He was born at Plas Fron, Wrexham, Denbighshire in 1850, the son of Philip William Godsal, of Iscoyd Park, Flintshire, and Charlotte Harriet Garth.
He enjoyed a considerable career at Bisley Ranges, and was chosen to be part of the British team at various international matches including against America in 1882, where Britain won.
Godsal was a famous shot in his day, and his trophies included the Cambridge University Cup which he won after achieving a score of 418, unbroken until 1912 when he was surpassed by his own son.
[3][4] A keen historian Godsal was the author of several books, including The Storming of London and the Thames Valley Campaign a Military Study of the Conquest of Britain By the Angles.
This book set out to prove that the Teutonic invaders of Britain had seized London after the Battle of Crayford before the Britons could prepare their defences and made control of the Thames waterway the main feature of their invasion.