Private, Royal Army Medical Corp.
3rd London Divisional Field Ambulance
Attached To: 85th (1/3rd London) Field Ambulance
Born: August 24th 1890
Died: September 28th 1915
Age at Death: 25
Killed in action, France, September 28th 1915
Magdalen College, Oxford First Class Maths.
Son of T.E. Goodyear of Bromley, Kent.
Grave Reference: France - Loos British Cemetery, Pas de Calais
A donation to the memorial statue has been made in honour of this soldier by Christopher Bradley-Hole (Al. 1964-69).
Kenneth Goodyear was born on 24 August 1890 in Bromley, Kent. He was the only child of Thomas Goodyear, a chartered accountant, and his wife Lizzie (née Kedell). There are few records of Goodyear’s time at the College but he was evidently academically successful because he subsequently went up to Magdalen College, Oxford, to read Mathematics, graduating with a 1st-class degree in 1914. He was also a noted young photographer, who had exhibited his photographs in London.
On the outbreak of war Goodyear, instead of training to be an officer (possibly for reasons of conscience) volunteered for service with the RAMC ambulance service. He was posted to 3rd Division Field Ambulance unit and arrived in France on 16 January 1915 as part of 85th Field Ambulance Company. While on home leave, later in 1915, he married Nancy Martin. He was killed instantly by enemy shellfire while stretcher-bearing at Vermelles during the Battle of Loos, on 28 September 1915.
Goodyear is buried in Barts Alley Cemetery, Loos, France. His father paid a significant amount for a memorial window in the extension of the College Chapel, depicting St Joseph, St Peter, St John and a pelican – a symbol included in the Brighton College crest.
Brighton College Memorial Window - Brighton College Chapel
Description: stained glass window, left light depicts St Joseph, centre light St Peter and a Pelican, right light depicts St John
Inscription: TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF KENNETH CHARLES GOODYEAR/ KILLED AT VERMELLES SEPTEMBER 28TH 1915 WHILE SERVING IN THE R.A.M.C./ WHOSOEVER WILL BE CHIEF AMONG YOU LET HIM BE YOUR SERVANT. MATT 20-27