Harry's Story.
Woodward Harry
The Weaverham “Roll of Honour” records ten Woodward lads, including one lad who is named on the “Fallen” Memorial, H. (Harry)Woodward Cpl.
Checking the Brunner Mond “Roll of Honour” booklet a Harry Woodard is listed with the Winnington Works lads, 10th Cheshires, having paid the Supreme Sacrifice therefore should be on the Company Memorial at Winnington.
Cheshirebmd records 100 births for children named Woodward, in the years 1880/1900 just in the Weaverham District, half of whom will be girls. This gives a large number of lads to try and match up with those listed on the R.o.H..
Northwich Guardian Article 15th Oct. 1915, P5/C4; WEAVERHAM MAN’S CHERRY MESSAGE “EVERY LAD WILL DO HIS DUTY.”
Pte. Woodward whose home is at 30 Church St. Weaverham writes to us from the front as follows; “I have just had the pleasure of reading the Northwich Guardian and although I have read it for many weeks past I have not yet seen anything in it alluding to the 10th Cheshires. I now take the pleasure of informing you a little as to how we are going on. I expect you are aware that there many Northwich and district lads among our lot and also Stockport and Runcorn lads, which we find the best of pals that ever a chap could wish for. After a good twelve months hard training we have at last got the opportunity to have a “Go” at the Germans and I don’t think there is a lad amongst us but what will do his duty to the last. We are at present in very comfortable billets just behind the firing line and are quite happy and content, as all the British soldiers are over here. I think we are having our baptism of fire, for we can hear quite plainly the rifle fire and the machine gun and artillery fire for shells are screaming over us as I write this letter, though none of them have dropped around us so far. By the time you receive this I shall be showing the Germans what the Cheshires can do, for our lads are all in good fighting form and will uphold the honour of the good old Regiment and the Country. Hoping you will publish this little bit from the 10th.”
(Which Woodward lad sent in the letter? He was with the 10th Bn. Cheshires and had only just been posted across to France, Sept. 1915. Harry is the likely lad.)
N.A.M.C. - record a Harry Woodhead with the Cheshire Regiment No. 13111, Private. Harry was K.I.A. 21st May 1916. His Theatre of War was France and his date of Entry was 26th Sept. 1915. Harry’s family will have received his British, Victory and 15 Star medals.
C.W.G.C. - The Commonwealth War Graves record Harry’s death at ECOIVRES MILITARY CEMETERY, MONT-ST. ELOI. Location Pas de Calais, France. Private Woodward Harry, Service No 1/13111 died 21/05/1916, aged 20. 10th Bn. Cheshire Regiment. Son of Samuel and Kate Woodward of Weaverham, Nr. Northwich, Cheshire. Inscription; “MIDNIGHT STARS SHINE ON THE GRAVE OF ONE WE LOVED BUT COULD NOT SAVE.”
Some of Harry’s service documents are available to view, which confirms he was with the 10th Bn. Cheshire Reg’t. No 13111. Harry was attested on the 31st Aug. 1914 in Northwich. He was 19yr 2m old, he was single and his “Calling” was a Labourer. Harry’s medical which was at Hartford records his height at 5ft 11inch, his weight at 131lbs and his girth 36inch. His physical development was “Good”. Harry’s first posting was on the 15th Sept. 1914 (Pte.) appointed L/Cpl. 8th April 1915 then reverted to Private on the 20th Sept. 1915 for overstaying his leave. He joined the Exp. Force for France on the 26th Sept. 1915. There is reference to Harry having 4 days in hospital for a septic arm 2nd May 1915 to the 5th May 1915. Harry was killed in action on the 21st May 1916. The following prints are information on Harry’s family, mum, dad, two brothers and a sister and the document which mother has signed, acknowledging receipt of Harry’s 15 Star medal.
Northwich Guardian 1916, 2nd June, (P5/C4);
Mr. and Mrs. S. Woodward, of 20 Church Street Weaverham, were informed on Sunday in a letter from the front that their son, Private Harry Woodward, had been killed in action. The news was conveyed to them by the officer of the deceased’s platoon, who wrote as follows:- “Dear Mrs Woodward. It is with the deepest sorrow I have to inform you of the death of your son, Harry, in action. He was hit by shrapnel which fractured his skull and he passed away without pain. On behalf of his platoon I wish to express our deepest sympathy for you in your sad bereavement. Your son died in the execution of his duty, to which, in his life, he was so devoted and I trust you will find consolation in that fact. I assure you I cannot speak too highly of him, he was always cheerful and willing and a credit to his platoon and we all admired the manner in which he gave his life for his country.” Before joining the Army, Private Woodward was in the employ of Brunner Mond and Co. at Winnington. He was 20 years of age and if his life had been spared he would have celebrated his 21st birthday on Sunday next, the 4th Inst. Along with several old school chums from Weaverham he enlisted the month the war began and went out to the Front with his regiment in September last. As a boy he was a chorister at the Parish Church and he had continued his connection with the Sunday School, being a member of the Young Men’s Class conducted by Mr. C. E. Bebbington. He was formerly in the local company of Boy Scouts, of which Mr. Chetwynd is the officer. Mr. Woodward has another son with the Colours, the deceased’s elder brother, Corporal Samuel Woodward, who also enlisted in the early stages of the war and is a dispatch rider, having previously acted as a chauffeur at Brunner Mond’s works. Corporal Woodward was home on furlough from the front a fortnight ago and returned to duty on Monday, the 22nd inst., the day before his brother was killed.
Guardian Article dated 1916 9th June P5/C6 WEAVERHAM HERO TRIBUTE TO LATE LANCE CORPORAL WOODWARD.
The parents of Lance-Corporal Woodward of Church Street, Weaverham, who was amongst the fallen heroes of the Cheshire Regiment a fortnight ago, have received the following letter from the brigade chaplain (Rev. G. M. Evans). “As the Church of England chaplain to the Brigade I write to express to you and your family my deepest sympathy in the loss of your son No. 13111 Lance-Corporal H. Woodward. I knew your son very well and I know how well prepared he was to meet God. He was perhaps the keenest and most regular worshipper at the Holy Communion in his regiment. I remember well how once out here we had a communion service at an inconvenient hour on a very wet day and your son was the only one to turn up for it. He lived like a good Christian and he died like a brave solider. As I expect you have heard he lies in a beautiful cemetery a short way behind the firing line. A handsome cross has been erected over his grave and it will be always carefully attended.”
“I know well what a blow this must be to you all but I pray that God may give you strength to hear it and that you may find comfort in the thought that your lad died nobly for King and country.”
The parents have also received a letter from his Commanding Officer of the Regiment expressing his sincere sympathy with them.
Researched Bob Heaton