GILBERT NIGHTINGALE GOODWIN 

EARLY LIFE

Gilbert Nightingale Goodwin was born on 29 August 1890, the son of Annie Elizabeth (née Orme) and Harry Goodwin, a butcher of 39 Roe Street, Macclesfield. In 1901, ten-year-old Gilbert was living at 156 Park Lane, Macclesfield with his parents and sisters Hilda (8) and Marjorie (6).

Gilbert was educated at Christ Church School and then attended evening classes at Macclesfield Technical School, whilst working alongside his father as a butcher's assistant.

 

MILITARY SERVICE

Gilbert enlisted in Macclesfield on 12 January 1916 and was at first allocated service number 42861 in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He was mobilised on 8 June 1916 and after a period of training  Gilbert was transferred to the 3rd Battalion West Riding Regiment with service number 17182 and was drafted overseas on 11 July 1917. Gilbert joined the 34th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples on 2 November 1917 and was then transferred to the 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry with service number 45165.

Gilbert was reported missing on 21 March 1918 and it was later assumed that he was killed in action on that date.

 

COMMEMORATION

Private Gilbert Goodwin has no known grave and is commemorated on Bay 8 of the Arras Memorial. 

In Macclesfield, Private Gilbert Goodwin is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, St Michael's Church and Christ Church School war memorials, and on St John's Church roll of honour.

 

SOURCES

GRO Indexes: Births

England and Wales census: 1891, 1901, 1911

WWI Army Service Records (Find My Past)

WWI Medal Rolls (Ancestry)

Soldiers Died in the Great War (Find My Past)

Lives of the First World War website

Commonwealth War Graves Commission website


Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.