The Passingford Bridge Sparrow Club

From the Essex Times, 5th February, 1870

The annual meeting of this old re-established club took place at the Talbot Inn, on Thursday last. Established more than 30 years since, at a time when the destruction of small birds was encouraged, fines were inflicted on members who failed to send in a certain number of heads yearly. The fact that fines are paid by a large majority of the members, speaks well for their higher intelligence.

These fines go towards providing the annual dinner of the members, which is preceded by trap shooting of pigeons. On this occasion sides were chosen by Messrs. Hicks and Amos, the conditions being 18 yards rise, two birds each, any bore guns, and load as you like. Rather free and easy conditions, but the sport was doubtless as much enjoyed as if under the stringent regulations of the Gun Club.

Mr. Amos’s side won one match only out of four shots.

The shooting concluded, the company adjourned to the house, where an excellent and abundant spread was provided by Host Cooper. The chair was occupied by Mr. Taylor, familiarly called “Uncle.” By most of the members present. The vice-chair was taken by Mr. Palmer, who is the secretary, and one of the oldest members. Amongst the upwards of 40 gentlemen who sat down to dinner were Messrs. Smith, Noble, and Drake, from Ongar; Basham, Hills, and Fitch from Epping; John, Jas., Wm., and R. Smith, Crawley, Palmer, junr., &c. The Chairman gave the usual loyal and patriotic toast. To that of the “Army, Navy, and Volunteers,” Priv. Smith (18th E.V.R.) returned thanks. “Success to the chase,” proposed by Mr. Taylor, to which Mr. Fitch replied.

The Chairman then proposed “The better health of Mr. Sworder,” the chairman of the club, who regretted was not able, through illness, to occupy his accustomed place on that occasion. (Drank amidst loud cheers and musical honours.) “The Chairman,” and “Vice-chairman,” “The better health of Mr. Arkwright,” and other toasts followed. Songs were sung by Messrs. Drake, F. Basham, sen. and jun., Taylor, Wederell, Nunn, Smith, Eastleigh, Noble, and the Chairman.

Altogether a pleasant day and evening were spent.

Albert Edward Godsafe of
Stapleford Tawney

Albert Edward Godsafe was born in Latchingdon, Essex in 1884, to Thomas and Eliza. Thomas was a farm labourer. At the time of the 1891 Census they were living at Little End, Stanford Rivers. Six children, including Albert are shown and it would appear from the birth places of the children that the family moved around seeking work. At the time of 1901 Census the family were living at Widford, near Chelmsford. Albert is shown as ‘working on farm.’
On the 23rd March 1907, Albert married Alice Porter at Stapleford Tawney, Essex and they were to have seven children over the next eight years:
Alice Mary (1907)
Albert Charles (1908)
Thomas Charles (1909)
William George (1911)
Beatrice Maud (1912)
Albert John (1914), and
Ethel Frances (1915).

At the 1911 Census Albert and family were living at 2 Bells Cottages, Stapleford Tawney. His occupation is shown as a domestic groom and gardener.

In January 1915, with Alice expecting their seventh child, Albert volunteered to join the army. Aged 30 years and six months, he attested on the 15th January 1915 and joined at the Grenadier Guards depot in Caterham four days later. In June that year, his daughter, Ethel Frances, was born, and the following month, possibly as a result of complications during the birth of her child, Alice, aged just 30 years, died at the Stanford Rivers infirmary.

With Albert in the army, care of the children appears to have been handed to Albert's mother, Eliza. In November 1915 Albert sailed for France and this was almost certainly the last time that he saw his family and that they saw him because on the 25th September 1916, aged 32, he was killed on the Somme whilst serving with the 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards.

Albert has no known grave.

In November 1916, Eliza Godsafe completed Army Form B.104-77 which was the "Declaration to be made by the Guardian of the Motherless child or children of a deceased soldier in support of a claim to Pension". In it, Eliza - living at Shalesmere Cottage, Stapleford Tawney - acknowledged that she was the guardian of the six orphaned children, although it is not clear what the final award amounted to. In March 1917, Ethel died, aged 21 months,.

Eliza Godsafe received £5, 7 shillings and 10 pence as money owing to her son at the time of his death, and later a war gratuity of £7 and 10 shillings. She died in 1948 aged 96, having seen her surviving grandchildren make it to adulthood. Sadly her grandson Albert John like his father before him, was killed serving his country in 1941.

Albert Edward Godsafe's name appears on the Thiepval Memorial and is also recorded on a memorial tablet at St Mary’s church Stapleford Tawney.