Major James Goodrick RA

Major James Goodrick, Royal Artillery , was born in Hull, 15 January 1917, educated at Hull, later Hull Grammar School, trained as a newspaper printer and reporter.
Called up (drafted) 1939, as private soldier. Send to Officer Training Unit (OCTU) Marske and elsewhere, thence Tyne Castle, coastal defences, moved as Captain to Spurn, promoted to Major c 1943 and was in command Spurn Coastal defences including Bull Sand Fort and Haile Sand Forts in the River Humber. Shore based guns included 6 inch and 9.7 inch former World War One WW1 ship based guns reallocated to coast batteries. The unit was supported by Kilnsea Anti Aircraft Battery. Overall command for was Col Page. (Later Haltemprice Councillor c 1963 - Willerby - Kirkella)
Major Goodrick was reposted to Columbo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in approx 1943 and served in command coastal / harbour defences until cessation May 1945.
Major Goodrick travelled to India on a troop ship via the Suez Canal. This would have been a danagerous jourbey for the troops due to German surface raiders and submarines. The allies were very worried about an attack on Idia and Ceylon by the Japanese.
Major Goodrick was married to Annie (b 1913) d. 2000. (father Ernest Windsor, from Bradford, killed WW1 verdun 1915, buried Calais, France)
James & Annie had a son John Anthony Goodrick 02 Sept 1939, d 1977, (link head teacher Middleton on the Wolds Scholl c 1968 and Carr Lane Primary, Willerby, nr Hull, 1975-1977.)
Mrs Annie Goodrick and son John lived 47 Faversham Ave, Anlaby, nr Hull throughout the War (WW2) spending many nights in the Anderson Shelter in the back garden. This shelter often filled with water to 1 foot deep. They were not bomber out but many people in Hull were. A peice of "schrapnel" did once hit the back door. Many houses in the area were shaken badly by the constant firing of the Costello (Play Fields) anti aircraft batteries trying every night and day to shoot down German aircarft (bombers) particularly in 1942.
The docks and surrounding areas in Hull were very badly damaged by bombs and many people were killed , c 3000 people were killed and thousands injured with thousands of homes and buildings destroyed between 1940 and 1942 and after.
The job of the coastal defences was to stop enemy naval action against shipping in the North Sea / River Humber entrance and to destroy explosive mines dropped in the River by German aircarft.
This was important work as the docks at Grimsby, Immingham, Hull and Goole etc were vital to the war effort as were the local industries which including ship building and marine engineering.
Major Goodrick returned home to the UK at the end of 1945 and resumed his work as a freelance journalist and radio / TV correspondent. James Goodrick lives on today (July 2005) in retirement in Hull now aged nearly 89 and very fit.
Annie and James had four children.

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