General   (General discussion, talk about anything.)

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.