Susan Carmichael has provided the following:
John Godsmark was born in Eston, Yorkshire in 1878, the son of Thomas and Alice (nee Bird) Godsmark.
His parents had married in 1867 in Guisborough, Yorkshire. His Father was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent and his Mother in Hetton-le-Hole, Durham.
There is no record of the family on the 1881 census, but on the 1891 census they were living in McNays Buildings, Handel Street, Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland. By now the family had grown to 8 children, 2 girls and 6 boys.
John married Harriet Latimer in 1899, in Houghton-le-Spring, Co Durham.
In 1901 the family lived at 18, Front Clayton Street, Sleekburn, Bedlington. They had a son and a daughter, and John worked in the coal mine as a hewer.
In 1911 John and his family now lived at 21 East Terrace, Stakeford, Choppington, Bedlington. The family had grown to five children, four sons and a daughter. John was still working as a hewer in the coal mine.
Morpeth Herald 17/11/1916 carries a brief obituary:
>Private John Godsmark, Bomarsund, has been killed in action. He was reported missing on July 1st.
John Godsmark is remembered at Bedlington on B15.06 at Stakeford on S71.02 and at West Sleekburn on W34.01
