In Memory of

Corporal William Woodcock

201429
"C" Company 2nd/4th South Lancashire Regiment
Killed In Action 16th March 1917 Age 19

William was the eldest son of Mr. J. H. and Mrs. E. A. Woodcock of 3, Park View, Mill Lane, Newton-le-Willows. As a boy he attended St. Peter’s Schools, and prior to enlisting on February 1st 1915 he worked for Mr Robert Stone at Newton Park. His father was employed by the District Council in the Cemetery Department.

William went out to France on February 15th 1917, so was killed after only a month’s foreign service. According to a letter in the obituary published in the Newton and Earlestown Guardian on March 30th 1917, “he was on duty with his party at an observation post when he was shot through the head by a sniper. He was blood of the best British calibre.”

He is buried in Ration Farm Military Cemetery, La Chapelle-D’Armentieres in Plot III Row B Grave 5. The cemetery is on the south-eastern outskirts of Armentieres. While there are now more than a thousand First World War graves in the cemetery, William is almost certainly one of the original burials.