John George Woodcock
1911 - horseman on a farm.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
John George was born in 1888 in Winkburn and was the son of George and Emma Woodcock, (née Walker).
His father George was born in 1856 in Eakring and his mother Emma Walker in 1859, also in Eakring. They were married in 1878 (reg. Southwell) and had 15 children, three of whom died in infancy or early childhood. Their surviving 12 children were William b. 1882 who was born in Rufford, and Clara b. 1884, Annie b. 1886, Florence b. 1887, John George b. 1888, Minnie b. 1890, Henry b. 1893, Alfred b. 1894, David b. 1895, Arthur b. 1897, Rose b. 1899 and Walter b. 1903, who were all born in Winkburn.
The family was living at Manor Farm Cottages, Rufford, in 1911: George (53), a farm foreman, Emma (52) and six of their children, Henry (18) a horseman on the farm, Alfred (17), David (15) and Arthur (14), all of whom were farm labourers, and Rose (12) and Walter (8) who were scholars.
John George (21) was working as a horseman at Rufford Hill Farm near Ollerton, and living with the farmer, Richard George Bower and his family. His sister Minnie (20) had also left home and was a domestic servant living and working at 330 Mansfield Road, Nottingham, for James Bell, a bonded warehouse clerk, and his family.
John married Rosa Ingall (b. 11 April 1893), the daughter of Frederick and Rebecca Ingall, in 1917 (JAS Nottingham).
The WW1 Pension record gives his widow Rosa's address as 792 Woodborough Road, Mapperley, Nottingham; the home of her mother, Rebecca Handford (formerly Ingall). Rosa was awarded a pension of 13 shillings and 9 pence with effect from 1st September 1919.
Rosa did not remarry and was recorded on the 1939 England & Wales Register living with her married sister, Eleanor Hartley and her husband, at Eastbourne Road, Liverpool. Rosa Woodcock died in 1976 (reg. JAS Fleetwood Lancs), a few months after the death of her sister Eleanor.
Gunner John George Woodcock served with 'D' Battery, 106th Brigade Royal Field Artillery.
He died of pneumonia at No. 51 Casualty Clearing Station on 17 February 1919 and was buried in Tournai Communal Cemetery Allied Extension, Hainault, Belgium (grave ref. IV.F.12).
His brother, Private Harry Woodcock 8th Bn Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action on 15 July 1916 and is commemorated on the Theipval Memorial. (See record on this Roll of Honour).
Their brother-in-law, Frederick Ingall, 41372 Rifleman, 13th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles, was killed in action on 1 November 1916. Frederick's brother, Richard Ingall, served in the Royal Army Service Corps (M2/13059 Private), and was demobilised in July 1919; he was suffering from diabetes and died of a heart attack on 19 December 1920. Although Richard is not registered on the CWGC database both he and Frederick are commemorated on the Mapperley (Nottingham) War Memorial. (See records on this Roll of Honour).
Nottingham Evening Post,'Roll of Honour', 17 February 1921: 'Woodcock. In loving memory of my dear husband, who died in France February 17th, 1919. Some time I shall understand. Rosa. Fondly remembered by mother.'
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 28 February 1919: 'Woodcock. On the 17th inst., in France, the beloved husband of Rosa Woodcock, aged 29 years. From sorrowing wife [Rosa]'
Above courtesy Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War HucknalL 1914-1918
Photo of John George Woodcock
Tournai Communal Cemetery Allied Extension (www.cwgc.org)