ARTHUR ERNEST GOODMAN
The connection between the Goodman family and Portsmouth began in the 1870s when Arthur's father Thomas was posted to Eastney Barracks as a sergeant in the Royal Marine Artillery. Thomas had been born at Kettering in Northamptonshire in 1848 and probably left home to join the RMA soon after leaving school. Whilst at Eastney Thomas met Margaret Jane Curran from Chester and in late 1880 they were married at Portsmouth.
Their first address, as recorded by the 1881 census, was at 22 Eastney View, a terrace on Eastney Road. Over the next few years Thomas and Margaret had three children, Florence (b. 1882), William (b. 1884) and Arthur Ernest (b. 1886), but then Thomas retired from the RMA and took a job as a schoolmaster in Newcastle on Tyne. The whole family moved north with Thomas and were recorded there by the 1891 census.
The new direction for Thomas does not seem to have lasted long as by 1901 the three children were listed living back in Portsmouth at 8 Beach Road, Southsea, whilst Thomas and Margaret were visiting friends in Newcastle. It's unclear what Thomas did for the next few years but by 1911 his life had taken another turn which was recorded by the census that year. Thomas was then described as a publican and the family were living at the Florence Arms on Florence Road, Southsea. Ironically their eldest child Florence had by then left home.
In the 1911 census Arthur Ernest was described as a 'milk carrier' which probably did not have interesting long term prospects, indeed Arthur Ernest may have viewed the outbreak of the Great War as an opportunity for excitement. It's not known when he enlisted but when he did so he was posted to the Royal Field Artillery and in April 1915 he found himself at Gallipoli. He survived there for six months before losing his life in October 1915.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) lists AE Goodman, Gunner (93933), Royal Field Artillery, died, 03/10/1915. Buried at Redoubt Cemetery, Helles, (Special Memorial. A.59.). Son of Mr. T. and Mrs. M. J. Goodman, of 20, Florence Rd., Southsea, Portsmouth.
Arthur Goodman is commemorated on the St. Simon's Church WW1 Memorial and the Cenotaph, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth. He is not listed in "The National Roll of the Great War", Section X.
Tim Backhouse
January 2015