South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France and Flanders | 1914 Star, British War & Victory Medals | Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 1 Nov 1914 in France | ~ | Alcester War Memorial |
| Alcester British Legion | ||
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted | Great Alne & Kinwarton Memorial Hall |
| Local actions in Ypres | 29 Aug 1914 at Liverpool | Great Alne St. Mary Magdelene |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | Other War Memorials |
| near Railway Wood, Ypres | ~ | West Derby, Liverpool |
- A note in Godfrey's service record shows that it had been decided on 3rd July 1916 to commission him as a 2nd Lt not realising that he had been reported missing. It was decided, posthumously, that he should stay in the rank of L/Corp.
Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)
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Godfrey is listed as bing killed in action on 16 Jun 1915 and the war diary for the period 14th to 16th is transcribed below: On the evening of the 14th [June 1915] Maj A.S.Anderson proceeded to Railway Wood (which is situated west of Bellewaard Farm and north of Hooge) from which point the 9th Brigade were to attack on the morning of the 16th. He took with him 2 men per company to act as markers and also 2 cyclists. At 4pm on the afternoon of the 15th the Battn left the camping ground at Busseboom and proceeded via Ypres to Railway Wood. The attack was made on a frontage of about 1000 yards, the Northumberland, Royal Scots and Royal Fusiliers more detailed to take the first line and we in conjunction with the Lincolns were to take the second line, the 7th Brigade being in reserve. We were shelled rather heavily between 12:30 and 2:10am on the morning of the 16th and during this time several of our men were killed or wounded. Our artillery bombardment started at 2:10am and carried out the work of demolition so successfully that little difficulty was experienced in taking the first and second line trenches. Unfortunately however in continuing the advance we suffered many casualties that's owing to the difficulty experienced in observing signals it was impossible to keep our shells ahead of the advancing infantry. Although the third line German trenches were reached it was impossible to hold on to them and the whole Brigade consolidated the first and part of the second line of German trenches manning them until 11:30pm on the night of the 16th at which hour they were relieved by the 8th Brigade. The casualties amongst our officers were particularly heavy and of the 24 officers who went up only three came back unscathed. The work of all ranks throughout the day calls for the highest praise, our bombing parties doing particularly good work. The stretch of errors throughout a most trying day did excellent work and showed great courage in attending to so many wounded of the very heavy shell fire. |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| Jul 1886 at Kinwarton | 22 Aug 1886 at Kinwarton |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| Rev Henry Bloxham and Rose Blanche Purton | Kinwarton |
| Schools | Colleges |
| ~ | |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1886 | 1891 - Scholar |
| 1891 - Kinwarton Rectory | 1911 - Bank clerk |
| 1901 - Kinwarton Rectory | 1914 - Bank Clerk at Bank of England |
| 1911 - 26 Norris Green Road, West Derby, Liverpool | |
| 1914 - 28 Hartington Road, Liverpool | |
- Godfrey's father was the Vicar at Kinwarton St. Mary's Church
