William Godfrey

William  Godfrey’s  Story

A relative of William's who now lives in Bristol, has researched this man's fascinating life story and allowed me to share it with you.

William Godfrey lived in Llanhilleth for only a few years, but I would like to think the Miners Institute was a familiar place for at least a few years.   Born in Bristol in 1885 he and Joseph were twins.    Along with their younger brother Edward, they came as young men to Llanhilleth in search of work.

William settled (probably as a lodger),  at Brynithel Terrace, Llanhilleth.   In December 1910, aged 25, he married Margaret Meredith, aged 18, at the Glyndwr Ebenezer Baptist Chapel, Aberbeeg.  (The marriage certificate shows his age as 22.)   Margaret was a local girl and lived only a few doors away from William, at 21 Brynithel Terrace, and after their marriage, as was often the way, William possibly moved into the family home.   

In 1912 Margaret and William were living at Argoed Cottages when Margaret Elizabeth, their first child, was born.   William’s occupation on the birth certificate is shown as coal miner.  

On 29 January 1914 Gladys Mary, their second child was born.   By then they were living at St. Illtyd’s Aberbeeg.    World War 1, the War of all Wars was to start in the summer of that year.

By the time William’s third child, Florence Margaret, was born in January 1916, they were living at 129 Brynithel, Aberbeeg and William’s occupation was listed as “Private 10^th Battalion South Wales Borderers (coal hewer).”      As a coal hewer he would have supervised a team of miners.   He was more than likely working underground at the same time as serving as a member of the Territorial Army,  attending the Drill Hall next to the Institute after work.    Sadly Florence as was the case with many children at the time, only lived for 24 days.   Both her birth and death were registered by her grandfather George on the same day, 4 February 1916.

Margaret, William’s wife, had two young children to care for, as well as coping with the after effects of childbirth and the sense of loss from losing this third child.   She also endured the hard work involved with keeping house for a coal miner –boiling water on a coal fire for baths and washing and drying wet, dirty clothes, and removing the coal dust which quickly accumulated each day.

Sometime during this period, William went off to fight in World War I.   During June 1916 he was fighting in France, at “Redhouse.”     Records show William Godfrey, aged 31, (probably his real age), as  “killed in action,” on 7 June 1916.   Ironically, this was documented as a “quiet day.”     His death certificate incorrectly shows his place of birth as ‘Wales.’    It seems in death at least Wales adopted William as he had already adopted Wales in his brief lifetime.

Pte William Charles Godfrey who died on a "quiet day" on the 7th June 1916. is buried at Rue-du-Bacquerot (13th London) Graveyard, Laventie, Pas de Calais, France. The 13th London Graveyard was begun by the 1st Royal Irish Rifles in November, 1914, and during and after the following December graves of the 13th London Regiment (The Kensingtons) were added. The cemetery was closed in July, 1916. It was known also as the Red House Cemetery from a ruined house, now rebuilt, on the South side of the road.