Tags
Alfred Goodwin, Cannock, Cannock Road, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, First World War, France, John Goodwin, Labour Company, Lichfield, Lincolnshire Regiment, Lower Stafford Street, South Staffordshire Regiment, Ss. Peter and Paul's Schools, St James's Church, Thomas Street
The sons of Jeremiah and Elizabeth Goodwin, John Andrew was born on 20 August 1880 and Alfred was born on 16 January 1897. In 1901, the family were living at Court 1, Lower Stafford Street, Wolverhampton, along with additional children Mary, Theodore, Lilly, May and Alfred.
John was baptised in St James’s Church, Wolverhampton on 2 August 1885, and attended SS. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic School from 1889 onwards. John married Emily Reed in Wolverhampton in 1915, and they had three children, Florrie (born 1905), Alice (born 1911) and Alfred (born 1915). In 1911 they were living at 21 Thomas Street, Wolverhampton and John was working as a file grinder for an enamelled ware works. Unfortunately, his daughter Alice died on 15 October 1911 at the age of 9 months. John enlisted at Lichfield as a Private in the Lincolnshire Regiment (service number 9691, formerly 29792), and later served with the 17th Labour Company of the Labour Corps. John was wounded and died of those wounds on 3 June 1918. He is buried in the Cinq Rues British Cemetery in Hazebrouck in France.
Alfred also attended SS. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic School in Wolverhampton, from 1906 onwards. Jeremiah Goodwin died in 1903. By 1911, the widowed Elizabeth was living with Alfred at 1 1/2 Cannock Road Terrace, Cannock Road, Wolverhampton, along with her grandson Cyril and daughter May. At the age of 17, in 1914 he enlisted with the 3rd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (service number 9692). On 16 February 1916, he was discharged as no longer fit for War Service after suffering periods of sickness, dizziness and shortness of breath. In 1919, he married May Hodson in Cannock. The couple had two children – Lilian (born 1919) and Alfred G. (born 1920) – but unfortunately Alfred senior died on 3 December 1920 in Wolverhampton. His name appears on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website so presumably his poor health was due to his war service. He is buried in Wolverhampton Borough Cemetery.
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The research for this blog post has been completed by remote digital volunteer Jacky de Escofet.