108423 RSM Oliver Godley, Royal Engineers

Oliver Godley first makes an appearance in Chailey Parish Magazine in October 1915 as Godley, Corporal O, RE, England.  By March 1916 it is noted that he is in France and by the following month, that he has been promoted to sergeant.   

In November 1916, the parish magazine notes that he is now quartermaster sergeant and in May 1918, this is further updated with: Godley, Company Quarter Master Sergeant O, MFW, RE.  By July 1919, Oliver had been promoted again, this time to regimental sergeant major.  According to the parish magazine, he still held this rank in July 1919 although his medal card at the National Archives indicates two references: corporal and later warrant officer class 1 (above). He was discharged to Class Z of the Army Reserve in August 1919.

The 1911Census of England and Wales reveals a strong candidate in 32-year-old Oliver Godley, a carpenter and joiner born in Maryhill, Glasgow and living with his 36-year-old wife, Connie, and two children, Thelma Connie (aged six) and Oliver Godley (aged two). The family were living at Warren Cottages, North Common, Chailey. Thelma was born in Brighton but Oliver junior was born in Chailey, suggesting therefore that the family may have moved into the village some time after 1904.