East Grinstead » WWI

Sidney Godley

artisu — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 23:33:57 +0000

Sidney Godley was the first Private to be awarded the Victoria Cross in the First World War.

Early life

Sidney Frank Godley (1889-1957) was born at North End Imberhorne Lane), East Grinstead, West Sussex. His family had lived in the East Grinstead and Felbridge area for generations; the Godleys can be traced back to East Grinstead in the 1700s. Following his mother’s death in 1896 he was sent to live with his uncle and aunt in Willesden, North London. (Interestingly, this district was one of the fastest developing parts of London in this period.) His father remarried in 1899 and by the time of the 1901 Census, Godley was staying with his family again, this time in Bromley, Kent.
Godley left school at fourteen and worked at an ironmonger’s in Kilburn for a few years, then in 1909 he joined the Royal Fusiliers.

Mons, Belgium 1914

On 23 August 1914 the Royal Fusiliers received the order to hold two bridges over the Mons-Condé Canal, Belgium. This would allow the other units to retreat to the River Marne. Pte Sidney Godley was in the section defending Nimy Railway Bridge.

The Royal Fusiliers only had two machine-guns against six divisions of the German army.

Eventually, the commanding officer, Lt. Steele, decided that his men would have to retreat. Before they left, Steele asked for two volunteers to man the machine-guns. Godley and Maurice Dease offered to do what appeared to be a suicidal task. Godley had to remove three bodies before he could get to his machine-gun. Within a few minutes of taking over the gun, Dease was killed. A shell exploded by the side of Godley and a piece of shrapnel entered his back. Although in terrible pain he continued firing at the Germans trying to cross the bridge. A bullet hit him in the head and lodged in his skull. Godley’s single-handed defence of the bridge for two hours gave the men enough time to retreat. When the ammunition ran out he dismantled his gun and threw it into the canal.

Some assumed that he had died, but he had instead been taken prisoner and sent to a field hospital. Following further medical treatment he was sent to the German Prisoner of War camp at Doberitz, and remained there until 1918.

News of Godley’s bravery soon reached Britain. When King George V heard about what had happened he decided to award him the highest military medal available to a British soldier, the Victoria Cross.

Sidney Godley died on 29th June 1957 and is buried at Loughton Cemetery. In 1976 a new housing estate in Bexley was named after Godley. So also was a housing block in Tower Hamlets in 1992.

Artist impression of Private Sidney Godley at Nimy Bridge

Lt-Col McMahon’s account of Private Godley’s action at Nimy Bridge. (23rd August, 1914)

On 23 August, 1914 at Mons, Belgium, Private Godley took over a machine-gun on Nimy Bridge when the lieutenant in charge of the section had been mortally wounded. Private Godley held the enemy from the bridge single-handed for two hours under very heavy fire and was wounded twice. His gallant action covered the retreat of his comrades, but he was eventually taken prisoner. His final act was to destroy the gun and throw the pieces into the canal.

Sidney Godley interviewed on BBC Radio in 1954.

The Germans came over in mass formation and we opened fire… We carried on until towards evening when the order was given for the line to retire. I was then asked by Lieut. Steele to remain and hold the position while the retirement took place, which I did do, although I was very badly wounded several times, but I managed to carry on. I remained on the bridge and held the position, but when it was time for me to get away I smashed the machine gun up, and threw it in the Canal.

East Grinstead Football Battalion

East Grinstead Football Battalion

artisu — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 23:06:51 +0000

Lord Kitchener was appointed Secretary for War in August 1914. His main task was to persuade men to join the British Army. At a meeting on the 19th August it was suggested by Sir Henry Rawlinson that men would be more willing to enlist if they knew they would serve with people they knew. Lord Kitchener decided to encourage towns and villages all over Britain to organise recruitment campaigns based on the promise that the men could serve with friends, neighbours and workmates. These units were raised by local authorities, industrialists or committees of private citizens.

On 30th August 1914, the Rev. W. Youard gave a sermon at St. Swithun’s Church, East Grinstead, where he urged local young men to join what were now called ‘pals battalions’. He suggested that the local sports clubs should close down so that young men would not be tempted to stay behind. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who was living at neighbouring Crowborough at the time, joined the campaigned and told local men that: “If the cricketer had a straight eye let him look along the barrel of a rifle. If a footballer had strength of limb let them serve and march in the field of battle.”

In September Mrs. E. Cunliffe-Owen gained permission from Lord Kitchener to raise a sportsman’s battalion. This battalion included two famous cricketers and the Lightweight boxing champion of England. Later, a group of friends in London formed a footballers’ battalion. Several members of the East Grinstead football team joined the Middlesex Regiment’s Football Battalion.

Pals battalions made up a significant proportion of Kitchener’s army. Between September 1914 and June 1916, a total of 351 infantry battalions were raised by the War Office through the traditional channels whereas 643 battalions were raised locally.

Michael Freshwater & Stuart Aitchison (Sackville School)

Sermon given by Rev. W. Youard at St. Swithun’s Church, East Grinstead (30th August, 1914).

I would say to every able-bodied young man in East Grinstead to offer yourself without delay in the service of your country. The Welsh Rugby Union Committee has passed a resolution declaring it the duty of all football players to join immediately. Blackheath Rugby Football Club has cancelled all its matches for the same reason. That is the right spirit. I hope it will be imitated by our own clubs. Go straight to the recruiting officer and offer yourself. That is the plain duty of every able-bodied young man today.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, recruiting speech made on 6th September, 1914.

There was a time for all things in the world. There was a time for games, there was a time for business, there was a time for domestic life. There was a time for everything, but there is only time for one thing now, and that thing is war. If the cricketer had a straight eye let him look along the barrel of a rifle. If a footballer had strength of limb let them serve and march in the field of battle.

The East Grinstead Observer (19th August, 1916)

Casualties among East Grinstead men reported this week includes Lance Corporal A. J. Tyler of the Middlesex Regiment (Footballers’ Battalion) has been wounded in the leg and shoulder. He is widely known as the one of our best local football players and very many will join in the sincere wish for his speedy and complete recovery.

The East Grinstead Observer (20th April, 1918)

Private A. E. Joseph has been killed in action. He was the son of Rev. F. and Mrs. Joseph of Dormandsland. He was the third son they have lost in the war. Private Joseph was formerly in the employ of Young & Sons, 43-49 High Street, East Grinstead, and was the captain of the football team. He was a young fellow who had many friends, and his sad end has caused a general feeling of reject.

The East Grinstead Observer (11th May, 1918)

Private A. Ellis, formerly one of our best known football players, is now at the Royal Pavilion Hospital at Brighton. He has lost both legs and has been in Roehampton and fitted with artificial limbs.

German Field Gun

artisu — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 23:05:41 +0000

In February 1919 a German machine-gun was sent to East Grinstead in recognition of the town’s success in raising War Loans on behalf of the British government. At a meeting of the East Grinstead Urban Council, Joseph Rice and Alfred Burt complained that the town deserved something that could be placed on public exhibition in the High Street. The machine-gun was sent back but the War Office said it was unable to obtain anything better.

The campaign to obtain a more significant war trophy continued for the next six months. Eventually, in November, 1919, Lord Leconfield wrote to the East Grinstead Urban Council with the news that the War Office had agreed to present the town with a captured German 77mm Field Gun.

When the gun arrived on 19th April, 1920, it was placed in the High Street. However, some local men who had served in the army during the war, objected to a German gun being on display in the town. On the 24th April, a group of men took the gun and pushed it into the pond at Dunnings Mill. The gun remained in the pond until August 1920 when the council gave permission to the owner of Dunnings Mill, Arthur Musgrave, to dispose of it.

The German gun in Dunnings Mill Pond in April, 1920.

East Grinstead Urban Council minutes (3rd February, 1919)

A small German machine-gun has been sent to the town as a souvenir and in recognition of its highly successful efforts on behalf of the War Loans. It was proposed by Mr. Rice and seconded by Mr. Burt that the gun be returned and the opinion expressed that the town desired something that could be placed on public exhibition in the street. The proposal was carried unanimously.

East Grinstead Urban Council minutes (19th April, 1920)

The Surveyor reported a captured German field gun had been presented to the town and asked for instructions as to where it had to be placed. It was resolved that it be left to the Roads and Bridges Committee to find a suitable temporary position for the gun.

East Grinstead Urban Council minutes (26th April, 1920)

The Surveyor reported that the captured German gun which had been placed in the High Street was removed on the 24th April by some persons unknown and thrown into the stream at Dunnings Mill, and that the fence alongside the stream had been damaged. The Roads and Bridges Committee recommended that the Surveyor communicate to the Police with a view to obtaining the names of some of the persons concerned so that they may be prosecuted.

Wallace Hills

Soldiers in East Grinstead WWI

artisu — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 23:03:21 +0000

After men joined the army they were sent to local army camps to be turned into soldiers. As experienced officers were needed in France to organise the war against the Germans, elderly people were bought out of retirement to train the men. These men were often over the age of sixty. One sixty five year old officer died of a heart attack while on parade. Another gave out instructions while sitting in his bath-chair. An elderly cavalry officer weighed over 20 stone and the regiment had great difficulty finding a horse that could carry him. They also had to build a special loading platform so that the officer could get on his horse.

Training camps rarely had enough huts for men. Most of the recruits had to sleep in tents. Conditions in these tents in winter were appalling and there were several examples of soldiers going on strike. Eventually it was decided to billet the men in local towns and villages. This also created serious problems. One soldier, Charles Cain, admitted later that the recruits sometimes took advantage of their hosts: “ten soldiers were billeted to one women who had three teenage daughters, and the mother and all the daughters finished up the family way.”

People in East Grinstead became very concerned about the activities of the soldiers in the town. In 1915 a Women’s Patrol was set up in an effort to stop local women from becoming too friendly with the soldiers. However, an increasing number of single women became pregnant. Between 1914 and 1918 the illegitimacy rate increased by 30%.

Ronald McNeill, a Conservative M.P. advocated that the State should adopt these ‘war babies’. McNeill argued that these children should be put into institutions and prevented from getting married. Mrs. Godwin of Melrose House was the main supporter of this campaign in East Grinstead,

Chris Swanson and James Smith (Sackville School)

London Rifle Brigade marching up London Road
in East Grinstead on 10th September 1914 Past what is now Lloyds TSB

Mrs. A. Godwin, letter in East Grinstead Observer (1st May, 1915)

Can we expect God’s help to beat the Germans when we directly break the laws. How many men now lies stiff and stark upon the battlefield and has left a son to be born to disgrace. How can we expect a country peopled by illegitimate offspring to be able to conquer our enemies. Let a law be passed at once that all illegitimate children belong to the state and must be sent to a government institute at the age of one month, and be known henceforth as state children. These people should be forbidden to marry. This will prevent evil in the future and that the evil will come to an end with the death of the individual.A. W. True, letter to the East Grinstead Observer (8th May, 1915)In her letter Mrs. Godwin says a lot about breaking laws of God. We hear a lot about justice, but not much about mercy. I am not excusing them, both the men and the girls are to blame. They have done wrong and they will have to suffer. I cannot understand anyone who has been a mother writing such stuff. Fancy taking the children away from the mother at the age of a month just when a child needs a mother’s love most. It is bad enough to deprive a child of one parent, it would be worse to deprive it of both. Why should children suffer for the sins of their parents.

WWI Recruitment

artisu — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 22:54:06 +0000

When war was declared in August 1914, there were only 750,000 men in the British Army. Lord Kitchener, Britain’s War Minister, decided that the the British Army needed another 500,000 men. By the end of August over 300,000 men had answered the call in army recruitment centres in Britain’s main towns and cities.

The first recruitment meeting in East Grinstead took place at St. Swithun’s Church on the 30th August, 1914. The East Grinstead Recruiting Committee organised several meetings during the next two weeks and on 12th September and on 12th September the East Grinstead Observer announced that ninety-four people in the town had joined the army.

Sermon given by Rev. W. Youard at St. Swithun’s Church, East Grinstead (30th August, 1914)

I would say to every able-bodied young man in East Grinstead… to offer yourself without a moment’s delay in the service of your country… War, horrible as it is, is capable under God of doing much good… 500,000 have been asked for, 100,000 have been almost secured in a fortnight. They should have been secured in two days. Go straight to the recruiting officer and offer yourself. That is the plain duty of every able-bodied young man today.

W. J. Chalk, letter in the East Grinstead Observer (5th September,1914)

I condemn those who do not immediately join… The sooner men join the sooner they will be trained and the sooner they will have the honour and credit of fighting and striking that blow for England and freedom which must in the end prevail.

East Grinstead Football Battalion