Goddard, Fred
A Brave Methodist Officer: It is now possible to record the heroic details of a brave deed performed last year by Flying Officer Fred Goddard R.A.F., B.Sc. formerly of King’ s College, London and Westminster College. Answering a call for help, he clambered two hundred feet down a cliff face to the rocks below, where an American ship was being dashed to pieces during a violent storm, off an island in the Mediterranean. One hundred and five Americans and forty-five German prisoners were saved.
Flying Officer Goddard was leaning forward to rescue a prisoner who had slipped when a great wave swept him out to sea. He was seen struggling in the water for two-and-a-half hours, but all efforts to save him failed. His body was recovered some weeks later, and he was buried with full honours, American officers acting as pall bearers. Among the many letters of sympathy received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. Goddard, of Oldham was one from the King and one from Air Vice Marshall, Sir Hugh P. Lloyd then commanding the Allied Air Coastal Forces in the Mediterranean. Methodist Recorder 16.03.1944:
Biographical
| Surname(s) | Goddard |
|---|---|
| First name(s) | Fred |
| Date of birth | 15 October 1915 |
| Family details | Son of George and Mary Ellen Goddard, of Hollingwood, Oldham, Lancashire |
| College | King's College London and/or King's College London Hospital |
| Dates at college | 1936-1939 |
| Dept / course | Faculty of Science |
| Qualifications | B.Sc. Lond. |
| Military unit | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
| Service number | 114781 |
| War / conflict | World War Two (1939-1945) |
| Date of death | 26/02/1944 |
| Age at death | 28 |
| Rank at death | Flying Officer |
| Cause of death | Drowned while assisting in a rescue. |
| Burial place | Naples War Cemetery, Italy |
| Commemoration(s) | King’ s College Chapel |
| Sources | King’ s College London Archives; Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Methodist Recorder |