Arthur Godber
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Arthur was the son of William and Ellen Godber (née Wilks or Wilkes). His father William was born in Arnold, Nottingham, in 1858 (bap. Arnold St Mary 1859), the son of Thomas and Ann Godber. His mother Ellen was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, in 1866, the daughter of William and Betsey Wilks. William and Ellen were married at St Mary Magdalene, Sutton in Ashfield, in November 1883. They had at least seven children two of whom died young. Their five surviving children were: Sarah Ann b. 1888 (reg. Mansfield), Kate b. birth registered 1891 (J/F/M Nottingham), Arthur b. 1893, Elizabeth b. 1898 and Ellen birth registered 1900 (J/F/M) bap. Cotmanhay May 1900. With the exception of Sarah and Kate, the children's births were recorded in the Basford registration district, but their places of birth as entered on the three census are inconsistent. The two children who died in infancy were Tom b. 1902 d. 1903 and Wilfred b. 1908 d. 1908. William, a coal miner, his wife and their two daughters, Sarah and Kate, were living at St Peter's Avenue, Radford, in 1891. The family had moved to 115 Norman Street, Ilkeston, by 1900 when Ellen was born and still living at the same address a year later when the census was taken. All five children were in the home on the night of the census. Ten years later in 1911, William (recorded on the census as married) and three of his children, Arthur, a horse driver below ground, and Elizabeth and Ellen who were school age, were living in Devonshire Square, Sutton in Ashfield, in the home of William's brother, John, also a coal miner, his wife and two of their children. William's eldest daughter, Sarah Ann, had married Thomas Harrison, a miner, in December 1909 and they were living on Norman Street, Ilkeston. The second daughter, Kate, a machinist, was living on Bishop Street, Sutton in Ashfield, a boarder in the household of Thomas Purkin, a miner, and his family. Ellen Godber has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census or on subsequent records. According to a military record, Arthur was living in Doncaster when he enlisted.
9th Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps The 9th (Service) Battalion was a battalion of Kitchener's First New Army and was formed at Winchester in August 1914. It was under orders of 42nd Brigade, 14th (Light) Division. The Battalion landed at Boulgone on 20 May 1915 and by January 1916 was serving in the Ypres salient. However, it moved to the area around Arras before being relieved from the trenches on 27 July, the month after Arthur's death. Arthur served with the BEF France from 8 September 1915. He died of wounds on 28 June 1916 and is buried in Habarcq Communal Cemetery Extension, France (grave ref. I.C.5). He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Habarcq Communal Cemetery Extension (extract): the village of Habarcq is in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais and is 12km from Arras. 'The extension to the communal cemetery was begun by French troops in 1914 and was used by them until March 1916. Commonwealth forces (XVII Corps) then took over this part of the front and field ambulances continued to bury in the extension using the plots which are now numbered I, V and VIII. In March 1917, the extension was closed, except for two later burials in Plot V. Habarcq Communal Cemetery Extension contains 179 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-1918 war.' (www.cwgc.org)
WW1 Pension Ledgers index cards: named his father, William Godber, residence Sutton in Ashfield. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: named Miss Phyllis E Wardle as part-legatee; the record does not give her relationship to Arthur. The other legatee/s were not named.
