SIDNEY GOAD
In 1901 Sidney's family were living at 10 Henderson Road, Eastney, the location presumably having been chosen because his father Alfred was in the Royal Marine Artillery (RMA) which had it's local headquarters at the adjacent Eastney Barracks.
Alfred had been born in London in 1865 but his whereabouts for the following 30 years have not been confirmed. He next appears in the marriage register for the District of Chichester when he married Beatrice Bridger from Liss, the daughter of Allan and Frances Bridger. She had been born there in 1869. It's not known how Alfred and Beatrice met but it could have been in London as Beatrice was there for the 1881 census.
Alfred Goad's posting to Eastney Barracks was probably the last before he retired from the RMA and took up a job as a 'carman'. The family stayed in Henderson Road though moved along the street to no. 18 in time for the 1911 census. During their time in Portsmouth Alfred and Beatrice had two children, Sidney (b. 1899) and Winifred (b. 1902).
At the outbreak of the Great War Sidney Goad was only 15 years old and so in theory, was not eligible to enlist. However, the CWGC records admit that when he died in 1916 he was still only 17 years of age when the minimum age for enlistment was 18 and the minimum age for overseas service was 19. It seems probable therefore that he lied about his age and it was only belatedly that the CWGC discovered his true age. Whatever the circumstances were Sidney found himself in the Hampshire Regiment either sailing to Karachi in November 1914 or joining them later as a replacement for men lost in battle or in sickness. The regiment was transferred to Mesopotamia in March 1915 where Sidney would have seen much action until in February 1916 when he lost his life.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) lists Sidney Goad, Private (4805), 1st/4th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, died 24/02/1916, aged 17 years. Commemorated on the Basra Memorial, (Panel 21 and 63.). Son of Alfred and Beatrice Goad, of 18, Henderson Rd., Eastney, Portsmouth.
Sidney Goad is also commemorated on the Cenotaph, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth (as Goad SA). He is not listed in "The National Roll of the Great War", Section X.
Tim Backhouse
January 2015