1. Private Sidney Frank Godley VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
19 Facts About Sidney Godley
1. 2.
Sidney Godley's mother died in 1896, and he was sent to live with his aunt and uncle in Willesden, London.
3.
Sidney Godley was educated at Henry Street School, St John's Wood and, upon moving to Sidcup, at Sidcup National School.
4.
Sidney Godley was 25 years old, and a Fusilier in the 4th Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers, British Army, during the Battle of Mons in the First World War when he performed an act for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
5.
On 23 August 1914, at Mons, Belgium on the Mons-Conde Canal, Lieutenant Maurice Dease and Sidney Godley were manning the machine gun after the previous crews were either killed or wounded.
6.
When Lieutenant Dease had been mortally wounded and killed, and the order to retreat was issued, Private Sidney Godley offered to defend the Nimy Railway Bridge while the rest of the section retreated.
7.
Sidney Godley held the bridge single-handed under very heavy fire and was wounded twice.
8.
Sidney Godley cleared the emplacement under heavy fire and brought the gun into action.
9.
Sidney Godley himself was badly wounded and later fell into the hands of the Germans.
10.
Sidney Godley defended the bridge for two hours, until he ran out of ammunition.
11.
Sidney Godley's final act was to dismantle the gun and throw the pieces into the canal.
12.
Sidney Godley attempted to crawl to safety, but advancing German soldiers caught him and took him to a prisoner of war camp.
13.
Sidney Godley's wounds were treated, but he remained in camp until the Armistice with Germany in November 1918.
14.
Sidney Godley left the camp in 1918 after the guards fled their posts.
15.
Sidney Godley received the actual medal from King George V, at Buckingham Palace, on 15 February 1919.
16.
Sidney Godley worked as a school caretaker in Tower Hamlets, London.
17.
Sidney Godley died in Epping Hospital on 29 June 1957.
18.
Sidney Godley was buried with full military honours in the town cemetery at Loughton, Essex, where he latterly resided.
19.
Sidney Godley was portrayed in the BBC Three series Our World War by Theo Barklem-Biggs.