Private Henry Albert Godden was born on the 10 January 1878 in East Malling, Kent. He was the second child of Henry and Sarah Ann Godden (nee Swan) of the Rocks, East Malling.
He had several siblings: Mary E. born 1875, William born 1880, Emily born 1882, Edward James born 1885, Alice Coomber born 1889 and May Maria born 1892.
The 1901 census shows a Harry Godden from East Malling, aged 23 working in Camberwell, London as a bricklayer. We believe he was still residing in London in 1911. At some point after 1911, he moved to Lincolnshire.
He had a son, Henry Godden Grooms born on the 22 April, 1914.
He enlisted in Lincoln serving in the 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment in 1914 and died on the 24 August, 1914 in the Retreat from Mons. Private Henry Godden 7058 is commemorated on a memorial headstone in Le Cateau Military Cemetery, France.
He was 36 years of age.
Memories Of Larkfield 