John Thomas Goodall

John was born on 8th June 1888 in Huthwaite and was the son of Samuel a coal miner and Matilda Goodall née Strignfellow , his father Samuel wasw born in 1835 in Sutton in Ashfield and his mother Matilda was born in 1842 in Huthwaite, they were married in the Mansfield Registration district in March 1865, they had the following children ,Martha b1869 Ada b1874, William Henry b1876 and John Thomas b1889, all the children were born in Huthwaite. His father Samuel died in the Mansfield Registration District in 1890 aged 60 yrs. In the 1911 census John is living at 60 Unwin Road, Sutton in Ashfield, he is 22 yrs of age a coal miner he is living with his wife Eliza 22 yrs and their first son Harold 9 months of age. He married Eliza Green in the Mansfield Registration District in June 1910 and they lived at 28 Fairfield Road, Sutton in Ashfield, they had children Harold, Winifred and Gladys Goodall.

He worked as a colliery fitter.

Portsmouth Bn RMLI Royal Naval Division Goodall was one of 'Kitchener's Marines' who were transferred from the Sherwood Foresters to the RMLI. Des Turner notes '600 RMLI transfers came from 2 regiments - 200 from the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) and 400 from the Sherwood Foresters. They were predominantly ex-miners and labourers, fit men wanted for their ability to dig trenches and tunnels. The 200 KOYLI recruits were transferred to Plymouth Division RMLI and were given service numbers PLY/1(S) to PLY200(S). This was also the case for the Sherwood Foresters 200 who were dispatched to Portsmouth where already 30 men were recruited and so they became PO/31(S) to PO/230(S). 200 remaining Foresters went to Chatham and were numbered CH/1 to CH/200(S).' John Thomas was killed in action on 6 May 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli (Panel 2-7).

Mansfield Reporter, 4 June 1915: ‘Suttonians Killed in the Dardanelles. We regret to announce the death of several Suttonians in the Dardanelles’ fighting. They are as follows: Private Thos Goodall, 25 Fairfield-road. Private William Hy Potter, Mason-street. Private Robert Waldron, High Pavement. Lance-Corpl. WH Johnson, who was connected with the Skegby Cricket Club. All the men were in the Royal Marine Light Infantry.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Advertiser – 4th June 1915. 'THREE HUTHWAITE MEN KILLED. MEMORIAL SERVICE 'Two Huthwaite men, Private J.T. Goodall and Private J.S. Ellis, both of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, have been killed in action “near the Dardanelles”, according to the official statement. Goodall was 26, and lived in Skegby Road. He leaves a widow and one child. Ellis’s home was in Newcastle Street, and he leaves a widow and four children. He was 33 years of age , and about 13 years ago enlisted in the Lincolns, but was bought off after a few months. Both men enlisted last September. Another Huthwaite native of the same regiment, killed at the same place, was Quartermaster F.H. Crafts, aged 40, whose home was at Sherwood. He had served 21 years, and had been a pensioner 8 months when the war broke out, and he immediately rejoined. He had several brothers at Sutton, and a sister is Mrs. A. Taylor, wife of the Chairman of Huthwaite Urban District Council. On Sunday morning a memorial service to the three men was held in the Parish Church it was conducted by the Rev. F.N. Beswick, and was largely attended. The proceedings were most impressive, and included the recital of the Burial Service, while the hymns and sermon were of an appropriate nature. The Union Jack flew at half-mast on the church tower, and at the close of the service Mr. A. Wilders rendered the Dead March from “Saul” on the organ.' Notts Free Press – 6th. June, 1915. 'The long immunity from tragic news respecting its own soldier sons which Huthwaite has enjoyed was rudely shattered last week-end, when the news carried that three Huthwaite natives had made the supreme sacrifice in laying down their lives for their country. The departed heroes are private J.T. Goodall, aged 26, of Skegby Road, Private J. Ellis (often known as Sheppard) of Newcastle Street, and the third is Quartermaster F.H. Crafts (40) who, though his home was at Sherwood, was born at Huthwaite and will be remembered by many people. Several brothers live at Sutton, and a sister is Mrs. A. Taylor, wife of the Chairman of Huthwaite Urban District Council. Crafts was single and had served 21 years and had been a pensioner for a year and a half, and when the war broke out he immediately rejoined. Goodall and Ellis both joined in September last. A singular feature is that all three belonged to the same regiment (the Portsmouth Brigade of the R.M.L.I.) and were all killed under exactly the same circumstances-officially stated as “near the Dardanelles”. About 13 years ago Ellis served a few months in the Lincolns, but was bought off. He was killed on the 30th. of April, but the date of the other deaths is not stated. Unfortunately, no photograph of Ellis is available.'