William Edward Godley

When William was 18 ½ years old he went to Pontefract, was attested on the 11th March 1902 to join the Yorks and Lancs Regiment. His medical followed 3 days later. By 1905 he had been promoted to Cpl and on the 19 Oct 1907 he married Florence Carver at Pontefract register Office. In 1911 he was living in the Yorks and Lancs barracks at Dettingen, Blackdown, Farborough, Hants. Their first child they named June, who was born 14/1/1909 and was baptised at Finningley 7/2/1909. Promotion to L/Sgt followed in 1910 about the time their second daughter Ethel Mary, was born on 12 May at Blackdown, Farnborough. It was around this time that William applied to extend his service in the army to complete 21 years. The following year must have seen the couple in Ireland, as the birth of twins occurred whilst in Limerick on 18 Sept 1911 and were baptised there 3 weeks later. The twins, a boy and a girl, were named after the parents, William and Florence. Once again, William gained a promotion to Sgt just a week before the births. At the outbreak of the war, the 2nd Bn of the Yorks and Lancs were in Limerick , They were sent to France and landed at St Nazaire on the 9th Sept. They were involved in the Battle of Armentieres and he probably died in this battle, going by his date of death.

Cemetery:- Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. Research by Colin Dannatt