Godley V.C. House, Digby Street,Bethnal Green Sidney Godley,Victoria Cross “The machine gun crews were constantly being knocked out. So cramped was their position that when a man was hit he had to be removed before another could take his place. The approach from the trench was across the open, and whenever a gun stopped Lieutenant Maurice Dease... went up to see what was wrong. To do this once called for no ordinary courage. To repeat it several times could only be done with real heroism. Dease was badly wounded on these journeys, but insisted on remaining at duty as long as one of his crew could fire. The third wound proved fatal, and a well deserved VC was awarded him posthumously. By this time both guns had ceased firing, and all the crew had been knocked out. In response to an inquiry whether anyone else knew how to operate the guns Private Godley came forward. He cleared the emplacement under heavy fire and brought the gun into action. But he had not been firing long before the gun was hit and put completely out of action. The water jackets of both guns were riddled with bullets, so that they were no longer of any use. Godley himself was badly wounded and later fell into the hands of the Germans.[5] Sidney Godley - Wikipedia
UK, Victoria Cross Medals, 1857-2007 Name: Sidney Frank Godley Birth Date: 14 Aug 1889 Birth Place: East Grinstead, Sussex Death Date: 29 Jun 1957 Death Place: Hospital In Epping, Essex A more civilian photo of the man TD
Sadly the VC awarded to Godley is no longer held in the Royal Fusilier collection at the Tower of London. It was on loan, but no longer. The VC of Lt Maurice Deese (who died of wounds serving alongside Godley), is on display at the Tower of London.
UK, Victoria Cross Medals, 1857-2007 Name: Maurice James Dease Birth Date: 28 Sep 1889 Birth Place: Gaulstown, Coole, Westmeath, Ireland Death Date: 23 Aug 1914 Death Place: Nimy Bridge, Mons, Belgium TD
