The Somme Remembered – 11th July 1916

Edward Benedict Goddard and Lily Deborah MacKenzie married in the summer of 1892 in the Fulham Registration District. Lily was born in Canada and can be found in the 1861 census for Montreal with her father, William Sager Mackenzie, an engineer, her mother, Lucy Woodhouse and siblings – the family were in England by the 1871 census.

In 1891 Edward, Lily and their family were living at St. Margaret’s, Brook Green, Hammersmith, where Edward was employed as a Merchant’s Clerk.  Their second son, Kenneth Aquinas McKenzie Goddard, was four years old.

Wimbledon College via Wimbledon College

Ten years later, in 1911, Kenneth was 14 years old and a scholar at Wimbledon College. His father was now classed as an accountant to a Limited Liability Company, and according to his entry, the company concentrates on sheep farming. Home for the family and staff was Glenthorpe, Warple Road, Epson.

When Kenneth was 17 years old he signed his Attestation Papers and was given the service number of 1958. He gave his occupation as Clerk to Grace Brothers and Co. Ltd. Home for Kenneth was 9 Woodlands Road, Barnes Common –  a large house in a quiet cul-de-sac. Although Kenneth’s maternal grandfather gave his religion on the previously mentioned Canadian census as Church of England, Kenneth gave his religion as Roman Catholic when he was giving information to the enlistment staff.  His Medical Inspection Report tells that he was 17 years and 3½ months old. He was 5′ 8″ tall and had an expanded chest measurement of 3½. His vision was classed as ‘good’. The physical development section stated, ‘go to School of Arms’ – he was basically considered ‘fit’.

In all, Kenneth served 267 days before being discharged on the 4th of August 1914, due to ‘joining Sandhurst College’ and becoming a lieutenant in the 5th Battn. Worcestershire Regiment. In the London Gazette of 16th March 1915, Kenneth is entered under the heading of The Worcestershire Regiment.

In the February of 1914, Kenneth’s mother died, and her Probate entry reads:-  Goddard Lily Deborah of 9 Woodlands-road Barnes Common Surrey (wife of Edward Benedict Goddard died 19 February 1914. Probate London 18 April to the said Edward Benedict Goddard company manager. Effects £2856 8s 11d.

It was the 11th of July 1916, and his battalion was in action at Ovillers. It was also the day that Kenneth was Killed in Action.

Kenneth’s medal card gives quite a lot of information, more information than many contain. Firstly, his date of entry into France was 31st July 1915.  Secondly, the medals he was eligible to wear.  Thirdly, his rank of 2nd Lieutenant, later to be Lieutenant. His date of death and how he died, i.e. Killed in Action, and of course, his name.  But there is one thing that stands out for me: the address on the reverse of the card.  The address is for Mrs G. Goddard, Estancia Mulah Aike (sic), Puerto San Julian, Patagonia, Rep. Argentina.

Probate for Kenneth tells the following:- Goddard Kenneth Aquinas MacKenzie of 9 Woodlands-road Barnes Surrey lieutenant Worcestershire Regiment died 11 July 1916 at la Boiselli in France Administration (with Will) London 29 August to Edward Benedict Goddard Secretary of the Falkland Islands Company.  Effects £214 15s 11d.

The Tablet Archive Kenneth’s extract reads:- Lieut. Kenneth Aquinas Mackenzie Goddard, Worcestershire Regt., who fell on July eleventh at the age of twenty, was the second son of Mr Edward B. Goddard, of 9 Woodlands Road, Barnes. He was educated at Wimbledon College and

Worcestershire Regiment Great War vol .2

at Sandhurst, from which he passed out in March 1915. Kenneth is also remembered in the Worcestershire Regiment Great War vol 2, which reads Goddard, Kenneth Aquinas McKenzie 2/Lieut., F & F 11/7/16.

Kenneth’s father died on the 5th of May 1938, with his Probate entry reading:- Goddard Edward Benedict of 9 Woodlands-road Barnes Surrey died 5 May 1938 Probate London 24 June to Lillian Isabel Goddard widow George MacKenzie Goddard farm manager and Margaret MacKenzie Cobb (wife of Hubert Vincent Cobb). Effects £169659s 4d.

Could it be that the Mrs G Goddard mentioned on Kenneth’s medal card be Lillian Isabel Goddard, wife of George MacKenzie Goddard, the farm manager – could the farm have been in

Kenneth’s headstone. Source unknown but acknowledged

Patagonia? Does anyone know?

Back to Kenneth, he rests in Albert Communal Cemetery Extension along with over 850 other identified casualties.

Service Record for Lieutenant Kenneth Aquinas Mackenzie GODDARD, The Worcestershire Regiment, is available from the National Archives, Kew, for a fee.

Albert Communal Cemetery Extension via CWGC