Name
Vere Swift (also William Vere) Woodman
1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/12/1917
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
M/339468
Army Service Corps
648th M.T. Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery
5. H. 16.
Tanzania
Headstone Inscription
Rest In Peace
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
William Vere Woodman appears as Vere Swift Woodman in most records including birth registration and pension records. However, he has been confirmed as the same man by service number and the names of two brothers, for this reason we use Vere as his first name here.
Vere was born in 8 December 1885 in Hitchin and his parents were Olaf Vere and Mary Ann Woodman (née Kitchener). Who married on 25 May 1885 in Forest Gate, St James, Essex.
In 1891 the family were living in Holmes Road (poss 26), Kentish Town, St Pancras, London. Present were both Olaf (26) and Mary (29), with Olaf working as a railway fireman. Their children were: Vere Swift (5) and Harry (2, born 3/8/1888) - both were born in Hitchin as was their mother.
Brothers Vere and Harry were admitted to St Anne's School National School on 22 Nov 1897 – at this time their address was recorded as 16 Mortimer Lane, St Pancras, London. They had both had previously been at Holmes Road Bd (Brookfield?) School. Harry left on 8 September 1902.
In 1901 the family were still living at 16 Mortimer Lane – a two room, second floor unfurnished flat. Present were both parents, with Olaf now working as a railway engineman. Their children were those named above, with Vere now 14 and working as a milk boy. Their new siblings were Edward (9) and Thomas William (4). At some point during the year, but not included in their census, they had a lodger called Wiliam Daniels.
By 1911 the family had moved to 57 Highgate Road Kentish Town, London, NW. Present were both parents, Olaf now working as a railway engine driver. The census recorded they had been married for 26 years with 5 children, all living. Of the children, present were Vere now 25 and a domestic chauffeur. Cecilia Frances (17) and Thomas.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War (SDITGW) database records that he was born in Hitchin and was living in Highgate when he enlisted in Tottenham.
Wartime Service
At present we know little of Vere’s war. The lack of any sort of ‘Star’ recorded on his medals card, means that he did not go abroad until after the start of 1916.
He served 648th Motor Transport Company, Army Service Corps.
He died of dysentery in the 52nd Casualty Clearing Station (Hospital) at Mingoyo, Tanzania.
Additional Information
Unusually there are two Soldier’s Effect records for William, one shows that after his death 15s pay owing was authorised to go to R P Lech? on21 April 1918, then £8 19s 9d to his mother, Mary Ann Woodman, on 25 May 1918. The other records an additional 1s 11d paid on 25 May 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her 28 November 1919.
His pension cards record his mother as Mary Ann Woodman and as his next of kin, living at 10 Spencer Road, Dartmouth Park, Kentish Town, London.
Two other brothers died during the war; 60415 Edward RFA killed in action in Belgium on 2 October 1917 and 704311 Thomas Royal Irish Fusiliers who died in India of disease on 19 July 1921. Neither have a direct connection to Hitchin or Hertfordshire as they were born elsewhere.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
