Pte 49156 George William Goodwin

• Age: 25
• From: Adlington, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 30th June 1917
• Commemorated at: Perth Cem Zillebeke
  Panel Ref: II.A.41

George William Goodwin was born in 1892 at Adlington, Cheshire the son of George Goodwin and his wife Hannah (née Hibbert) who were married on the 12th February 1880 at St Peter's Church, Prestbury. George was a 34 year old farmer of Rainow, his father, Joseph, was a farmer, whilst Hannah was aged 20 of Hurdsfield, her father, Thomas, was also a farmer.

George was baptised on the 04th December 1892 at Prestbury. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living on Water Street, Bollington, Macclesfield.  His father, George, is aged 55, a farm labourer and grocers shopkeeper born in Rainow, his mother Hannah is aged 41, a grocer born in Hurdsfield, children born Adlington: Hannah M. aged 19, a dressmaker, Thomas 18, a cotton piecer, Mary A. 14 a cotton gasser, Florence 12, George W. 8, John J. 6, and Harold aged 1, born Bollington.  

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 21 and 23 Water Street Bollington. His mother, Hannah, is a widow aged 51, born 1860 and no occupation and was born in Cheshire. She had been married for 31 years and had eight children of which one died. Hannah Maria is aged 29, she was born in 1882 and is a dressmaker, Thomas is aged 28, born 1883 and is a cotton spinner, Mary Alice is aged 24, born in 1887 and is a cop winder cotton, George William is aged 18, born in 1893 and is a stenter in a paint works, John James is aged 16, born in 1895 and is a warehouseman, and Harold is aged 11, born 1900 and is at school. The children were all born in Adlington, apart from Harold who was born in Bollington. Also in the property is the grandfather Thomas Hibbert aged 81, born 1830 and he is a retired farmer born in Gawsworth, Cheshire.

Prior to enlistment he was employed at Bollington Printing Company. 

He enlisted on the 27th July 1916 in Macclesfield and originally served as Private 4515, Cheshire Regiment and following a transfer was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 49156 when he died on the 30th June 1917, aged 25. 

The Rock Bank Gazette reported that he had been "of a religious frame of mind, a devout Wesleyan, and had been educated at Water Street School."

George William now rests at Perth Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium.

The cemetery was begun by French troops in November 1914 (the French graves were removed after the Armistice) and adopted by the 2nd Scottish Rifles in June 1917. It was called Perth (as the predecessors of the 2nd Scottish Rifles were raised in Perth), China Wall (from the communication trench known as the Great Wall of China), or Halfway House Cemetery. The cemetery was used for front line burials until October 1917 and contained 130 graves. It was not used again until after the Armistice, when graves were brought in from the battlefields and smaller cemeteries around Ypres.  There are now 1,426 WW1 Commonwealth burials in the cemetery.

His brother, Harold, was killed on the 18th April 1918 serving as Private 91835 of the 15th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry. Harold is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial at Panel 128 - 131 in Belgium.

Soldiers Effects, Army Pay of £2 10s 6d and £5 War Gratuity went to mother Hannah, 21 Water St. She also received the pensions for both George and Harold. 

Soldiers Effects and the Pensions of both George and Harold to mother Hannah, 21 Water St. 

George is also commemorated on the following Memorials;

Macclesfield Town Hall Roll of Honour

Macclesfield War Memorial,

St Michael’s War Memorial

We currently have no further information on George William Goodwin, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.