Arthur Sidney Goddard

A Stoker with H.M.S. Invincible, Arthur died on 31st of May 1916 at the age of 22. 

Arthur was born at Barnby on 18 March 1894, a son of John and Florence Mary Goddard. He was baptised at Saint Edmunds Church, Kessingland, on 21 November 1897. In 1901 his family lived at Beach Road, Kessingland, ‘near the church.’ By 1911 they were living at 5 Surrey Place, Field Lane, Kessingland, and Arthur was a fisherman.

In 1912, after committing a series of offences, Arthur was sentenced to two years detention at a borstal (see The Diss Express 10 January 1913, page 8).

Arthur joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 4 December 1914.

In 1915 Arthur married Beatrice Florence Meaden, this registered in the Alverstoke district. Their address was 13 Trinity View, South Street, Gosport. Beatrice also died in 1916.

He joined H.M.S. Invincible on 26 November 1915. On 30 May 1916 the Invincible engaged the German light cruiser Wiesbaden, during the Battle of Jutland. Having disabled the Wiesbaden the Invincible engaged the battlecruiser Lutzow, which was holed below the waterline. At 18.30 the Lutzow and battlecruiser Derfflinger both fired on the Invincible. Shells struck a midship turret and the explosion led to a further explosion in the ship's magazine and the Invincible was blown in two. Of the 1,026 men on board only six survived.