WORKING NOTES

Born 8/7/1886, Neath. Parents - William & Elizabeth

- Birth registered Q3 1886 and 1939 gives 8/7/1887 - Assume 8/7/1886

1891 - 32 Brunel St, Swindon. 4yo. W parents (Dad-Railway Engine Driver) & 2 sibs

1901 - 14 Brook St, Margam. 14yo. Occ-Railway Number Taker. W parents & 3 sibs

1909 - Married Lauretta Aiden Jones, 10 Jan 1909 Aberavon. Add-2 Duffryn Rd, Neath. Occ-Goods Guard. Dad - Engine driver

1909 - Joined Amalgamated Society of Railwaymen, 2/5/09, Port Talbot

1911 - 2 Duffryn Road, Taibach, Port Talbot. 24yo. Occ-Colliery Labourer (above Ground). W Lauretta, Norman, MIL & SIL

1921 - 13 Osborne St, Neath. 33y11m. Occ-Police Constable, Neath Borough Constabulary. W Lauretta, Norman (1909), Retta (1913), Graham (1916) & Richard (1917) & MIL

1932 - Married Edith B Cohen, Q1, Neath

1939 - 13 Osborne St, Neath. DOB 8/7/1887. Occ-Police Sergeant. W Edith B Godwin

1961 - Died aged 74, Q2 Neath

No SR

Enl 1st wk May 1915, Gnr No 1330

Neath Guardian 19/9/1937: In May, 1915, he was accepted in the Royal Field Artillery (53rd Division) and sent for training at Northampton and St Neots. He was promoted to Corporal, and in June was drafted to the Dardanelles in the reinforcements for the 13th Division of the Royal Field Artillery..... and was wounded in Gallipoli in November, 1915.

Gallipoli 16/7/1915 as Gnr

From DP: Date of entry July 16, 1915 (2b). This was when the S.A.A.C. and Divisional Ammunition Park embarked at Devonport. I guess the number 16 comes from the DAP as they were formed from some 2nd line postings to St. Neots. As far as I can tell the entire DAP (1 Off, 20 ORs) went to Gallipoli, arriving at Suvla Bay by August 15, 1915. Another guess is that the DAP was absorbed into the 13th Division being such a small unit.

SWWP 13/11/1915: Gunner RE Godwin, RFA, formerly a member of the Neath Borough Force, writing from the Dardanelles to PS Evans, Neath, states that he has had some miraculous escapes. One day he and four comrades were resting near a dug-out. A stretcher party were passing, conveying a wounded soldier, when a shell burst in their midst, killing the front bearers and injuring the wounded man in the the leg. The rear bearers and Godwin and his comrades were unhurt. "we have shells for breakfast, dinner and tea", he adds, "but it is a fine sight watching our navy shelling the enemy."

Herald of Wales & Monmouthshire Reporter 11/11/1916: After 14 months service in Gallipoli and Egypt, Gunner Godwin, RFA, has returned to Neath on Furlough. He was a constable in the Neath Borough Police Force. He has been in some stiff engagements, but has returned sunburnt and smiling, without a scratch.

Neath Guardian 19/9/1937: He also saw service in Salonika and Palestine,

Transferred to Royal Engineers, Railway Operating Division, Spr 456855 & WR/194296

Disch 7 Feb 1919, Applied for pension, rejected

Neath Guardian 19/9/1937: He served right throughout the war, and holds the 1914-15 Star and the General Service and Victory Medals.