Pte 203034 Arthur John Godding

• Age: 30
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 4th November 1917
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Arthur John Godding was born 25^th November 1886 at Liverpool and was baptised on the 13^th December 1886 at St Martin-In-The-Fields, Church Of England Church, Liverpool. He was the son of George Thompson and Maria Godding (nee Dodd).

The 1891 Census shows the family living at Wallasey Buildings, Furlong Street, Liverpool.

The father George aged 33 is a baker, and his wife Maria is aged 29, and has no occupation listed. They have four children at the taking of the Census, George aged 9, born 1882 and Charles aged 8, born 1883 are both scholars, Arthur aged 4 and Elizabeth aged 2.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 59, Empire Street, Liverpool.

The father George aged 43 is a baker, and his wife Maria aged 40 has no occupation listed. They have six children at the time of the Census, George aged 19, is an engineer’s clerk, Charles aged 17 and Arthur aged 14 are both porters, Elizabeth is aged 1, William aged 9 and John aged 5. They also have a lodger Elizabeth Dodd aged 30, born 1871 in Liverpool and she is a milliner.

Arthur married Eva Jane Dyer at West Derby Registry Office in 1906. They went on to have a son named Arthur George on 9th December 1906.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 59 Empire St, Liverpool.

The father George aged 53 is a baker, born Abbotbury, Dorset, his wife Maria is aged 50, and is a Housekeeper, born in Liverpool. They have been married for thirty years. They have had nine children of which two had died, Arthur aged 25, born 1886 is a stableman, Elizabeth is aged 21, Factory Tobacco Spinner, William 19, Assistant Pawnbroker, John 15, Office Boy, Albert 8. All the children were born in Liverpool.

He enlisted in Seaforth, Liverpool and was serving in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 203034 when he was killed in action on the 4^th November, 1917 aged 30 during the Third Battle of Ypres.

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Liverpool Echo 22nd Nov 1917

Godding - In loving memory of my dear Husband, who was killed in action, November 4m 1917. - Ever remembered by his loving Wife and Son, 4 Bolan Street, Old Swan.

Short and sudden was the call

Of one so dearly loved by all.

His loving smile and welcome face,

No one can ever take his place.

Godding - November 4, killed in action in France, Private Arthur Godding. K.L.R.

He sleeps not in his native land,

But 'neath a foreign sky,

Far from the mother who loved him dear,

In a hero's grave he lies.

Sweet be your rest, my son, so dear,

'Tis sweet to breathe your name;

In life I loved you very day,

In death I do the same.

- Deeply mourned by Mother, Father, Sister, and Brothers, 59 Empire Street.

He is also commemorated at St Anne’s C. of E. Church, Stanley and Butler Street Council School, Everton.

Soldiers Effects to his widow Eva Jane and pension to Eva and child Arthur George.

We currently have no further information on Arthur John Godding, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.