Pte
Thomas Godwin
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1898 |
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Place of birth: Ellesmere, Shropshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Ellesmere, Shropshire, England, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 201254 |
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Enlistment place: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — King's Shropshire Light Infantry, 1/4th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 31/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Kronprinz Farm, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 19 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXXVI Row: A Grave: 2 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Thomas Godwin was the son of Ellen and John Godwin. He was born around 1898 in Ellesmere, Shropshire. Thomas enlisted in the British Army and was part of the 1/4th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry (190th Brigade, 63rd Division).
Thomas died on 31 October 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele. On 29 October, the 4th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry left the vicinity of Irish Farm and moved towards Albatross Farm, where they were heavily shelled and suffered heavy losses. The following day, the battalion received orders to attack Source Trench with 2 companies with the aim of closing the gap in the line near Varlet Farm. The attack had lost their direction due to the mud and failed all objectives. Nevertheless, the gap in the front line between Source Trench and Varlet Farm could still be closed. The two companies moved back through Kronprinz Farm.
Meanwhile, a third company of the 4th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry had also been deployed at Kronprinz Farm to support the Canadian troops. The company suffered heavy losses, but managed to make contact with the other two companies of the battalion.
On the night of 30-31 October, a line of posts was established connecting the Canadians' right flank with the left flank of the remnants of the 160th Brigade. Those positions were held until the 4th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry was relieved on 31 October. The battalion, which made their first attack on the Western Front with this action, suffered heavy losses: 22 died, 114 were wounded and 1 was missing.
Thomas died at the age of 19. After the war, his body was recovered near Kronprinz Farm. His remains were reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Thomas died on 31 October 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele. On 29 October, the 4th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry left the vicinity of Irish Farm and moved towards Albatross Farm, where they were heavily shelled and suffered heavy losses. The following day, the battalion received orders to attack Source Trench with 2 companies with the aim of closing the gap in the line near Varlet Farm. The attack had lost their direction due to the mud and failed all objectives. Nevertheless, the gap in the front line between Source Trench and Varlet Farm could still be closed. The two companies moved back through Kronprinz Farm.
Meanwhile, a third company of the 4th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry had also been deployed at Kronprinz Farm to support the Canadian troops. The company suffered heavy losses, but managed to make contact with the other two companies of the battalion.
On the night of 30-31 October, a line of posts was established connecting the Canadians' right flank with the left flank of the remnants of the 160th Brigade. Those positions were held until the 4th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry was relieved on 31 October. The battalion, which made their first attack on the Western Front with this action, suffered heavy losses: 22 died, 114 were wounded and 1 was missing.
Thomas died at the age of 19. After the war, his body was recovered near Kronprinz Farm. His remains were reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Sources 3
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4 Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry. (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/3118/3). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303 Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Wood W., The history of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry in the Great War: 1914-1918 (London, The Medici Society, 1925), p. 107-108. Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/462900 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=dae3988d-4795-420a-ac34-9fbe7ec4c622 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/2368188 |