Pte 300032 Stanley Woodburn

• Age: 26
• From: Hoylake, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Born as Frederick Winstanley Woodburn in 1892 in Hoylake, he was the son of Frederick and Mary(nee Winstanley) Woodburn, who married in 1886 at Our Lady & St. Nicholas & St. Anne, Liverpool. A younger brother Leonard was born in 1897 but died in infancy.

On the 1901 Census the family are living at 54 Market St, Hoylake.
The father Frederick is aged 44 is empoyed in a chandlers shop and was born in Cockermouth, Cumberland, his wife Mary aged 37 was born in Chester. They have seven children who were all born Hoylake, Robert H. 14, Frank 12, Charles B. 10, Frederick W. 8, Doris 5, Ada 2, and Jessie 10mths. They also have a servant Sarah E. Webster 21. 

On the 1911 Census the family have moved to 45 Bowring St, Liverpool. 
The father Frederick now aged 54is  a grocers assistant, and his wife Mary aged is aged 47with no occupation listed. They have been married for 25 years and have had children of which one had died. Their children are Frank 22 and Stanley aged 19 who are both employed as ships stewards, Doris aged 15 is a shop assistant, Ada 12 at school, Jessie 10 at school, and Ethel 9 at school who was born in Hoylake.

He enlisted in Liverpool and was formerly 250623, Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry and was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 300032 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918, aged 26, during the German Spring Offensive. 

On the day of his death 29th April 1918, the Battalion was serving on the Ypres Salient and was in the front line at Elzenwalle, near Ridge Wood, awaiting a renewal of the German assault on that front.

At 02.30 am the attack began with a devastating bombardment along the whole battle front, from the forward positions back to a depth of over a mile. At 6am the enemy Infantry attacked, the main force of the assault being directed at a position near Ridge Wood, where one of the Battalion’s forward listening posts was captured and held. Then, 16999 Company Sergeant Major G Sutton of No.1 Company gallantly drove out the attackers with Mills Bombs, an action for which he was later awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. After a strong defence along the Battalion frontage, the Germans withdrew. They continued their artillery barrage throughout the rest of the morning and afternoon, however, and at about 17.00 began to mass once more for another Infantry attack. This was contained by Rifle and Lewis Gun fire, until a large British Artillery barrage at 18.00 finally broke up all enemy activity.

Stanley has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

An obituary notice and report of his death appeared in the Press on 11th May, 1918

WOODBURN.-April 29, killed in action, aged 26, Stanley (K.L.R.), the dearly beloved youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Woodburn 14, Rappart Road, Seacombe. (One of the best). Beloved by all; faithful son, brother and friend. ("God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform").      

EGREMONT MAN KILLED

Pte. S. Woodburn whose parents reside at 14 Rappart Road, Egremont, was killed in action on 29th April. At the outbreak of war he returned from Boston, with his brother, and enlisted in April, 1915, in the Lancashire Hussars. He went out to France two years ago, and was there transferred to the King's Liverpool Regiment. He was wounded twelve months ago. 

WC 11/05/1918   


Two Brothers

One Killed and the Other Wounded

The sad intelligence has been received that Pte. Stanley Woodburn, K.L.R. was killed in action on April 29th. He was 26 years of age, joined up in April 1915, and had been in France two years. He was previously wounded in June 1916. He was a steward with the Cunard Steamship Co., and went out on the maiden voyage of the Mauretania. He settled down in Boston, and came home to enlist. He was educated at Hoylake Council School and is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs.  F Woodburn 14 Rappart Road, Seacombe.

2nd Lieut. R. L. Turner writes:

"Woodburn was a splendid boy, beloved by all who knew him. He carried out his duties with a fine spirit of devotion and self sacrifice, and we all miss him very much".

Pte Charles Bradley Woodburn, Royal Sussex Regt., has been wounded in the leg and admitted to the Manor Hill Hospital, Birkenhead. He was twice wounded before. He joined the Army in September 1914 and was over three years in France. He is the third son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Woodburn, 14 Rappart Road, Seacombe.

WN 18/05/1918

Soldiers Effects to father Frederick, Pension to mother Mary, 14 Rappart Rd, Seacombe.

Probate London 30th Dec 1918, Woodburn Stanley Frederick 14 Rappart Road, Seacombe, private 18th Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment died 29th April 1918 to Frederick Woodburn grocers assistant. Effects £1060 13s 8d.

Birkenhead News 11th Jan 1919

Fallen Heroes of 1918

Stanley Woodburn, K.L.R. Rifle Brigade;

His father died in March 1929 aged 72 and his mother Mary died December 1943 aged 79.

The son of his brother Charles Bradley was killed 24th March 1945 in WW2, Captain Charles Arthur Winstanley Woodburn, 249233, 7th Battalion Parachute Regiment.

We currently have no further information on Stanley Woodburn, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Grateful thanks are extended to Matthew Owen Andrew for providing the photograph and newspaper articles in relation to Stanley and his brother Charles.