A ‘trailblazing’ Army officer has died aged just 28 after a car crash on Friday.
‘Tough and talented’ Captain Elizabeth Godwin was the first female officer of the Life Guards, which is part of of the Household Cavalry.
Paying tribute, Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Tom Armitage said she was ‘talented, resourceful and compassionate’.
He said: ‘History may record Lizzie as the first female officer in the Army’s most senior regiment, but I know she would want to be recalled simply as a tough and talented young officer doing her utmost to serve King and country and to lead and inspire soldiers.
‘Her sudden and untimely death leaves a huge void for all of us in the Household Cavalry family and she will be remembered by us all as a lively, fun and dynamic officer with a very bright future ahead of her.’
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Captain Godwin had served in high profile ceremonial duties including the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, and the King’s coronation after joining the Life Guards in 2020.
She won the Sword of Honour at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as the best of her intake, and played polo and hockey for the Army.
At the time of her death she was serving in the Army Training Regiment in Pirbright.
Captain Godwin, who grew up in Devon and attended Exeter School, described leading a troop of 29 in an interview with British magazine Tatler in 2023 issue.
‘No matter what, you have to have a confident front, because if you don’t believe in yourself, nobody else will,’ she said.
Speaking about the King’s coronation, she said: ‘I remember really looking forward to (it) and feeling so privileged.
‘I had fortunately finished my equine training so that I would be in a privileged position to ride in the coronation.’
There was a fatal crash at around 8pm on September 5 on the A322 Lightwater Bypass in Surrey.
Police have not yet stated the identity of the victim in this accident, with formal identification due to take place tomorrow.
They appealed for witnesses to the collision, which happened between the M3 junction and the red road roundabout, and involved a silver Nissan and a silver BMW.
‘Sadly, and despite the best efforts of paramedics, one of the drivers, a woman in her 20s, was declared deceased at the scene and her next of kin have been informed,’ police said.
‘The other driver, a 30-year-old man from Bracknell, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and being unfit to drive through alcohol.
‘The road was closed in both directions but has since fully opened.’
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