LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWII

Lieutenant Douglas Goodrich
The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)

Town Memorial World War II

LIEUTENANT
DOUGLAS GOODRICH
Service Number: 235653
The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
Died 26 September 1943
Age 26 years old
Buried or commemorated at
SALERNO WAR CEMETERY
III. F. 36.
Italy
Son of George and Florence Goodrich; husband of Jeanne Ellen Goodrich, of Streatham, London.
Personal Inscription
IN MEMORY OF DOUGGIE, MY BELOVED HUSBAND

Surrey Advertiser
Saturday 16 October 1943

LEATHERHEAD PARENTS’ LOSS
Mr and Mrs G Goodrich, of 27, Bridge Street,Leatherhead, have been informed that their second son, Lieut. Douglas Goodrich, The Queen's Royal Regt., was killed in action in Italy. Lieut. Goodrich was educated at Leatherhead Central School was an accountant with Playfoot and Co., of Leatherhead, and later with a London firm of accountants.

He joined the Royal Corps of Signals, was commissioned early in 1942 and attached to The Queen’s Royal Regt. He was married last June to Miss Jeanne Priddle, of Lavendon, [20] Links Road, Ashtead, who is serving in the WAAF.

As shown by the Battle Honours 1st Battalion East Surreys as part of 78 Division (Battle-Axe Sign) fought in the capture of Sicily which started on 10th July 1943. Then on 9th September 1943 the main invasion of Italy took place at SALERNO. Three Battalions of the Queen’s forming 169 Infantry Brigade of 56 (London) Division, (Black Cats) landed on the first day, and they were joined six days later and then relieved by a further three Battalions who formed 131 Infantry Brigade of 7th Armoured Division (Desert Rats). This assembly of six Battalions of one Regiment, the 1/5th 1/6th 1/7th and 2/5th 2/6th 2/7th, was a unique event, and is now recognised as a special Regimental Day. After heavy fighting against intense German counter-attacks a breakout from the initial landing area was made, and 131 Brigade led the advance across the Plain of Naples and towards the mountains of Central Italy.

The CWGC records show that Douglas was attached to the 5th Hampshires and originally buried at site reference 31GCU/THT/2006 . He was reburied in the Salerno War Cemetery in grave 3 F 36 on 3 April 1944. Beside him in Grave 3 F 37 is Private Reginald Bull of C Company, 5th Hampshires, who died two days earlier than Douglas, who was originally buried at the same site as him. The location Pontecagno is in the record. Graves Concentration Report Form 31GCU/THT/4

Further information is being sought on the actions of the Queen's and 5th Hampshires at the time of Douglas's death. The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum have found no record of him. They add "The 5th Battalion, as part of 128 Brigade passed through Cava, which was mountainous and they encountered snipers and outposts of enemy forces on the 25th and 26th September. There was also fighting around the hill of San Martino. The 5th Battalion suffered nearly 500 casualties during September 1943, killed ,wounded and taken prisoner."

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His life

Douglas was born in 1917 in North London.

His father was George Goodrich, born 5 July 1881. 

His mother was Florence Alexandra Wayland born 6 October 1890.

Their marriage in April 1916 was registered in Edmonton, London.

His brother George Verdun's birth was registered in Edmonton, London in April 1916 (he lived in Ashtead, Surrey and died in Australia) and another brother Peter Sidney was born on 30 October 1920 (he died in 2005, Evesham, Worcestershire).

Douglas was Best Man at his brother George's wedding on Boxing Day 1940:

Surrey Advertiser
Saturday 4 January 1941

MARRIAGE OF LIEUT. G. V. GOODRICH
Sec.-Lieut. George Verdun Goodrich, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Goodrich, of 27, Bridge-street, Leatherhead, was married at Leatherhead Parish Church on Boxing Day to Miss Margaret Joyce Eberl, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. H. Eberl, of Port-e-Chee, Cobham-road, Fetcham. The Vicar (the Rev. G. H. B. Coleridge) officiated, and the organist was Mr. F. H. Lockett. Given away by her father, the bride wore an ice-blue crepe de chine dress, and deep burgundy coat with squirrel tie, and accessories to match. She also wore a spray of mauve orchids, and her string of pearls was the gift of the bridegroom. Mr Douglas Goodrich was best man and a reception was held the Institute, Leatherhead. The honeymoon was spent at Aldershot.

Douglas's marriage to Jeanne E Priddis [Priddle in the report above of Douglas's death is incorrect] of Ashtead was registered in April 1943 [not June as in the report]. She was born in 1918 (registered at Wandsworth, London, in April) to Frederick and Jessie Priddis née Nightingale. Her father was a retired builder.

In the 1939 England & Wales Register his parents were at 27 Bridge Street, Leatherhead, Surrey. His father was described as a Dyer & Cleaner and his brother Peter as a Shop Assistant, Dyer & Cleaner. An Electoral Register for 1939 also listed Douglas and his brother George Verdun at that address.

After the war

The Kelly's Directory for Dorking, Leatherhead and District 1950 lists the family business in Bridge Street, Leatherhead:

27 Raleigh Valet Service (G & FA Goodrich), dyers & cleaners

'G & FA' would be George and Florence Alexander: 27 was on the site of the present Bridge House.

His father's death on 6 September 1955 was registered at Epsom and that of his mother, at the age of 66 in April 1956, was registered in Surrey Mid eastern District. A Florence Goodrich is buried at Leatherhead Parish Church though the date is slightly adrift: GOODRICH, FLORENCE d1956 31/05/1956.

His widow Jeanne (or Jean) Goodrich, who had been in the WAAF, was on a Passeneger List as travelling from Cape Town to Southampton on the Carnarvon Castle, arriving on 14 July 1946. Her address was 8 Broadlands Avenue, Streatham SW16.

On 6 March 1947, last UK address still 8 Broadlands Avenue, she was on the Passenger List of the Capetown Castle from Southampton to Durban, South Africa.

Douglas Goodrich is remembered on these memorials
Leatherhead Town Memorial
Leatherhead RBL Roll of Honour, Leatherhead Parish Church
 

the website editor would like to add further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, his headstone, and any recollections of him

last updated 19 Aug 20: 25 Sep 20