In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar

GODFREY, Ingram Paul - the son of Cortland Drew Godfrey and Hilda Mary Kelley, was born on 12 Aug 1913, at Neath, Glamorgan, Wales. A journalist by occupation, Godfrey parlayed his membership in the Cardiff Aeroplane Club into a commission in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve as a pilot at the onset of the Second World War  Enlisting on 16 September 1939 (Service number O-27592), his war record boasts a succession of postings and promotions within the Fleet Air Arm: promoted Lt, 16 September 1940; to 806 Squadron, H.M.S. Illustrious, the flagship of the British Fleet, 11 August 1940; one of a number of pilots who provided air cover at the Battle of Taranto, 11-12 November 1940; to 759 Training Squadron (then 761 Squadron) as instructor, H.M.S. Heron, Yeovil, England, 10 June 1941; to 806 Squadron, H.M.S. Illustrious, as Commanding Officer, 22 April 1942, in the Indian Ocean and where he was shot down over Madagascar in 1943; to the troop carrier H.M.S. Ranchi, 21 January 1943, in the Indian Ocean; to 748 Squadron, H.M.S. Vulture, Cornwall, England, as instructor, 14 April 1943; to 610 Squadron, H.M.S. Daedalus, 27 April 1943; to H.M.S. Cormorant, Gibraltar (Algeria), 31 May 1943, where he wrote the Air Fighting Instruction Manual on Search and Shadow; seconded to 501 Squadron (R.A.F.), June-July 1943, including sorties over France; to Gibraltar, July-September 1943; to 1770 Squadron as Commanding Officer, H.M.S. Heron, 10 September 1943; seconded to H.M.S. Puncher, a Canadian vessel serving the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Arctic theatres, 23 April 1944, and where he obtained his Watchkeeping Certificate; promoted Acting LCdr, 31 March 1945; to H.M.S. Pretoria Castle, 1 July 1945; awarded the M.B.E., 11 December 1945; then released from active duty, 6 January 1946.

After a period of service with 1832 Squadron, R.N.V.R. Permanent Force, as Commanding Officer, from 1 July 1947 to 6 December 1948, and looking to make a career of naval service, LCdr Godfrey accepted a short service engagement to fill a temporary gap in senior leadership with the Royal Canadian Navy, at H.M.C.S. Niobe, London, England, 22 December 1948; to H.M.C.S. Shearwater, 23 February 1949; to H.M.C.S. Bytown, Ottawa, as Deputy Director of Air Logistics, 3 April 1950; promoted to Cdr, 1 July 1951; to H.M.C.S. Niobe, 24 August 1951, as Staff Officer (Air) to the Naval Member Canadian Joint Staff; to CANAVBRIT, London, 1 April 1953, as Staff Officer (Air); applied for, accepted, then ultimately withdrew offer of a permanent commission, October-November 1953; having completed his short service engagement, transferred to the R.C.N.(R.), H.M.C.S. Scotian (not to join), Halifax, 21 December, 1953, while remaining in England; then finally released from the Active List, 10 April 1958. During his eighteen years of naval air service, Cdr Godfrey accumulated in excess of 1,200 hours of flying time.

Godfrey married Peggy Rita Isobel Fallows of Vancouver, B.C., at Westminster, Middlesex, on 11 June 1947. Godfrey died c. Dec 1962 at Brighton, England. Godfrey appears to have been entitled to the Arctic Star and the Canadian Forces Decoration. His entitlement to the Burma Star has not been verified, although his presence in Ceylon may have qualified him for that medal.

Ships served in:

HMCS NIOBE

HMCS SHEARWATER

HMCS BYTOWN

HMCS NIOBE

HMCS SCOTIAN

(IPG001) Awards and Decorations:  Order of the British Empire; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; Italy Star; Defence Medal; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45.

(IPG002a-IPG002b) Service file for Paul Godfrey - parts 1 and 2

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