15487, Guardsman, Percy Walter GOODIN
Aged 24
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Born in Newmarket in September 1890 [Newmarket 3b:497] to Jonathan and Mary GOODIN (née JEFFREY) of Foley Cottages, Icewell Hill,
Newmarket.
1891 census...Percy [7months] was at Foley Cottages, icewell Hill, Newmarket with his father Jonathan [37], a tailor, born Bottisham; his mother Mary [37] born Woodditton; sisters Alice M [10] and Edith L [3] and brother Albert [6]. All the children were born in Newmarket. 1901 census...Percy [10] was now at Winifred Villa (next to the White Lion) High Street,Newmarket, with his parents; sister Edith; brothers Albert and new brothers, George [8] and Alec [4], both born in Newmarket. 1911 census...Percy [20] was now a railway goods clerk, still at Winifred Villa, with his parents, sister Edith and brother George and Alec. The pension card has the family home still at Winifred Villa. He enlisted in Newmarket. By virtue of the 1914 star and clasp he must have enlisted before the outbreak of war, but so far his records have not been found. His younger brother Alec was killed in 1918.. see here |
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The decision to attack Neuve Chapelle, situated north of La Bassee and west of Lille in north-west France, was Sir John French's, Commander-in-Chief of the
British Expeditionary Force (BEF). Whilst Neuve Chapelle was to form the initial target of the assault, French intended to capture the village at Aubers a
mile to the east and to press the German defence of Lille. In achieving these aims French wished to reduce the small German salient near Neuve Chapelle.
Leading the attack was Douglas Haig's First Army, from which four divisions of 40,000 men were committed along a 3 km front at 7.30 am on 10 March. The
infantry advance was preceded by a concentrated 35-minute artillery bombardment of 342 guns across a 2,000 yard line, directed in part by 85 reconnaissance
aircraft from the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). More shells were discharged in the 35 minute bombardment than in the whole of the Boer War. With the employment of carefully co-ordinated attacks of often hand-to-hand fighting by British and Indian infantry, initial progress was rapid, quickly breaking through a section of the German line secured by only a single division of Crown Prince Rupprecht's Sixth Army at Neuve Chapelle village. It had taken just four hours to secure the village. Having achieved a real gain in the capture of the village, supply and communication problems began to plague Haig's troops. On this day the 1st Battalion had 54 killed, the 2nd Battalion 6. Only 4 have known graves, the rest are honoured on the Le Touret Memorial. The Newmarket Journal of 26th June 1915 reported NEWMARKET MAN MISSING "Mr J.Goodin of Winifred Villas, High Street, Newmarket, has received information from the War Office that his son, Pte. Percy Gooding, 15487, Grenadier Guards, was wounded, and has been missing after the fight at Neuve Chappelle, on March 13th. He was reported as wounded only until a short time ago, and then a further notice was received that he was missing. Inquiries have been made in all directions, but so far, no trace of him can be found. |
International Red Cross enquiry card photo: Rodney Gibson
Négative Envoyé - Negative sent
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details