Name
Arthur Woodcock
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/04/1915
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
1541
East Surrey Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 34.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Christchurch Memorial, Little Heath, Potters Bar, Little Heath & Bentley Heath Memorial, Potters Bar, All Souls Chapel Book of Remembrance, Potters Bar,
Pre War
Arthur Woodcock was born in Potters Bar in 1888 to William Woodcock, a gardener, and Sarah Ann (nee Chapman).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, George (born 1881), John (born 1883), Lily (born 1884), Nellie (born 1887) and Arthur were living at North Lodge Farm, Enfield Chase.
On the 1910 Census the family of parents, Nelliee, Arthur, May (born 1891) and Florence (born 1895) were living at Ridgeway, Enfield.
In 1911 Arthur was working for Middlesex Council and living with his widowed mother Sarah Ann Woodcock and sister Florence in Frampton Road, Little Heath.
Wartime Service
Arthur enlisted soon after the declaration of War in Aug 1914 (his Brother was already serving as a Regular in the Royal Fusiliers) in in the East Surrey Regiment as Private 1541 in London. No service Record was found for Arthur. He was at some time promoted to Lance Corporal. Arthur landed in France on 24 Mar 1915 as part of a draft of 90 NCOs and men that joined the 2nd Battalion at St Eloi on 28 March 1915. The 2nd Battalion were part of 85 Brigade 28 Division and had arrived in France in Jan 1915.
Arthur was presumed killed in action on 10 Apr 1915, probably the victim of shelling while moving into the front line. The battalion war diary states “Battalion left VLAMERTINGHE at 6 pm for trenches near ZONNEBEKE via YPRES.”. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £3 0s 2d was between the family and his brother John’s widow Kathleen Adeline. His mother received a pension of 5 shillings/week.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Martin Cope
