Pte 15711 Frank Goodwin

• Age: 19
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Frank Goodwin was born in Liverpool on 06th November 1896 the eldest child of Thomas Goodwin and his wife Louisa (nee Long). Thomas was born in Luton, and Louisa in Liverpool. They married on the 05th April 1896 at St Mary's Church, Edge Hill. Thomas was a 32 year old hatter, his father George, whilst Louisa was aged 22, her father William, both of 4 Grinfield Street. Records have been found for nine children; Frank was their eldest child. He had younger siblings Ivy Bertha, Leslie, Mona, Nora Louise, and Alice Evelyn.

The 1901 Census  shows that the family are recorded living at 4 Grinfield Street, Liverpool. Four year old Frank has a two year old sister called Ivy and a one year old brother called Leslie. Also living with the family is Thomas’s mother, 75 year old Zilpha. Thomas is a self employed hat maker.

Frank attended Hartington Road School and from 1904 Tiber Street School.

By the time of the 1911 Census the family have moved to 1 Handel Street, Toxteth Park. Frank, now aged 14, is a laundry van boy living with his parents and five siblings. His father, Thomas, shown as aged 47, was working as a self employed greengrocer and coal merchant, his mother Louisa is 37 and assisting in the business. They have been married for 15 years and have had six children. Frank's siblings are shown as; Ivy Bertha aged 12, Leslie 11, Mona 9, Nora 6 and Alice 2.

Three more children were born after the census: twins Eric and Ethel in 1912 (sadly, Eric died in 1921 at the age of 8), and Alan in 1917.

Prior to the war Frank was employed by the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo.

Frank enlisted on 04th September 1914 at St George's Hall in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 15711. He gave his age as 19 years and three days when in fact he was only 17, not turning 18 until November. He gave his occupation as a clerk and was described as being five feet eight inches tall, weighed 123lbs, 34" chest with a sallow complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and his next of kin was his father at 1 Handel St. He served in No.3 Company.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

His service records show:

15.9.15: At Larkhill Camp: Untidy bed. Two days confined to barracks.

07.11.15: Embarked for France from Folkestone with his battalion.

17.3.16: Sick and admitted 55 Field Ambulance.

28.3.16: Scabies and admitted to 96 Field Ambulance.

09.4.16: Discharged to unit.

08.6.16: Neglecting to fill water bottle for parade. Seven days confined to barracks.

He was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 19, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

17th Battalion Diary

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July.

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.   

Frank's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, in France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”    

On the 10th August 1916 the Liverpool Echo posted details of Frank's death under the heading: 

 “A Daily Post Employee” 

“News has been received of the death in action on 30th July of Private Frank Goodwin of the “Pals”. In a letter to his parents his officer states that he was killed instantly by a shell. Private Goodwin was in the service of the Liverpool Daily Post and was very popular with his colleagues. He resided with his parents at 1 Handel Street, Lodge Lane”

Liverpool Echo 10th August 1916

GOODWIN - July 30, killed in action, in his 20th year,  Frank Goodwin ("Pals"). (Ever remembered by Dorothy.)

Liverpool Daily Post 14th August 1916

GOODWIN - July 30, killed in action, aged 19 years, Private Frank Goodwin ("Pals"), the beloved eldest son of Thomas and Louise Goodwin, 1 Handel Street.

He was also reported as killed in action in the Liverpool Daily Post on 12th September 1916: 

Killed. 

King’s(Liverpool Regiment) Goodwin, 15711, F.  (Liverpool); 

Frank earned his three medals.

His outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £8-10 went to his father Thomas. His mother was awarded a pension of 5/- a week from March 1917.

In the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading Lost At The Battle of Guillemont, tribute was paid to Frank:

“In loving memory of Frank Goodwin (Pals), who was killed in action July 30, 1916. (Ever remembered by all at 3, Cook Street.)”

In 1911 Dorothy Marguerite Lafford, born in 1899, lived at this address with her parents. This is, therefore, likely to be Dorothy who posted the "Ever remembered" notice on 10th August 1916. She married in 1920.

His father received his personal effects which consisted of a packet of letters, photos and cards.

Frank was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

"In loving memory of Frank (Pals), killed in action, July 30, 1916. - Dorothy and all at 3 Cook Street."

In 1919 his parents and seven of his siblings (including Pte. Leslie Goodwin, 19) still lived at 1 Handel Street.  Mona, 17, lived nearby in Lodge Lane.

On the 1939 register his parents were at 3 Handel Street with daughter Alice, 31. His father was 76, a  retired coal salesman, and his mother 65.

His father died in 1942 age 78; his mother lived until 1967 and died at the age of 93.

Frank is also remembered on the following Memorials:

Liverpool Daily Post and Echo War Memorial, Old Hall Street, Liverpool

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall on Panels 47 Right, 48 and 50.

Tiber Street County Primary School

Grateful thanks are extended to Rob Pritchard the nephew of Frank Goodwin who kindly supplied the wonderful photograph of Frank.

Rob further advised:

I am the nephew of Pte Frank Goodwin. I have the original photograph, taken at Lime Street studios, from which the printed headshot currently used on the site was derived. His youngest sister Ethel (my mother) who despite being only three or four at the time swears she recalls standing with all her family outside the terrace in Liverpool 8 the day Frank left to embark for France, the journey from which he would never return. He had twelve siblings in all, though maybe not all of them survived to 1916, it was a brutal time.

On November 11, the people of Guillemont still turn out en-masse at the Guillemont Road Cemetery in gratitude to those who gave their lives, they then have a village meal in their Mairie. 

We currently have no further information on Frank Goodwin, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.