54th Reserve Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery
Thomas Henry Goodwin was born in Gloucester in 1881 and was the son of Thomas Goodwin who was a labourer and lived from 1848-1910 and his wife Matilda Ann (née Hill: 1852 -?). As far as can be ascertained he was one of nine children ( four boys and five girls, born between 1877 and 1895)
In early 1907 he married Ann Holder (1884-1960) and the couple had four children, namely Ellen Matilda (born 1908); Alice Ethel (1910); Thomas Henry (1911) and Ernest Samuel (1914). The 1911 census does indicate that there may have been a further child who had died between 1907 and 1911 but this has not been verified.
At the time of the 1911 census the family lived at 51 Suffolk Street, Gloucester and Thomas was recorded as being a Brewery Drayman.
There are hardly any documentary records relating to Thomas’ service in the Great War. The ‘Debt of Honour’ register with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission shows him having served with 54 Reserve Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery (RHA). Based on his background as a drayman, a role with horses would appear logical. His number, 195072, gives a hint that he was very likely conscripted for service in 1917, when aged 35/36.
He has a Medal Index Card, which is an indicator that he saw service overseas but curiously this makes no mention of service in the RHA but the card states, against the number 195072, that he served with the Army Service Corps (ASC). This could be down to a clerical error. He is also shown as having served with the Labour Corps (number 394724) His transfer to the Labour Corps may have been the result of his being down graded medically, as no longer fit for front line service, due to being wounded, sickness or some form of disability. In the complete absence of any Army Service or Pension Record, it is impossible to tell. There does not appear to be any evidence of discharge due to sickness or wounds, prior to his death.
A death notice posted in a local newspaper states that he died (on 29 April 1920, aged 38) in the Royal Infirmary at Gloucester and at the time he was living at 23 Columbia Street. He is buried in Gloucester Old Cemetery, where a CWGC headstone marks his grave, this carries the badge and name of the RHA. He is also commemorated in the Gloucester War Memorial.
Researched by Graham Adams 9 December 2019