Harry Woodcock
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Henry, known as Harry, was born in 1893 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 the Southwell registration district in 1878 and went on to have a large family of 15 children, sadly three of the children died in infancy or early childhood. Their surviving 12 children were: William b1882 Rufford, the other children were born in Winkburn and were Clara b1884, Annie b1886, Florence b1887, John George b1888, Minnie b1890, Henry b1893, Alfred b1894, David b1895, Arthur b1897, Rose b1899 and Walter b1903. In the 1911 census John George 21 yrs had left the family home and was working as a horseman at Rufford Hill Farm, near Ollerton, and living with the farmer, Richard George Bower 30 yrs, and his family. His sister Minnie 20 yrs had also left home and was a domestic servant living and working at 330 Mansfield Road, Nottingham, in the household of James Bell 68 yrs, a bonded warehouse clerk, and his family. Meanwhile, the rest of the family was living at Manor Farm Cottages, Rufford, and shown as George 53 yrs head of the family, a farm foreman, his wife Emma 52 yrs and their children, Henry 18 yrs a horseman on the farm, Alfred 17 yrs, David 15 yrs and Arthur 14 yrs, all of whom were farm labourers, together with Rose 12 yrs and Walter 8 yrs who were scholars.
Harry enlisted in Newark; he lived in Rufford. He served with the 8th battalion Leicestershire Regiment, and landed in France on 29th July 1915. Harry was killed in action on 15th July 1916. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
His brother Gunner John George Woodcock 106th Bde Royal Field Artillery died of pneumonia on 17 February 1919 and was buried in Tournai Communal Cemetery. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Mansfield Reporter, 26 May 1916 (extract): ‘Rufford. Cricket Club. The annual general meeting was held last week … Mr J Baker, who is acting as ‘hon. sec. pro. tem., referred with much regret to the fact that two members of the club had been killed in action, namely, Jack Davis and Chris. Caudwell, both of the Sherwood Foresters.’ Other members of the club now serving with the Colours are ... Harry Woodcock (Leicesters) ... Ernest Skelton (Leicesters).' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times, 25 August 1916: ‘Rufford Cricketer is killed in France. We regret to say that official intimation reached Mr G Woodcock, Manor Farm Cottages, Rufford, at the end of last week, that his son Harry, of the 8th Leicestershire Regiment, had been killed in action in France, about a month ago. Accompanying the official notice was a letter of sympathy from Mr Lloyd George. A private letter received previously from a soldier comrade (E Skelton, also from Rufford, and in the 8th Leicesters) prepared the bereaved family for the sad intelligence, though there was a ray of hope so long as there was no official confirmation, which in this case, as in others was rather belated. It is understood that the writer of the letter referred to has since been wounded himself. Harry Woodcock was 24 years of age and enlisted at Newark in the early weeks of the war, and was at the front for more than twelve months. Prior to his enlistment he worked for Mr RG Norman, Rufford Manor farm. He was a member of the Rufford Abbey Cricket Club. This is the third member of this club who has made the great sacrifice.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 22 September 1916, with photograph: ‘Private H Woodcock, Rufford. Private Harry Woodcock, son of Mr G Woodcock, Manor Farm Cottages, Rufford, was killed on July 15th. He enlisted on Sept. 4th, 1914, and went abroad on July 15th, 1916.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
