In La Clytte Military Cemetery, Belgium is the Commonwealth War Grave of 5579 Private John Goodings, serving with the 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, who died 06/05/1915.

The son of the late William and Isabella Goodings, of Southwick, Sunderland.

John Goodings was born the 26th March 1880, the son of William Brown Goodings, Southwick on Wear, Shipwright, in Messrs Pickersgill and Son’s yard, and his wife Isabella.

John was educated at the Southwick Board School, and served his apprenticeship at Pickersgills. He then enlisted in the army in 1898, and served throughout the South African War 1899-1902, Mauritius in 1903-06, and after serving his term, he joined the Reserve in 1906.

On the outbreak of War he was called up and left for the front with the 1st Battalion of his regiment. John was killed in the First Battle of Ypres on the 6th May 1915. He was unmarried.

Immediately Lord Kitchener made his appeal for recruits, Goodings’ four brothers enlisted.

Following this their mother was taken very ill, and eventually appealed to Captain John Smith of the Salvation Army, to get her boys home. He made an appeal direct to Lord Kitchener, who wired a reply that the matter would have attention.

The four boys arrived home on the same day, and the day following the application, a wire came from John saying he had arrived in Southampton, being sent direct from the trenches to his dying mother. He arrived, his mother died, he returned to duty, and was killed a week later.

Source: De Ruvigny Roll of Honour

John Goodings is remembered at Southwick on S130.22 and in Peter Gibson’s book.