LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWI
Pte William George Goodchild
10th Bn Middlesex Regiment
Town Memorial P3.R4.C3
Private
William G. Goodchild
10th Middlesex Regt.
Purfleet
Oct 21 1916
Taken, Not Given, Liam Sumption, L&DLHS
William George Goodchild died in the Military Hospital at Purfleet, West Church, aged 34 years, from pneumonia on 21st October 1916.
He had in civilian life been employed as a gardener in domestic service. His home address, on his death certificate, was given as Elm Bank Cottage, Walpole [?Worple] Road, Leatherhead.
His wife (Mrs EA Goodchild) was present at his death, according to the death certificate.¹
The Parish Magazine of November 1916 ² stated that he belonged to 7th Bn., East Surreys but the death certificate says 4/10th Middlesex.
Records indicate that the 10th Bn., Middlesex Regiment went out to India with 44 Division in 1914.
William Goodchild was born at Ranmore, Surrey and enlisted at Leatherhead. ³
Sources
1. Death Certificate. Copy issued by the General Register Office, 21st
January 1992
2. Parish Magazine of St Mary & St Nicholas, Leatherhead, Nov 1916
3. Soldiers Who died in the Great War (Middlesex): IWM
Further research
| GOODCHILD,
WILLIAM GEORGE Rank: Private Regiment: Middlesex Regiment Unit Text: 10th Bn. Age: 34 Date of Death: 21/10/1916 Service No: 6646 Husband of Elizabeth Alice Goodchild, of 10, Highlands Rd., Leatherhead, Surrey. Grave/Memorial Reference: 35. B. 4. Cemetery: THURROCK (WEST THURROCK) CEMETERY |
 source FindAGrave |
His Life
William George Goodchild was born on 31 October 1881, Ranmore Surrey and was baptised at St Barnabas, Ranmore on 1 January 1882.In the Census records for 1891 and 1901 he gave his birth place as Great Bookham, Surrey. In 1911 he gave it as Ranmore.
His father was Charles Goodchild, born about 1842 in Bookham, Surrey. He was a Gardener/Labourer, a son of John Goodchild, a Labourer. He died in 1884.
His mother was Emily Taylor, born about 1847 in Leatherhead Surrey, a daughter of Edward and Ann Taylor. In the 1891 Census, now widowed, she gave her occupation as Laundress.
They were married at the Parish Church in Great Bookham, Surrey on 7 April 1872. They were both living in Great Bookham.
Among William's siblings were: Emily Caroline b 1872, Henry Charles b 1874, Lucy Ellen b1877, Arthur Thomas b 1879 and Charles Alfred b 1884.
He lived with his family in Ranmore until at least 1884, the year his father died, and then at 8 Poplar Road, Leatherhead (1891 & 1901 Census)
He married Elizabeth Alice Holden at St Matthews, Hammersmith and Fulham, London on 27 September 1903:
Elizabeth Alice Holden: 28: Spinster: 28 Woodstock Road: Father - George Henry Holden deceased, Blacksmith
William and Elizabeth lived at Elm Bank Cottage, Worple Road, Leatherhead (1911 Census). They do not appear to have had any children.
After WW1
William's widow Elizabeth was living at 10 Highlands Rd, Leatherhead, Surrey when corresponding with the War Graves Commission about William's headstone and continued living there until 1953.In 1954 she was at Kingswood Court, Brighton Road, Kingswood, Surrey. That was the address in the burial register entry for her at St Andrew's, Kingswood, Surrey, 21 January 1956.
William Goodchild is remembered on these memorials
Leatherhead Town Memorial
Leatherhead RBL Roll of Honour, Leatherhead Parish Church
Ladies War Shrine, Leatherhead Parish Church
Church Lads Brigade Memorial Tryptich, All Saints Leatherhead (as George Goodchild)
Surrey in the Great War
Links
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further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, and of any recollections within his family
last updated 9 Aug 2004 CWGC links update 7 Nov 17:
content 9 Sep 20