Victoria Cross

just been doing research and came across St Patricks Church R C and discovered a Thomas |Woodcock who attended St Patricks born 1888 , was killed in action in the 1914 war and awarded the Victoria Cross he died on 27th 1918. So if any one is researching their family of Woodcocks perhaps he belongs to your family,Marvellous what you find out going on these old shurch sites

When I traced my grandfathers grave a couple of weeks back, I took a wander round lower ince cemtery to give my mum some time alone , there are quite a few war graves there, some were very young, and most still had flowers being put on.Its nice seeing them so well kept.Also that they haven't been forgotten.

Sure I remember reading - either on here or more likely in Past Forward - an account of Thomas Woodcock; get the feeling that his story is quite well known!

Thomas Woodcock V.C

He was 29 years old, and a private in the 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 12/13 September 1917 north of Broenbeek, Belgium, when an advanced post had held out for 96 hours and was finally forced to retire, the lance-sergeant (John Moyney) in charge of the party and Private Woodcock covered the retirement. After crossing the stream themselves, Private Woodcock heard cries for help behind him - he returned and waded into the stream amid a shower of bombs and rescued another member of the party whom he carried across open ground in daylight towards our front line, regardless of machine-gun fire.

He was killed in action, Bullecourt, France, on 27 March 1918.

JJ

Thomas woodcock was my mothers Uncle,
Thomas his son used to live at martland mill in Standish lower ground.

You must be very proud of him Geoff

JJ

I am proud of anyone who as fought for their country, It just make me mad to think that todays generation dont give a dam,, and dont realise if it was'nt for people like tommy they would all be marching to school with a German arm band on!

Well said geoff.

Woodcock house, near wigan little theatre is named in his honour

Elizabeth,
Is the St Patricks Church you are talking about the one in Scholes?? If it is, do you have the website?? I have had a look but I can't find it.

freespace.virgin.net/gillian.chang/index.html Jacklaw try this.

The story of Thomas Woodcock VC of the Irish Guards.
"For Most Conspicuous Bravery....."
Thomas Woodcock was born on March 19th, 1888 in Belvoir Street, Wigan. He attended St. Patricks school and would have been one of the first boys to attend the new building added onto the old church building in 1893.
Being from a mining family, Tom became a miner himself and so was in an exempted occupation when war broke out in 1914. When the great recruitment drive came along, however, in 1915, Tom felt it his duty to go. He and some pals enlisted in the Irish Guards on the 26th May, 1915. He was soon in action in France.
It was in September 1917, when he carried out the deed which earned the highest honour this country can bestow on one of its soldiers. The official citation tells its own story and is reproduced in full below.
On the 3rd March 1918, he came home to a hero's welcome. He was given a civic reception by the Mayor and Corporation and was presented with an illuminated scroll. A few days later he was honoured by the people of his own parish at a packed meeting in St. Patricks school, lead by Fr. Swarbrick.
That very night, Tom Woodcock left to return to France and the war. It must be stressed that as a holder of the Victoria Cross he was under no obligation to return to the front line. He felt, however, that as long as his comrades were enduring the rigours of war, then he should stand alond side of them.
On March 27th 1918, a few days after his 30th birthday, this valiant son of Saint Patricks fell in battle. He lies buried in the British Military Cemetery at Douchy-les-Ayette, France.
On Remembrance Sunday in November, after the ceremony in the Parish Church Yard, Mrs. Veronica Ashton quietly lays a wreath on the section of the monument which bears the names of the Irish Guards who fell in the Great War of 1914-1918. Mrs Ashton is Thomas Woodcock's granddaughter.

I also wrote about Ronnie Walker R A F who was killed by the Gestapo in Holland and Brian did say sometime he would print the full story, I am sure there are many story's of bravery unknown by us , like this story of the Victoria Cross was to me , so it would be nice if there was site on here headed == TO THE BRAVE== you never know perhaps a yobo would come on the site and read it , you never know

Did you know there was a dog from Wigan that won the canine equivalent of the V.C.? I have the story somewhere. I'll dig it out and send it to Brian to put on the site.
I have a book about local V.C. winners. I think, off hand, there are about 3 or 4 from the Wigan area? Again I'll dig the info. out and get it on the site.

You can find information here about St Pats and Thomas Woodcock VC and about the Maypole pit disaster. Inside St Pats church there are two plaques one list all St Pats parishioners who lost their lives in the maypole the other to Thomas Woodcock VC

Saint Patricks Parish History <META NAME="content" DESCRIPTION ...

http://freespace.virgin.net/gillian.chang/histmenu.html

Jacklaw, I didnt put the site for st Patricks on to you as I saw someone else had done it before I read your message =apologies== Wiganankeeron would be interesting to read about all of them, put a abbreviated story on here , as I said originally the story of R Walker is a very long one and would tke up too much space on here starting from when he was shot down to his death

Thomas Woodcock------------------------Wigan

John Elisha Grimshaw--------------------Abram

William Keneally---------------------------Ashton

Norman Harvey----------------------------Golborne

Alfred Wilkinson---------------------------Leigh

All the above won the VC during the First world War.

For xrh59 and robbie. I have tried those sites with both Google and Ask and they produce no results. Any more suggestions?
I have double checked that I had the correct website entered.

Jacklaw first copy then paste into google.
http://freespace.virgin.net/gillian.chang/histmenu.html

Then press.
Saint Patricks Parish History <META NAME="content" DESCRIPTION ...

when it comes up on google. you should then get the St pats site. are type into your browser St patricks RC church wigan. and take it from there.

Jacklaw, just type in St Partricks church Wigan . then follow on scroll down past the Priest and click on to their website underneath the picture of the Priest

This morning i went for a walk past
St.Patricks church(not open) and went
around the corner into what was and still is really St.Patricks street just
about 25 yrds of it left now,I wanted to look at the statue of St.Patrick wich was
dedicated to the fallen of the 1914-18 war,only to be confronted by the statue
without its head.My heart sank,to think these lads didn't come home from a place worse than hell for us,And to be thanked
in this way by some mindless fool who doesn't even realise that he could do this act in a free land because of these lads.I am really angry and upset over this,I wish i could have seen them doing it,iwould have given them such a kicking
their parents would have felt it,then kicked the parents for bringing up such
creatures.

W.Y.Ron,
I think this is what you mean:
PDSA’s Dickin Medal, known as the ‘Animal Victoria Cross’.

MY blood boiled when I read about the statue is nothing sacred from these hooligans I think they should be when caught sent to some place like Alcatraz for years and let them fight amongst themselves , let them forage for food on the island or grow their own until they behave like decent people . I should think every one that fought and died for their coumntry are turning over in their graves if they have one , all the people blown to smithereens in the cause for freedom. ohhhh iI am so angry

For Robbie and Elizabeth. Thanks for your help. I did find it by typing in the name of the chuch as suggested.Unfortunatly the information I was hoping to find is not there. I am still looking for information on the Edwards family who lived in Higham St, Scholes in 1960 and I know they went to St Pats. Thanks anyway.

All good English men too,war truly is horrible.

Uncovering the trenches

Don't know if this site is of any help to anybody interested in details of WW1 it is a news story on bbc website about official documents being available online.??

Jacklaw,, Why not go on the St Patrick site and contact them and ask for what you want to know , I go to all sorts of places just asking . you never know what may turn up for you

Elizabeth
I would never have dreamt of doing that, but I will give it a try. I don't have anything to lose do I. Thanks.

i am trying to trace the woodcock family as my grandads mother was jessie woodcock but unfortunatly she passed away when he was 3years old he then lived with his auntie mary dean for a while but was eventualy placed into care the only other names i have are jessie's mother and fathers names which are mary and john woodcock who lived in fairclough street in wigan at the time jessie was born i was wondering geoffcott as you are related to thomas woodcock maybe there was a chance that we are linked somehow any information you could give me would be great i am desperate to trace this family line

thanks
kizzy