Private George Horatio Goodrick - 1st Somerset Light Infantry 1918 (Sent home to die)

…..In Ever Loving Memory….

…………..……of………………

GEORGE HORATIO GOODRICK

The dearly beloved & Eldest son of

Nehemiah & Lydia Goodrick

…….Who died on Service……..

………Novbr 15th 1918………..

……….Aged 33 years…………

___________

Until the day breaks & the shadows

flee away

____________

 

…………..Also of…………………

……GEORGE KITCHENER…..

..Dearly loved son of the above..

…..Who died March 6th 1917……

……….Aged 2 years…………….

_____________

Peace, Perfect Peace

 

Erected by his Mother

 

GOODRICK, G

Rank:………………….Private

Service No:……………37885

Date of Death:………..15/11/1918

Regiment:……………..Somerset Light Infantry

………………………..1st Bn.

Grave Reference:…….E. 36.

Cemetery:……………..WATTON (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2803593/GOODRICK,%20G

(Note, other sources have him buried in the Watton Nonconformist Burial Ground as George Horatio Goodrick)

www.breckland-rollofhonour.org.uk/ovington.html

www.breckland-rollofhonour.org.uk/watton_noncon.html

(However this family genealogy site indicates they are at the same place.)

www.goodrickfamilyhistory.co.uk/419741173

 

This soldier does not appear to be recorded in SDGW under the name Goodrick or Goodrich, (see below). Presumably this is because he died after the Armistice.

 

The Medal Index Card for Private 37885 George Goodrich, Somerset Light Infantry, is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/8/62174

discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D2371015

 

There do not appear to be any Service Records for him under either spelling of his surname.

 

There does not appear to be a Soldiers Will or Civil Probate for this man under either spelling.

 

No match on Picture Norfolk under either spelling.

 

1885 – Birth and baptism of George

 

The birth of a George Horatio Goodrick was recorded in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1885 in the Wayland District of Norfolk.

(NB The birth of a George Hector Goodrick was recorded in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1884 in the nearby Depwade District of Norfolk so care must be taken to keep the two apart when going through the official paper trail.)

 

The baptism of a George Horatio Goodrick, son of Nehemiah Dawson Goodrick and Lydia Goodrick took place at Swaffham on the 4th June 1885.

familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7RN-2X1

 

The 1885-86 and 1888 Norfolk Registers of Electors has Nehemiah entitled to vote as the householder of a dwelling house at Walsingham Terrace, Watton.

1885-86 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2H1Z-JGP

1888 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HYC-QJ4

 

1891 Census of England and Wales

 

The 5 year old George Goodrick, born Watton, was recorded living at a dwelling at Watton, (no fuller address shown on this page of the schedule or the preceding eight pages.). This was the household of his parents, Nehemiah, (aged 35 and a Machinist from Wellingham, (?-tbc), Norfolk) and Lydia, (aged 38 and from Rockland, Norfolk). As well as George, their other children are:-

Lilly……aged 3…….born Watton

Thank (? – daughter)….aged 2…….born Watton

 

His future wife, the 1 year old Emma Carr, born Shipdham, Norfolk, was recorded living at 1 High Street, Shipdham. This was the household of her parents, Alfred, (aged 43 and a Farmer from Weasenham,Norfolk) and Henrietta, (aged 44 and from Shipdham). As well as Emma, children living with them are Lewis, (21, Agricultural Labourer), Alice, (20), Charles, (12), Walter, (8) and Richard, (5) – all born Shipdham.

 

1901 Census of England and Wales

 

The Goodrick family were recorded living at Norwich Road, Watton. Along with father, Nehemiah, (43, Machinist and Brass Founder, possibly from Wilmingham or Wreningham or Weasenham, Norfolk) and mother Lydia, (42), children still at home are George, (15, Farmers Assistant), Lilly, (14) and a son Frank, (12 and born Watton)

 

Emma Carr and her family were now recorded living at The Cottages, Watton Road, Shipdham. Alfred, (53, now an Ordinary Agricultural Labourer), and Harriet, (54) live there with Emma, (11) and Richard, (15).

 

1911 Census of England and Wales

 

George, aged 25, single and a Cattle Dealer was still recorded living at home with his parents on Norwich Road, Watton. Nehemiah, (53 and an Iron Founder) and Lydia, (53 and a Laundress), have been married 33 years and have had 14 children of which 4 were then still alive. As well as George, their son Frank, (22, Painter), was also still living with them along with a niece, Sarah Brummell, aged 14 and In Service, born Caston, Norfolk.

 

Emma Carr, 21, single and from Shipdham was recorded staying at 61 Water Lane, Stratford, Essex. Her relationship to the head of the household is given as “Sister” but I suspect this is sister-in-law. Head of the household is a married Grocer for the Co-operative Society, Francis Burdett Lawrance, aged 31 and from Stratford. His wife of 10 years is Nellie Henrietta, aged 35 and from Shipdham, Norfolk. So far the couple have had 5 children, of which 2 were then still alive .

 

Her widower father, Alfred, (aged 63 and a Farm Labourer from Westacre, Norfolk), was recorded living at Watton Road, Shipdham.

 

1912 – Marriage

 

The marriage of a George Goodrick to and Emma Carr was recorded in the Wayland District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1912.

 

The marriage actually took place at St Mary, Watton on the 4th April 1912. George Goodrick, aged 25 and a Bachelor, was a Dealer living in Watton. His bride, Emma Carr, was a 23 year old Spinster who lived in Watton. His father was Nehemiah Goodrick, Blacksmith, while hers was Alfred Carr, Farmer. Witnesses were George H (no surname in the transcribed version) and Frank Clayton.

freereg2.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5510ab8fe93790f8ad...

 

1913 – Birth of Gladys

 

The birth of a Gladys H Goodrick, mothers maiden name Carr, was recorded in the Wayland District of Norfolk in the April to June, (Q2), quarter of 1913.

 

It may be a co-incidence but a search of the marriage records for England and Wales produces only one Gladys H Goodrick. She married a Kenneth Benstead in the East Dereham District of Norfolk in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1940.

 

A further co-incidence may be the death of a Gladys Hilda Benstead, born 22nd April 1913, who died in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 2000 in the Kings Lynn District of Norfolk.

 

1914 – Birth of George

 

The birth of a George K Goodrick, mothers maiden name Carr, was recorded in the Wayland District of Norfolk in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1914.

 

From the headstone we know that George Kitchener Goodrick died on the 6th March 1917.

 

1914 & 1915 – Norfolk Register of Electors

 

A George Goodrick was recorded as entitled to vote as a result of having a house and land known as “The Cock Inn” Ovington.

1914 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CMP-VXT

1915 Source: familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HTN-3TG

 

George was the Licensee of the Cock from 1912-1916 – apparently is disappears from the licensing records after that date although it would not formally close as a public house until 1957 and would eventually become a private dwelling.

www.norfolkpubs.co.uk/norfolko/ovington/ovingco.htm

 

1917 - Birth and Baptism of Frank

 

The birth of a Frank J Goodrick, mothers maiden name Carr, was recorded in the Wayland District of Norfolk in the January to March, (Q1), quarter of 1917.

 

The baptism of a Frank Goodrick , no date of birth recorded, took place at St John the Evangelist, Ovington, on the 8th April 1917. The transcriber has noted that Frank has a Middle name but its not legible. His parents are George “Haritio”, a Soldier, and Emma. The family live at Ovington.

freereg2.freereg.org.uk/search_records/552916a2f493fdc9cb...

 

It may be a co-incidence but a search of the marriage records for England and Wales produces only one Frank J Goodrick. He married a Queenie W Childs in the Mitford District of Norfolk in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1938.

 

It may not relate but given the family preference for military hero middle names for their boy children, then the fact that there is a Frank Jellicoe Goodrick, born 4th January 1917 and died in the East Dereham District of Norfolk in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1985, would appear worthy of further investigation.

 

Military Career

 

*Embarked 24-11-17. *Arrived Infantry Base Depot 27-11-17. *Joined 4th Division SLI with Battalion 30-11-17. *Admitted 8th Casualty clearance station with Gastritis 27-12-17. *Admitted 1st Canadian General Hospital Branch 30-12-17. *Arrived Infantry Base Depot 18-03-18. *Rejoined Battalion 25-03-18. *Dep d 3 Days Pay 19-03-18. (0.1810. 20-04-18). *Leave 10th-24th-11-18. * Died whilst on Leave 15-11-18. Pneumonia (B213 form 28-12-18.)*No2 Records office Exeter No15555. 16-01-19.

www.goodrickfamilyhistory.co.uk/419741173

 

Without his service records its difficult to know when he might have been gassed on the Western Front – the statement six months before he died points to March or April 1918.

 

The evidence from the 1st Battalions Official History is that from Winter 1917 the emphasis in training was on gas precaution measures, as German bombardments frequently combined high explosive with gas.

 

(Page 65) “In addition to the various phases of open warfare, gas drill and gas discipline received great attention, owing to the ever increasing use of gas shells by the enemy.”

 

During the days of March and April there are references to heavy shelling and bombardment, but only once is there a specific reference to gas.

 

(Page 69) At 3 a.m., on March 28th, a heavy barrage fell North and South of the Scarpe, together with a considerable quantity of gas.

 

About 6 a.m. orders were received to move the two companies in Stirling Camp forward to join the remainder of the Battalion in the Third Trench system. Shortly afterwards these two companies and Battalion H.O.marched off. The Fampoux road was being heavily shelled, and there was so much gas about that box respirators had to be worn. A track North of the road, however, was used, and the companies arrived in position with the loss of only one man : Battalion H.O. was established in Pudding Trench.

 

At 7.30 a.m. the German attack was launched. A magnificent defence was offered by the 4th Division and the 56th Division on its left : the enemy were held, and were only able to occupy our most advanced trenches. The attack was made in great depth with large forces. Greenland Hill was alive with infantry in massed formations, advancing to exploit the success expected from the leading troops, with guns, limbers, wagons, and mounted officers.

 

Wonderful targets were offered to our artillery, but unfortunately communications generally failed owing to the enemy's bombardment, and in many cases it was impossible to get the guns on to the targets.

 

Excellent work was performed by one or two artillery forward observation officers, who in spite of every difficulty managed to keep their lines going through most of the day, and they had some magnificent shooting.

 

At 9.30 a.m., owing to the pressure of the enemy to the South, C Company was sent to form a defensive flank facing South along the Scarpe from the front line Third system just West of Fampoux to the Army Line, and to guard in particular all the bridges.

 

At noon the Hampshires were holding Cadiz and Coot trenches : the 12th Brigade on the left prolonged this line to the North, but it was necessary to send forward one (Page 70) company of the Rifle Brigade, who were in support, to fill a gap between the two brigades.

 

The 10th Brigade on the right also broke the enemy's attack, but as its right flank was very much exposed owing to the German advance South of the river, it had to withdraw about 2 p.m., but through a misunderstanding of the orders received it retired too far, almost to Athies.

 

The Hampshires still held on to the Cadiz line, with their right on the railway.

No further change took place during the remainder of the day.

 

During the 28th the Battalion had not been involved in the actual fight, but had been subjected to heavy shelling, and was fortunate in only having twelve casualties.”

 

From: A history of the 1st Battalion, the Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's) : July 1st, l916, to the end of the war by Major V H B Majendie, published 1921.

 

On the day

 

The death of a George H Goodrick, aged 33, was recorded in the Wayland District of Norfolk in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1918.

 

From a piece on Thankful Villages – those whose menfolk all returned from the War.

 

Ovington, Norfolk, was originally included in List Two because there are two "soldiers died" listed as having been born there but without places of residence given. Research has indicated another Ovington soldier, however. He was Pte G.H. Goodrick who died in Ovington on 15th November, 1918. He is not listed in "Soldiers Died in the Great War" but his burial at Watton Nonconformist Burial Ground is recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Furthermore, the "Thetford and Watton Times" for 23 Nov 1918 says he was "of the Cock Inn, Ovington." and had "been gassed on the Western Front about six months ago." On 30th November the same newspaper reported Pte. Goodrick's funeral with full military honours and confirmed his address as "The Cock Inn, Ovington."

www.breckland-rollofhonour.org.uk/ovington.html

(The Thankful Villages Website link no longer works).

 

Entry The Breckles Deanery and District Magazine December 1918

· Ovington. Rev. J. Roscoe, Rector.

· The Thanksgiving Service for the armistice, though only imperfectly announced, owing to the limited time for so doing, still drew a great many people and was inspiring. It was encouraging to find the members of the parish unanimous in ascribing to God their thanks and honour for the cessation's of hostilities. We now pray that there may be an abiding peace arrived at shortly.

· WAR NEWS. In the midst of our rejoicing for the cessation of hostilities we are solemnized by the death of Pte.George Goodrick, who came home gassed and died from pneumonia within a week after arrival. We deeply sympathize with the widow and her two small children.

www.goodrickfamilyhistory.co.uk/419741173

 

Done