Pte Patrick Harry Godding, 19653, Dorsetshire Regiment, died at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, Hampshire, on March 6th, 1917, his death attributed to exposure on the battlefield. He was aged 41.

Pte Gooding had broken his thigh on the way to the trenches during his service of about six weeks in France. One report was that the injury was the result of a kick from a horse. He was immediately sent back to England, and his wife, Louisa Annie, visited him in hospital shortly before he died.

He had written to his wife: "Here I am on my back with a broken thigh. Thus my military career is ended." And in a letter to a friend, Mrs Godding had written that her husband was not a strong man, and the Army life did not benefit him at all.

Belfast-born Patrick Godding was head cashier at new Prudential Assurance offices in Upper George Street, having come to Luton when the company's first office in the town was opened next to the Liberal Club in Manchester Street. He had worked for the Prudential for 24 years.

Patrick Godding had enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment (7254) in June 1916. The Luton Roll of Honour and newspaper reports make no mention of the Dorsetshires.

He had married Louisa Annie (also documented as Annie Louisa) in Luton in the summer of 1910. His wife was headmistress of Christ Church Infants School and they lived at 21 Avondale Road, Luton.