George GOODACRE
All Saints Church
Granby
Nottinghamshire
NG13 9PQ
Position: In front of window on window sill, high up on south wall, opposite entrance
Details on cross:
GRU
3/E 12
211 56. PTE. G. GOODACRE
8/K. O.Y.L.I.
12-9-15
Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): GRU tags
Cross dimensions
Shaft Height: 930mm (above plinth)
Cross beam width: 410mm
Width of wood: 70mm
Thickness or depth: 20mm
Other information
Mounting to wall: On free standing two tier plinth, approx. 80mm in depth and 200mm square
Detailing: None
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): Bottom of shaft is stained dark brown,
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent): 120mm
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): thin coat of paint over unfinished wood
Condition: No damage to cross, plinth has small cracks; a few small nails inserted in plinth and in bottom of shaft
Other information, notes and observations:
Plinth seems more recent than the cross; the cross has been painted at some point, with the tags also being painted over
CWGC
Rank: Private
Service No: 21156
Date of Death: 12/09/1915
Age: 25
Regiment/Service: King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 8th Bn.
Grave Reference: I. E. 12
Cemetery: ERQUINGHEM-LYS CHURCHYARD EXTENSION
Additional Information: Son of Arthur and Emma Goodacre, of Granby, Nottingham.
His father died on the 9th of August 1916.
Nottingham Evening Post:
GOODACRE. – In loving memory of Private George Goodacre, late of Granby, accidentally drowned in France, September 12th, 1915, aged 26 years. Ever in our thoughts. – Sorrowing mother, sisters, brother Jack (in France).
Survey and photographs courtesy of Geoff Snare
Research RFTF
Date of survey: 19 October 2016
21156 Private George Arthur Goodacre, 8th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry who died by accidentally drowning on 12th September 1915.
George was born in 1890 in Granby, the son of Arthur and Emma Goodacre. Arthur was a Quarryman at the Barnstone Blue Lias Lime Works. In 1891 the family was living in Marriott’s Row, Granby. The family was to continue to live in Granby with Arthur being variously described in the 1901 and 1911 Censuses as working as a Limestone Worker/Quarryman., although the entry for 1911 had an addition describing him also as a Bag Repairer at Cement Works, Blue Lias Co.
By 1911 George had joined his father at the Barnstone Works as a Limestone Worker (General).
It is not known when or where George enlisted but his Army Service Number suggests that he did not enlist and be posted to 8th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry at the same time as others from the Granby, Langar And Barnstone area, Wallace Henry Baxter, Harry Smith and Bertie Reeve. The latter three enlisted in August/September 1914 with Army Service Numbers 13429, 13434 and 13456 respectively.
After completing training at Borden Camp the 8th KOYLI’s embarked for France from Southampton on 26th August 1915 arriving at Le Havre the next day. The first few days in France were taken up with further training before the battalion was posted to the Front Line near Armentieres on 12th September 1915 with “C” and “D” Companies going to billets at Erquinghem-la-Lys and “A” and “B” Companies to the trenches. Sadly this was as far as George would make it as the Battalion War Diary for that day records that “Pte Goodacre drowned while bathing”.
George was 25 years of age at his death and is buried in Grave I. E. 12 in Erquinghem-Lys Churchyard Extension.
Is there a plaque inside the church on a wall I seem to remember something about this wonderful detail thank you