farm military cemetery, Bois Grenier France (www.cwgc.org)