Sidney Godley | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1889-08-16)16 August 1889 East Grinstead,Sussex, England |
| Died | 29 June 1957(1957-06-29) (aged 67) |
| Buried | Loughton Town Cemetery,Loughton, Essex, England |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1909–1919 |
| Rank | Private |
| Service number | 13814 |
| Unit | Royal Fusiliers |
| Battles / wars | World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
| Spouse | Ellen Eliza Norman |
PrivateSidney Frank GodleyVC (14 August 1889 – 29 June 1957) was anEnglish recipient of theVictoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded toBritish andCommonwealth forces. He was the firstprivate soldier awarded the VC in World War I.[1]
Godley was born on 14 August 1889 inEast Grinstead,West Sussex, the son of Avis (née Newton) and Frank Godley. His mother died in 1896, and he was sent to live with his aunt and uncle inWillesden,London. He was educated at Henry Street School,St John's Wood and, upon moving toSidcup, at Sidcup National School.[2] From the ages of fourteen to twenty, he worked in anironmonger's store.[3]
On 13 December 1909, he enlisted inThe Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), under Regular terms of service, as aprivate with theservice number 13814,[2] to serve seven years with the colours, and the remaining five years in the Army Reserve. He appears on the 1911 Census at Stanhope Lines, Aldershot with the 4th Battalion.[4]
Godley was 25 years old, and aFusilier in the 4th Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers, British Army, during theBattle of Mons in theFirst World War when he performed an act for which he was awarded theVictoria Cross.[citation needed]
On 23 August 1914, atMons,Belgium on the Mons-Condé Canal, LieutenantMaurice Dease and Sidney Godley were manning the machine gun after the previous crews were either killed or wounded. When Lieutenant Dease had been mortally wounded and killed, and the order to retreat was issued, Private Godley offered to defend theNimy Railway Bridge while the rest of the section retreated. Godley held the bridge single-handed under very heavy fire and was wounded twice. Ashell fragment ("shrapnel") entered his back when anartillery shell went off near him, and he was wounded in the head by a bullet. Despite his injuries he carried on the defence of the bridge while his comrades escaped. His citation read: "For coolness and gallantry in fighting his machine gun under a hot fire for two hours after he had been wounded at Mons on 23 August".[5]
H.C. O'Neill wrote this account of Godley's actions inThe Royal Fusiliers in the Great War.
"The machine gun crews were constantly being knocked out. So cramped was their position that when a man was hit he had to be removed before another could take his place. The approach from the trench was across the open, and whenever a gun stopped Lieutenant Maurice Dease... went up to see what was wrong. To do this once called for no ordinary courage. To repeat it several times could only be done with real heroism. Dease was badly wounded on these journeys, but insisted on remaining at duty as long as one of his crew could fire. The third wound proved fatal, and a well deserved VC was awarded him posthumously. By this time both guns had ceased firing, and all the crew had been knocked out. In response to an inquiry whether anyone else knew how to operate the guns Private Godley came forward. He cleared the emplacement under heavy fire and brought the gun into action. But he had not been firing long before the gun was hit and put completely out of action. The water jackets of both guns were riddled with bullets, so that they were no longer of any use. Godley himself was badly wounded and later fell into the hands of the Germans.[6]
Godley defended the bridge for two hours, until he ran out of ammunition.[7] His final act was to dismantle the gun and throw the pieces into the canal.[citation needed]
He attempted to crawl to safety, but advancing German soldiers caught him and took him prisoner. His wounds were treated by his captors. Originally it was thought that he had been killed, but in March 1915 it came to light that he was aprisoner of war[8] in a camp called Delotz atDallgow-Döberitz. It was in the camp that he was informed by the American Ambassador that he had been awarded the Victoria Cross.[2] He remained in captivity until theArmistice with Germany in November 1918. Godley left the camp in 1918 after the guards fled their posts. His repatriation was formally confirmed in January 1919.[9] He received the actual medal fromKing George V, atBuckingham Palace, on 15 February 1919.[3]
On 19 July 2012 his medals were sold at auction for £276,000.[10]
On 2 August 1919, Godley married Ellen Eliza Norman.[2][11] He worked as aschool caretaker inTower Hamlets,London.[10] He died in Epping Hospital on 29 June 1957.[2] He was buried withfull military honours in the town cemetery atLoughton,Essex, where he latterly resided.[10]
He was portrayed in theBBC Three seriesOur World War (2014) byTheo Barklem-Biggs.[citation needed]
Previously reported wounded and missing, now reported prisoner of war:- R. FUSILIERS, - 13814 Godley, S.
Godley 13814 S., V.C. (Lingfield, Surrey)
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