WA Goodbody (20639)
Overview
William Alfred Goodbody my grandfather was born 16th May 1881 in Bentham Road Hackney. When his Father died on the 31st January 1892 of Phthisis (Tuberculosis), it seemed his mother Martha could not cope without a wage earner. 20 days after William was buried young William, then 10, was admitted to Hackney Union Workhouse in Hackney. Documentation shows he stayed there for 14 days. It is assumed that the seven younger including William briefly went into the workhouse and from there it seems they went into Dr Barnardos homes. Children who went to Barnardos at that time were usually taught a trade and William chose to be a musician. He subsequently joined the Royal Dragoons in 1897 when he was 16 and became a bugler, later becoming a member of the regimental Band. He began his service in Hounslow, London and went on to serve in the 2nd Boer War, India, South Africa, UK, Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh in India, WWI Expeditionary Force France (Old Contemptibles) which he was wounded towards the end of the war and returned to UK where he remained for the rest of his Army career. On completion of his service he had served for nearly 22 years as a career soldier (+ two years training).
Joining up & Training
When William joined 1st (Royal) Dragoons at Hounslow on the 23rd September 1897, he was 16 years 4 months old. He was 4' 7" tall when he joined and was allocated a regimental number of 4192. His service records show his "apparent" age to be only 14 years 4 months, which must be due his height. He was actually 16 years 4 months according to his birth certificate. On the 4th May 1898 at Hounslow he was thrown violently and was hospitalized. A month later a court of inquiry found him not guilty of any blame and he lost no pay for being in hospital. He was appointed trumpeter on the 3rd September 1899 and it was also documented he was in the Regimental Band. See link to National Army Museum for Regiment's history at www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units/royal-dragoons-1st-dragoons
Boer War 2
There is conflicting information about William's whereabouts around the 1899/1901 period. On the 30 October 1899, the 1st (Royal) Dragoons left Tilbury, Essex for South Africa, records show that he remained in the UK. The 1901 census on 31st March shows him at Shorncliffe Camp, Cheriton & Sandgate, Folkestone in Kent. The census shows him as one of 4,175 men in the camp on that night. Part of his army records is his "Military History Sheet". The MHS documents all the dates where a soldier serves whether in the UK or abroad. This shows he left for South Africa to join his regiment on 6th December 1900 and was remained there until 10th October 1902. During this period the Dragoons they were tasked with the round up of Boer guerrillas as part of Kitchener's drive to quell them. The Boer War also saw the rifle supersede the sword and the lance during combat and the latter two were then only kept for ceremonial purposes. The expansion of the use of the rifle stood them in good stead for future combat in the First World War. For his services in South Africa he was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Transvaal, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902.
UK
He then spent the next 15 months in the UK before leaving Hounslow with his regiment for India on 27th January 1904 and this would be the first time the 1st (Royal) Dragoons had served in India. He suffered his only misdemeanour on 8th March 1903 when he was charged with being absent from the barracks from 06:00am on 8th March 1903 to 05:30 on 12 March 1903. For this he was awarded "Confined to Barracks" for 7 days, with a loss of 3 days' pay
India
The regiment left Southampton on the SS Soudan (see Photo Gallery) and arrived in Bombay on 19th February 1904. This was the first time the regiment had been to India. From there they travelled to Lucknow, Utta Pradesh, in the north of India. On the 27th August 1909 after 12 years’ service, 7 years with the colours and five years in the army reserve, signed on for further service. In the autumn of 1909 the regiment moved west in Utta Pradesh to Muttra. He brought back with him the use of spices and "curry" with him from his time in India and was used for cooking from the 1920's and is still used and loved by the Goodbody family today.
South Africa
The regiment left India for South Africa and arrived at Durban on 25th November 1911. They travelled to their destination of Robert's Heights by rail. In early February 1913 they earned praise for their restraint and judgement in helping to quell the Johannesburg mining riots. Later that month they moved to Potchefstroom and remained in South Africa until they were recalled home in August 1914. This was the first time the regiment had been home in ten years. Whilst he was in South Africa, William caught malaria and was hospitalized at least twice. The after effects of this disease affected him for the rest of his life.
World War 1
They arrived back in England from South Africa on the Dunlace Castle (see Photo Gallery) on the 19th September 1914 . They then travelled to Windmill Camp near Ludgershall in Wiltshire and started preparing for active service on the Western Front. On completion of his mobilization Trumpeter Goodbody accompanied his Regiment to Belgium embarking at Ostend on 8th October 1914 with 'A' Squadron. The regiment's first action was on the 9th-10th October 1914 at the defense of Antwerp.
During 1st Battle Ypres, 19th October to 22nd November 1914, the 1st Royal Dragoons became involved in the Battle of Gheluvelt (29th October to 31st October) as part of the 6th Cavalry Brigade. On 11th November 1914 the regiment saw further action at the Battle of Nonne Bosschen.
Just two months after arriving in France he was granted 72 hours leave from 23rd December 1914. It was rather surprising that he was allowed leave for Christmas. His family records do not show any births, deaths, marriages or any family events that would have been grounds for him being granted leave at this time. His mother had died the year before, so whether he had just been informed or was allowed to be with his family over Christmas, it is not known.
William saw severe fighting while on front line service at Railway Wood near the Flemish town of Ypres, in May 1915. This was the Second Battle of Ypres and was the first mass use of poison gas by Germany on the Western Front. The regiment was further involved in the Battle of Frezenberg 8th to 13th May 1915. He was fortunate not to have been killed or wounded during this time as records show that 28 1st (Royal) Dragoons died on the 23rd/24th May 1915.
26th to 28th September1915 starting at about noon as part of the 6th Cavalry Brigade, the 1st Royal Dragoons (dismounted) were ordered to reinforce the Loos area as part of the Battle of Loos.
26th January 1916 while serving with the 3rd Dismounted Brigade (6th Battalion) at Kaiserin Trench in the Hohenzollern Sector he was wounded and suffered shell shock, circumstances unknown. The area at that time was heavily bombarded and it was likely he was buried in a trench after a shell had exploded. This was a common reason for shell shock. His injuries may not have been serious as he returned to duty on the 22nd February 1916. Official casualty list show that he was wounded at Hulloch.
To summarize, the 1st (Royal) Dragoons, fought at the 1st & 2nd Battles of Ypres, at Loos in 1915 opposite the Hohenzollern line in 1916 & against Hindenberg line in 1917.
1st (Royal) Dragoons were heavily involved in the Battle of Arras (9 April to 16 May 1917). While they were attacking and capturing the village of Monchy-Le-Preux on 11th April 1917, William was again wounded, this time more seriously, with a shrapnel wound to his right hand. This would probably have been caused by a shell exploding close by him. Four days later he was invalided home and was admitted to Edmonton Military Hospital, Silver Street, North London. He spent the next 53 days recovering from his injuries until his release on the 8th June. Edmonton Military Hospital is now known as the North Middlesex Hospital.
After his release from hospital, during the latter part of 1917, he was awarded the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal following 18 years of good service. The good conduct medal was extremely difficult medal to obtain because of the temptations that surrounded a soldier's life in the Victorian and post Victorian times.
William was posted to the 6th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry at the Garrison town Tidworth, Wiltshire on the 30th August 1917 where he remained until he was discharged on the 5th June 1919 after 21years and 256 days service. His permanent address at that time was given as 54 Chatsworth Road, Homerton, London.
The 1st (Royal) Dragons other main engagements were the battles of Dettingen & Waterloo and the second battle on El Alamein.
The changes in warfare techniques during his army career went from horses to trucks and tanks which was a massive change.
(Big thanks to Jim Lees an 1st Royal Dragoons Expert & Historian)
Medals Awarded (See Photogallery)
1. South Africa/Queen Victoria Medal
Bars: Cape Colony
Transvaal
Orange Free State
South Africa 1901
South Africa 1902
2. 1914 Star medal
Bar: 5th August - 22nd Nov 1914
3. The British War Medal 1914 - 1918
4. Allied Victory Medal
5. Long Service & Good Conduct medal
Useful Websites
1st Royal Dragoons:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_The_Royal_Dragoons
Royal Dragoon History:
www.1stroyaldragoons.org/
WWI Expeditionary Force France (Old Contemptables):
https://www.firstworldwar.com/atoz/oldcontemptibles.htm
Western Transvaal (Wikipedia):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Boer_War#Western_Transvaal
Eastern Transvaal (Wikipedia):
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Boer_War#Eastern_Transvaal
Orange Free State (Wikipedia):
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Boer_War#The_Orange_Free_State
Cape Colony (Wikipedia):
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Boer_War#Cape_Colony
QSA Medal:
www.britishmedals.us/files/cavgi.htm
1st (Royal) Dragoons - Footsteps 1914 -1918:
www.ypres-salient.com/1st-royal-dragoons.html
1st (Royal) Dragoons:
web.archive.org/web/20070303145202/http:/www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/D01rd.htm
National Army Museum:
www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units/royal-dragoons-1st-dragoons