Philip Thomas Godsal

Lore & Background

Godsal began his military career in 1870 with the 52nd Light Infantry in Malta and became Inspector of Musketry. He was a noted marksman at Bisley Ranges and was chosen for the British team in international matches, including against America in 1882, which Britain won. He left the army by 1881 and served as adjutant of the Eton College Volunteers until 1897. His shooting trophies included the Cambridge University Cup, which he won with a score of 418, a record unbroken until 1912 when his own son Philip surpassed it. Together, Godsal and his son Philip were on the winning Elcho Shield team eight times.

Godsal also pursued rifle design, submitting a prototype during the 1880s when a small-bore magazine rifle was sought to replace the Martini-Henry, but his submission was late and the Lee-Metford was chosen. He continued developing rifles based on a travelling block principle for twenty years, including an anti-tank rifle in World War I, but none were adopted. As a historian, he wrote several books, including 'The Storming of London and the Thames Valley Campaign' (1908), which argued that Teutonic invaders seized London after the Battle of Crayford and controlled the Thames. He also hypothesized that the English adopted St George as patron saint due to confusion with the Old English word 'geogeara' (bygone days). His other works include 'Woden's, Grim's and Offa's Dykes' (1913), 'Mona Badonicus, the battle of Bath' (1914), and 'The Conquests of Ceawlin, The second Bretwalda' (1924).

Godsal married Ellen Henrietta Parke in 1879; they had eight children. His son Commander Alfred Godsal was killed commanding HMS Vindictive during the Second Ostend Raid on May 9, 1918. Two other children, Walter Hugh Godsal and Margaret Louisa Godsal, died during World War I. His eldest son, Captain Philip Godsal, escaped from a prisoner of war camp in Germany and returned safely to Britain. Godsal served as a magistrate and was appointed High Sheriff of Flintshire in 1901.

Reader's Guide

Philip Thomas Godsal's significance lies in his multifaceted career as a soldier, marksman, inventor, and historian. As a marksman, he was among the elite of his era, representing Britain internationally and setting a record with the Cambridge University Cup that stood for over three decades. His rifle designs, though never adopted, reflect a sustained effort to improve military small arms, particularly through a travelling block mechanism. His historical works, while speculative, contributed to early 20th-century studies of the Anglo-Saxon conquest, notably his theory about the origin of St George as England's patron saint. Godsal's legacy also includes his family's military service, with two sons killed in World War I and another son's daring escape from captivity. His appointment as High Sheriff of Flintshire underscores his standing as a landowner and magistrate. Overall, Godsal exemplifies the Victorian and Edwardian ideal of the gentleman-scholar-soldier, active in both practical and intellectual pursuits.