Died
15 or 16 April 1941
Born
Nellie: 21 August 1871
Mabel: 8 September 1897
Sources
Ancestry
CWGC
Bryn Trescatheric "Barrow Blitz" Dock Museum 2009
Place
Walks
Themes
Nellie and Mabel Goude
Blitz Victims
In
Loving Memory of
ROBERT GOUDE
Died 7th July 1940
Also NELLIE His Wife
And MABEL Their Daughter
Both Killed By Enemy Action
April 15th 1941
Also
WILLIAM ERNEST BONNER
Died 27th August 2001
Aged 90 Years
Also His Loving Wife
ELSIE BONNER
(née GOUDE)
Died 9th Jan. 2003 Aged 89 Years
On the Commonwealth War Graves Commission list, Nellie’s full name is given as Ellen Jane Goude, and the date of death 16th April 1941.
Robert Goude married Nellie Taylor in the third quarter of 1896, in Barrow-in-Furness.
The Goude family home at 4 Union Street was one of several destroyed by enemy action on the night of the 15th/16th April 1941. Locally-born historian Bryn Trescatheric reports that this was due to a land mine. Nellie Goude, a widow, was aged 69, and her unmarried daughter Mabel, was 44. About seventeen people died in Union Street (figures vary) including six at no. 8 and three at No. 10. (Trescatheric “The Barrow Blitz” p12) News reports during WW2 omitted most details, thinking that it could be of use to enemy agents. Thus, while the North Western Daily Mail published pictures of the destruction, they were not identified by street, or even by town: simply as ‘Bomb damage in a North West town’. Barrovians, of course, knew what had been done, and where. Death notices in the NWDM listed couples to be buried together, a sign of common tragedy befalling the household.
1939 Register
In the 1939 Register 4 Union Street is occupied by Robert Goude (DoB 6 May 1873), Steel Works Labourer (Retired); Ellen J. Goude (DoB 21 August 1871), unpaid Domestic Duties; Mabel Goude (DoB 8 September 1897) Unpaid Domestic Duties; Elsie Bonner (DoB 20 June 1913), Unpaid Domestic Duties; (next record redacted) and Robert Goude (DoB 20 November 1903), House painter. Next door at 2 Union Street was Dorothy Goude (DoB 2 July 1907), followed by 4 redacted records.
1911 Census
Ancestry tells us that the Goude’s were living at 4 Union Street, Barrow at the time of the 1911 Census. The household consisted of Robert Goude (37), Head, Rail Loader (Steelworks), born Whittlesea (sic – should be Whittlesey) Cambs.; Nellie Goude (39), Wife, born Barrow-in-Furness, Lancs; Mabel Goude (13), At School; Norman Goude (12) At School; Robert Goude (7) At School; Nellie Goude (4), all born Barrow-in-Furness, Lancs. At this point, Robert & Nellie had produced 6 children, 2 of whom had died.
1901 Census
In the 1901 Census the family had been living at 25 Brewery Street, Barrow. Robert, Nellie, Mabel and Norman have the same detail, and there is also Sidney (1 Month), and 2 Boarders, John Melling (60), Ship’s Engine Fitter, and Elizabeth Melling (55), Wife, both born Bolton, Lancs.
National Probate Calendar
The National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1947 has GOUDE Ellen Jane of 4 Union-street Barrow-in-Furness Lancashire died 16 April 1941 Administration Lancaster 25 October to Nellie Warman (wife of Harry Warman) and Elsie Bonner (wife of William Ernest Bonner). Effects £180 15s. Note that it had taken 6 years for Probate to be granted.
Norman Goude’s WW1 Military Service records can be seen on Ancestry.
