Name
John Edward Woodcock
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/11/1914
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
L/8252
Royal Fusiliers *1
4th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 6 and 8.
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
John Edward Woodcock was born in Potters Bar in 1883 to William Woodcock, a gardener, and Sarah Ann (nee Chapman).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, George (born 1881), John, Lily (born 1884), Nellie (born 1887) and Arthur (born 1889) were living at North Lodge Farm, Enfield Chase.
John enlisted in the 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers at London while resident in Potters Bar. His Service number of 8252 suggests he enlisted in 1900. No Service Record was found for John.
On the 1901 Census John was at Shaft Barracks, Western Heights, Dover, rank private. On the 1911 Census he was at Barracks in Hounslow, rank Sergeant. He married Kathleen Adeline Day at St Pauls, Hounslow Heath on 3 Jun 1911. There would be two children : Irma (born 1912) and Vernon J (born 1914).
In 1911 his widowed mother Sarah Ann Woodcock was living in Frampton Road, Little Heath with Arthur and Florence.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914 John’s Battalion was at Parkhurst, Isle of Wight as part of 9 Brigade, 3rd Division and landed in France, 13 Aug 1914. The Division took part in the Battle of Mons (23 Aug) the retreat including the Battle of Le Cateau (26 Aug) and the Battle of the Marne (7-10 Sep). They were switched to Flanders in an attempt to outflank the retreating German forces and took part in the Battle of La Bassee (10 Oct-2 Nov 1914).
John was reported killed in action on 11 Nov 1914 during the Battle of Nonne Boschen Wood in the final phase of the First Battle of Ypres (19 Oct–22 Nov 1914). His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £8 and arrears of 10 18s 8d was paid to his widow Kathleen. Brother Arthur served with East Surrey Regiment and was killed in action on 10 Apr 1915
*1 More correctly London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers).
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Martin Cope
