Each soldier tells a story. Some stories start together, diverge, then come together again.
John and Magrath Godwin were born in Lethbridge, Alberta, sons of Frederick Richard Godwin and Anna Bella Lockhart Godwin. Both attended Lisgar Collegiate when the family moved to Ottawa. Magrath was one of the first to enlist, John enlisted months later, both serving in the Canadian Artillery. They were killed in action three months apart. Both are buried at Reninghelst New Military Cemetery, near Poperinghe, Belgium, where each is remembered on the other’s grave.
Lt Charles Richard Magrath Godwin: Born 6 July 1891. An engineer trained at Royal Military College, Kingston. Enlisted in September 1914. Killed in action on 4 April 1916. From the circumstances of death records: “Whilst with a party consisting of a Sergeant and three signallers, being guided over a telephone line, in the vicinity of Ypres salient, by a member of a Royal Artillery Unit, which was to be relieved, he was killed instantly when the party was caught in a salvo of enemy 5.9 shells.”
Until his coming again. His brother John buried Plot 1-Row E-Grave 14
Lt John Lockhart Godwin Born Sept 20, 1889. After earning a BA at University of Mount Allison, he worked as a civil servant on the House of Commons staff. Enlisted in March 1915. Killed in action on 8 July 1916. From the circumstances of death records: “He was killed by an enemy shell in the vicinity of Armagh Wood, whilst arranging for a bombardment which was to take place at midnight.”
Until his coming again. His brother Magrath buried Plot 1-Row A-Grave 16
The brothers are remembered together in three places in the Ottawa area: on a tablet (pictured) at allsaints (formerly All Saints Anglican Church) on Chapel St at the corner of Laurier Ave E, on their grandparents’ gravestone in Olmstead’s Cemetery (Aylmer, QC) and at Lisgar Collegiate.
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