Richard Temple Godman

Born around 1833 in Park Hatch Surrey. He joined the 5th Dragoon Guards and at the age of 21 went out to the Crimea where he took part in the charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaclava. The photo is a famous image of him as a young officer by photographer Roger Fenton. Richard wrote letters home throughout the war which are published as A Cavalryman in the Crimea: Letters Home from the Crimea by Temple Godman edited by Philip Warner (Windrush Press 1999). He also wrote up a record of the Crimea War service of the 5th Dragoon Guards but it was destroyed in a fire at Scutari. He was married to Elizabeth Mary de Crespigny and had 6 children. In 1871 he was lieutenant-colonel commanding the 5th DG. In 1881 he bought Great Ote Hall near Burgess Hill in Sussex which was a former family home. He reached the rank of major-general and was appointed Colonel of his regiment on 17th Nov 1912. Unfortunately this position lasted less than a month as he died on 11th Dec 1912.

Regimental details | Colonels | Commanding Officers

Regimental details | Colonels