Born 28th October 1894 – Died April 23rd 1917

Frederick 50th Brigade Royal Field Artillery

Reginald Walter Goodge was born on the 28th October 1894 in Lemsford, to Walter John and Mary Ann (née Barr) Goodge. He was baptised at St. John's church, Lemsford on the 9th December 1894, attended Lemsford School from 1898 to 1908 when he left to work at Lemsford Mill where his father was a carter. By 1911 he was a railway porter on the Great Northern Railway.

In August 1914 he enlisted at Nottingham in the Royal Field Artillery, one of the first men from Lemsford to volunteer. By September 1915 Gunner 82155 Reginald Goodge of the 50th Brigade of the R.F.A. was at the Front. Bombardier Reginald Walter Goodge was only 23 when he died of his wounds on April 23rd 1917 received during the Arras Offensive (April to June 1917) and is buried in grave II B 36, Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France. The Cemetery is about 10 miles north west of Arras and contains 2,771 burials of Commonwealth soldiers from the first World War and seven from the second, 225 French burials pre March 1916 and 64 German war graves.

The entry in the Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine, Lemsford News for June 1917 reads: 'It is with great regret we have to add another name to our Roll of Honour. Bombardier R. Goodge R.F.A., son of Mrs Walter Goodge, died in France on April 23rd, of wounds received the previous day, when he was hit by a piece of gas shell. Previous to the war he was on the Great Northern Railway and was one of the first to join the Army in August 1914. A service in his memory was held in the Parish Church on Sunday, May 20th, at Evensong when there was a large congregation, part of the Burial Service was read and appropriate hymns and psalms were beautifully sung while the organist exquisitely rendered most appropriate music. Much sympathy is felt for his mother.'

Attended St Johns School 14th February 1898 - 30th July 1898