Private Golder was born in Avon Dassett. Before enlisting he was a groom/gardener. He was married to Ethel Amy and had two sons Godfrey and Alec.

He enlisted, aged 31 in 3rd Royal Warwickshire Regiment on 17th February 1917 and was with the British Expeditionary Force in France where he was then posted to 16th Battalion the Royal Warwickshire regiment. He received a gun shot would to his right thigh in September 1918. He served for three years and 73 days and received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.