The Goddard Collection

 

The Goddard Collection is a small but significant collection of Royal Army Medical Officer uniform and equipment dating to the Boer and First World Wars. This includes a beautiful and largely complete surgeon's kit in a named, wooden box and lined with blue velvet. Although we have several of these at the museum, none are in such good condition or named for the owner. The uniform is also in particularly good condition and includes a WW1 trenchcoat, a dress helmet in its original tin, a large metal trunk that was used to ship the uniform and kit to Africa and France, a pair of leather boots, and Goddard's dress uniform, amongst other items.

 

Goddard was born in 1873 and received his commission in February 1899. He was made Lieutenant Colnol in 1915 and given command of the Field Ambulance stations in France, during which time he was involved in the redesign of casulaty clearing stations (triage). Goddard was awarded the DSO in 1917 and was mentioned in the Birthday Honours List. Goddard was wounded at Paavdeberg. He was made a Knight of Grace in 1923 and held this honour for 25 years.

 

Lt. Col. Goddard was made Officer in Command of the military hospital at Norton Barracks in October 1923, a post he held for for ten years. He became the chairman of the Worcester/Bromsgrove division of the British Medical Association in 1936. He died in April 1948 and some of his family live in the Worcestershire area still.

 

The inside of the surgery kit. Caricature of Goddard drawn by a friend.