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Sidney Godley was the first private to be awarded the Victoria Cross in World War One.

As a 25-year-old Royal Fusilier he was sent to Belgium in the opening days of the war.

On 23 August 1914 he manned a machine gun position defending Nimy Bridge in Mons and came under fire from the Germans.

Despite receiving a bullet wound to the skull and suffering shrapnel injuries to his back, Godley helped protect British forces until his position was over-run and he was captured.

Godley spent four years as a prisoner of war and had to wait until 1919 to receive his medal from King George V.

After the war Sidney became a caretaker at a school in the East End of London.

He died in 1957, aged 68, and was buried with full military honours at Loughton Cemetery in Essex.

In 1986, William Holbrook, who had served with Godley at Mons was interviewed about his memories of serving with the VC winner.

Location: Cranbrook Street, Bethnal Green, London E2
Image: Private Sidney Godley VC, courtesy of IWM

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