Member of the staff at the Public Record Office.
Andrew Behan has researched Godfrey: Bombardier George Digby Godfrey was born in Plaistow, Essex and his birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1876. He was the youngest of the nine children of of William Thomas Godfrey and Amelia Godfrey née Digby. His father was a Carpenter but later became a Warehouse Porter. The 1881 census shows the family living at 13 Anne Street, Plaistow and they were still there on the 1891 census by which time his occupation was shown as an Office Boy. On 22 September 1900 he married Annie Marie Kirsch at All Saints Parish Church, West Ham and their son Cyril Beresford Godfrey was born 11 March 1905. The 1911 census shows the family living at 69 Calverton Road, East Ham and lists his occupation as a Civil Servant, Attendant Public Records Office.
On 15 November 1915 he enlisted as a Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery and was given the service number 115564. At the time he gave his home address as 230 Browning Road, East Ham and claimed that he had spent five years at some stage in the past as a member of the 1st Essex Artillery Volunteers. He remained in the United Kingdom until 24 December 1916 when he joined the British Expeditionary Force in France on Christmas Day 1916. He was promoted to the rank of Bombardier on 9 February 1917 and was attached to the 231st Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery on 13 October 1917.
He suffered a gun shot wound to his chest and died on 27 March 1918, aged 41 years, whilst travelling on Ambulance Train No.41 in France. He was buried in Block P, Plot 6, Row M, Grave 5B of the St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France. His widow was sent his £5-5s-10d army effects on 1 June 1918 together with a further four shillings and five pence on 22 June 1918. She was granted probate on his estate on 3 July 1918 and his effects totalled £200-18s-7d. On 14 October 1918 she was a awarded a pension of £1-1s-8d per week as widow with one child and on 20 November 1919 she received his war gratuity of £8-0s-0d. On 21 October 1921 his posthumously awarded British War Medal 1914-1918 and Victory Medal were posted to her home. He is also commemorated on the East Ham War Memorial in Central Park, High Street South, East Ham, London, E6 6DY.
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