Pilot Officer William Leslie Goodale

William Leslie Goodale was a Freemason and member of Lodge Temperance 2557 who served in the 2nd World War. A letter to the Provincial Grand Secretary of Northumberland from WBro John Sowerby, Secretary, and dated 7th November 1947 attached a list of the names and service of forty three Brethren and Brother William is shown as serving in the Royal Air Force

At the Lodge Temperance 2557 meeting held at the Royal Assembly Rooms, Westgate Road, on 15th April 1935 William was proposed by WBro Mark Glynn and seconded by WBro James Baikie, Secretary, as a fit and proper person to be made a Freemason.

He was a 25 year old Motor Mechanic with the Royal Air Force residing at 15, Oxford Street, Whitley Bay.  A successful ballot was held the following month on 20th May and he was initiated into the mysteries and privileges of Ancient Freemasonry on 16th September 1935. He was passed to the second or Fellowcraft degree on 29th October 1935 and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on 16th December 1935.

William was born on 30th December 1907 in Gateshead to George Frederick William and Eva Mary Goodale. Dad George was a drapers clerk from Stockton in County and Eva Mary also from Stockton. George was also a Freemason and member of Lodge Temperance 2557 having been initiated on 25th July 1918 and Master of the Lodge in 1932. He married Eva Mary Laing in 1906 in Guisborough, North Yorkshire and they had at least 7 children:

  • William Leslie (30/12/1907 – 02/1987)
  • Marjory (02/10/1909 – 02/05/1972)
  • Norman b 1912
  • Vera (6/10/1913 – 25/03/1988)
  • Edna Mary (04/1916 – 10/1916)
  • Irene (07/05/1918 – 12/01/1988)
  • George Frederick (15/07/1920 – 29/01/1988)

William enlisted in the Royal Air Force on 11th September 1923, service number 363965 and appears to have made a career in the air force.

He married Winifred Mary Petts in 1937 in Thirsk, North Yorkshire and they had at least 3 children:

  • Peter W. b 1938
  • Audrey M. b 1940
  • John M b 1945

By 1939 William and Winifred were living in Cannock, Staffordshire where William was a Corporal fitter at the RAF’s No 6 School of Technical Training based at RAF Hednesford. This was an RAF base established in 1938 and located near Hednesford, Staffordshire, just south of Cannock Chase where Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm mechanics received technical training on a variety of airframes and engines.

He was assigned to the RAF’s Administrative and Special Duties Branch (ASD) which had a number of specialised sub divisions covering such activities as Administrative, Intelligence, Marine Craft, Physical Training, Operations Room, Defence, Catering and Mechanical Transport where William was working.

On 24th Dec 1942 he was promoted to Flight Sergeant, a senior non-commissioned rank above chief technician and below warrant officer. Then on 24th June 1943 he received a commission as a Pilot Officer for the duration of the war.

William died in February 1987 aged 79 in Bridlington, Humberside.