MAJOR HOWARD GOODYEAR (1906-1912 : 21), Private, 6th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, was the son of Mr Frederick Goodyear of Mount Park, Wombourne.  On leaving school he entered the engineering works of W Goodyear & Sons Limited, first acquiring knowledge of the commercial side and then taking up the practical work.  As soon as war broke out he applied for a commission, but his eyesight was not thought sufficiently good.  A second application being likewise rejected, he found satisfaction in taking charge of a section of the works that produced howitzer wheels; and here his organising ability effected such results as more than once earned the special commendation of the Ministry of Munitions.  Some time later he enlisted in the South Staffords.  Trained at Lincoln, he was drafted to France.  There he was gassed and had to spend four months in hospital at Rouen, after which he was much in the danger area of the front lines until he met his death on September 5th 1918, “gallantly storming a trench”, to use the words of his Colonel.  He had a genial, loving nature that won the affection and esteem of those among whom he worked, a fact that is borne out by the presentation to his parents of his portrait in oils as a gift from the staff and employees of his firm.