I AM writing in reply to Margaret Pace’s letter about William Goodier, Guardian, September 3.

William Goodier was in the South Lancashire Regiment and was killed in action on June 14, 1917. His service number was either 31550 or 31580.

It is given differently by two sources, as is his address. One says Station Road, Wharton, but the more likely is that his mother and father, John and Ann Goodier, did live at 48 Princess Street, and his wife, Elizabeth Buckley (formerly Goodier), lived at 59 Princess Street.

Whether William lived with Elizabeth at Station Road before he was killed I do not know, but the census of 1911 might help. He is indeed commemorated at the Menin Gate, a place I have visited many times and been moved each and every time.

I am delighted that Margaret is so interested in him and I believe that we all should be interested in these brave men.

I will be appearing in a wonderful new play called Remember Them at the Harlequin Theatre in Northwich in late October written by a local brother and sister.

It concerns the poor lads shot at dawn and the poor lads who had to do the shooting, sometimes men who were their best mates.

I suggest that Guardian readers may like to come and see the play as it helps to understand the horrors of that conflict.

Alan Lowe Rudheath