Second Lieutenant Alan Godsal

Second Lieutenant Alan Godsal
7th Battalion the Rifle Brigade
Killed in action 30 July 1915
Aged 21

Second Lieutenant Godsal is commemorated on the Menin Gate.

His father’s occupation was 'land owner' and he attended Oundle School, Northants. He lived at Winnersh Lodge, Berkshire.

He applied for a temporary commission in August 1914 and arrived in France on 20 May 1915.

In the early hours of 30 July Godsal’s battalion was relieved from the front line at Hooge, but within hours had been ordered back up in support of 8th Battalion The Rifle Brigade because the Germans had launched an attack with flamethrowers.

By 2pm they were moving up near Zouave Wood to launch a counter-attack. 7th Battalion’s machine guns had been loaned to the 8th Battalion the previous night, but had been lost in the fighting. Godsal (the battalion’s machine gun officer) managed to retrieve one, but apparently it only had a small amount of ammunition. He was then seen firing his pistol in the direction of the Germans. Shortly after he was killed - possibly by a shell to the face, possibly by a blast from a flamethrower.

B/2829 Private Frank King attempted to rescue Godsal’s body but was shot and killed. Private King is also commemorated on the Menin Gate.

Private Frederick Thomas Graysmark

62588 Private Frederick Thomas Graysmark
9th Battalion Royal Fusiliers
Killed in action 3 May 1917
Age 24

The 9th Royal Fusiliers was formed at Hounslow on 21 August 1914 and attached to 36th Brigade, 12th (Eastern) Division.
It landed in France in May 1915.

The unit was engaged in the attack on Roeux on 2/3 May 1917 which is presumably when Private Graysmark was killed.

Frederick Graysmark is commemorated at Smithfield Market. CWGC lists him as the son of Mrs E Graysmark, of 42, Swaby Rd, Earlsfield; husband of Ethel L Smith (formerly Graysmark), of 42, Swaby Rd, Earlsfield, London.