William Godfrey
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William Godfrey was born in 1893 at Newark and was the only surviving son of William Henry a wheelwright and Annie Elizabeth Godfrey, née Haytack of 41, Bowbridge Rd., Newark. His father William Henry was born in 1868 at Newark, his mother Annie Elizabeth Haytack was born in 1868 at Huddersfield, they were married in 1892 at Newark and went on to have 3 children, two sadly died in infancy or early childhood. In the 1911 census the family are living at 41 Bowbridge Road, Newark and are shown as William Henry Godfrey 43 yrs a wheelwright, he is living with his wife Annie Elizabeth 43 yrs and their son William 18 yrs a maltsters clerk.
Private William Godfrey enlisted on 4th March 1910 at Newark, he gave his age as 17 yrs and his address as 41 Bowbridge Road, Newark, he stated he was a maltsters clerk and worked for Messers Bishop and Sons 86 Barnby gate, Newark. He was posted to the 8th battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment in which he served until the outbreak of war, on 5th August 1914 he was embodied for war. He landed in France on 2nd March 1915 and was killed in action on 24th April 1915 and is buried at Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Heuvelland, Belgium. grave reference E.80
Five Newark men serving with the 1/8th battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment were all killed on 24th April 1915, when a German mortar exploded in their trench they were all buried in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Heuvelland, Belgium, they were Privates , Richard East, Charles Redmile, William Godfrey, Walter Hunt and Bert Sketchley Article published 1st May 1915 in the Newark Herald :- Only son of William Henry & Annie Elizabeth Godfrey, 41 Bowbridge Road, Newark. Had served four years in the Territorials and rejoined just previous to the August camp and volunteered for imperial service before camp broke up. A maltster’s analyst in the office of Messrs. Bishop & Sons, Newark, where he had been since leaving school. Killed in the trenches by a large German bomb
