Bmdr
Ernest Previtt Godden
Information about birth
|
Year of birth: 1897 |
|
Place of birth: Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
|
Profession: Butcher's Apprentice |
Army information
|
Country: England, United Kingdom |
|
Force: British Expeditionary Force |
|
Rank: Bombardier |
|
Service number: 68976 |
|
Enlistment place: Derby, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom |
|
Units: — Royal Field Artillery, 49th Bty. 40th Bde. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 12/10/1917 |
|
Place of death: Zonnebeke Redoubt, Belgium |
|
Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
|
Age: 20 |
Memorial
|
Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 4 |
Distinctions and medals 2
|
British War Medal Medal — 12/03/1920 |
|
Victory Medal Medal — 12/03/1920 |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Bombardier Ernest Previtt Godden of the 49th Battery, part of the 40th Brigade Royal Field Artillery was killed in action on 12 October 1917. Ernest, barely 20-years old, was a Butcher's Apprentice from Derby.
On the fateful day, the 40th Brigade RFA were supporting the infantry of the 3rd Australian Division, who were launching an attack towards the town of Passchendaele. The guns of the 40th Brigade were positioned in the Zonnebeke redoubt area, between the Hanebeek stream and the ruins of Zonnebeke.
Zero hour was at 5.25 a.m. at which point the 3rd Australian Division attacked under a creeping barrage. However, the artillery fire from the British guns was not at the strength required, due to a lack of guns. Furthermore, there was extremely heavy counter-battery fire from the German artillery. The 40th Brigade RFA was frequently shelled on the previous days. This was also the case on the 12th. The Germans were expecting an attack and the German artillery was very active throughout the day.
Bombadier Ernest Previtt Godden was one of the many casualties on 12 October 1917. He possibly fell due to German counter-battery fire. The 20-year-old has no known grave, though his comrades made a memorial cross in honour of him. They placed it in proximity of the location where his brigade was positioned. Ernest is now remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing.
On the fateful day, the 40th Brigade RFA were supporting the infantry of the 3rd Australian Division, who were launching an attack towards the town of Passchendaele. The guns of the 40th Brigade were positioned in the Zonnebeke redoubt area, between the Hanebeek stream and the ruins of Zonnebeke.
Zero hour was at 5.25 a.m. at which point the 3rd Australian Division attacked under a creeping barrage. However, the artillery fire from the British guns was not at the strength required, due to a lack of guns. Furthermore, there was extremely heavy counter-battery fire from the German artillery. The 40th Brigade RFA was frequently shelled on the previous days. This was also the case on the 12th. The Germans were expecting an attack and the German artillery was very active throughout the day.
Bombadier Ernest Previtt Godden was one of the many casualties on 12 October 1917. He possibly fell due to German counter-battery fire. The 20-year-old has no known grave, though his comrades made a memorial cross in honour of him. They placed it in proximity of the location where his brigade was positioned. Ernest is now remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing.
Sources 5
|
"Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Uniform, 2018, pg. 128-130. Sources used |
|
Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/ Further reference |
|
CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/840114/godden,-ernest-previtt/ Sources used |
|
The Long, Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
|
War Diary Royal Field Artillery, 49th Bty. http://www.nmarchive.com/ Sources used |