William Claude Goddard

A Private with the 21st Battalion, William died on 27th of May 1918 aged 19.

William was born at Newcastle-On-Tyne in 1899, a son of William and Effie Goddard. In 1901 his family lived at 22 Honiton Road, Romford and by 1911 they lived at 10 Beresford Road, Lowestoft. In 1921 his parents lived at 304 Dereham Road, Norwich, but afterwards moved back to Lowestoft and lived at 128 Beaconsfield Road.

William enlisted in the Army at Ipswich and sources suggest this was in October 1914. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 2464. Later he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and served in France with III Section, B Company of the 21st Battalion. 

On 27 May 1918 the 21st Battalion were at Vaux Varennes when the enemy laid down a heavy bombardment, including gas, as a prelude to an attack on the whole divisional front. The battalion lost many guns and men with 13 killed, 51 wounded, 6 wounded and missing and 92 missing. 

William was reported missing on 27 May and his death was accepted to have taken place between 27 May and 27 September, with some sources giving the latter date as his date of death.