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Second Lieutenant 7th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 12th Division. (‘B’ Company). Killed in action at Ovillers 7. 7.16. Aged 27. Born in Umtata South Africa on 18 July 1888. Son of Robert Herbert Godwin (a missionary) born 1848, and Alicia Frances Charlotte Godwin (nee Orpen) born Coleburg South Africa, 1858. He had a sister Constance Mary Geraldine born 3rd August 1890, and a brother Edgar Harold born 3rd March 1895, both born in South Africa. Commemorated on The Thiepval Memorial MR. 21.

Note: Census documents dated March 1901 indicate that Alicia and her three children had returned to England and were living in Margate. There is no record that her husband was still with her because she is listed as the head of a household, occupation laundry manageress. Her husband was buried in St. Peter and St Pauls cemetery in Lingfield in 1913.

Sometime in his twenties John went to Canada where he served in the Royal North-West Mounted Police from Sep 3rd, 1912 to Apr 7th, 1913. The original discharge paper indicates that he purchased his discharge and that his conduct during service was "very good". He held a certificate of proficiency "First Class" in Radiotelegraphy granted to him by the Dept. of Naval Service on 6th October 1913, probably he was a radio operator in Fort William Ontario (now called Thunder Bay).

At some point he returned to England to enlist in the war effort. Back in England he married Linda Beamon. The marriage was registered in the second quarter of 1916.

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