Click on Census image to increase size.
William Goodchild. Died 29th April 1917
William was born in Easthampstead in 1892, the son of John and Catherine of Waterloo Road, Wokingham.
In 1911 he was boarding at Bill Hill in a small house where he lived with 2 other men all working as domestic gardeners, presumably on the estate of Ashridge.
Arras Memorial. Photo by CWGC.
He joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment 1st battalion (a regular battalion, no 25981) and was killed together with many comrades in the furious fighting for Arleux Wood, Arras on 29th April 1917. His name is commemorated on the Arras memorial.
From the Reading mercury May 1917 “the death of Private W Goodchild brings to 5 the number of asylum staff killed in action”. Presumably he was working at Broadmoor by the time he enlisted.