225605 RSM Thomas Goodier British Army 6th Btn? South Lancashire Regiment from:Warrington My grandfather served in the first world war in Galipoli. At the end of the First World War he signed on again. When I asked my father why he would do this the reply was that he had been an iron moulder in a Warrington factory before the war and had no wish to return to his old job in civvy street. My father felt that, despite the horrors of war, he had enjoyed travelling and had no desire for the dirt and grime of an ironworks.
He later served in Ireland, where he met my grandmother, and eventually rose to the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major. He stayed with the regiment until 1945 and later become caretaker of the Drill Hall at Warrington for many years.
I recall him quite well, I was ten years old when he died. My father was a serving soldier by then and we were in Germany so I didn't see him at the end of his life. I do recall that he had severe asthma and he said that this was due to being gassed during the first war - I have no idea if that is the case. The asthma was so severe that he would never have been allowed in the army with such a disability so whatever the cause it occurred later in life.
I wish I had known more about him and his time as a soldier. As my father was also a career soldier we didn’t see as much of Grandad as we would have liked but he probably would not have told us very much in any case.
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