Grimsby (Scartho Road) Cemetery

[Terence Munson]

Remembering Today

Chief Engineman William Charles Gilbert GODSALL (70*) Royal Naval Patrol Service, HMS Beaver. Died in service 21st January 1946.  He had a remarkable career. Born 20 June 1876 in Lambeth, London, enlisted into the Royal Marine Light Infantry as a Private No.7775, 14 April 1895. After training he was posted aboard the cruiser "Theseus" and saw service in the Mediterranean, then in 1897 "Theseus" ordered to West Africa to join the Benin expedition. After Benin City had been captured, "Theseus" returned to Chatham, the ship's crew suffered badly from malaria on the voyage. When "Theseus" was refitted at Chatham she required a thorough disinfection. Seems Private Godsall had had enough and he deserted twice jailed for 6 weeks after the first, but not found second time. Eventually he came to Grimsby and served on fishing trawlers and by 1911 had qualified as a First Engineer. In June 1911 he enrolled in the RNR as a 2nd Engineman and gave his D.o.B. as 21st June 1882 and serve in the Great War on minesweepers and the mine clearance. He also represented the RNR for the funeral of the Unknown Warrior and awarded the RNR Long Service and Good conduct Medal. Between the Wars he went back to fishing out of Grimsby. Enrolled in the RNPS in the Second World War, served on minesweepers and was awarded the DSM. He then went on to see further service during the war in the Far East and was still in service with Beaver, the Royal Naval Base at Grimsby when he died of heart failure in his 70th year. Chief Engineman Godsall is Buried at Grimsby (Scartho Road) Cemetery, Sec. 116. Row H. Grave 15. United Kingdom.

Terry