Pte 30251 Henry Woodley

• Age: 39
• From: London
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 20th June 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.L.2

Henry Woodley was born in the December quarter of 1876 in London and was the son of John Woodley, a fishmonger born in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, and his wife Harriet (nee King). His mother was born in Gt. Hormead, Hertfordshire. They married in 1869 in Gt. Hormead and had seven children.They appear to have moved around, based on the childrens' birthplaces:  Mary Elizabeth born in 1870 in Newport Pagnell, George Wren 1872 in Surbiton, Surrey,  Alice Kathleen 1874 and Henry 1876 in Bermondsey, Charles John 1879 in Tottenham,  Arthur Ernest 1881 in Newport Pagnell, and Walter Edward, born in 1884 in Tottenham.

At the time of the 1881 census the family is living at 16 Silver Street, Newport Pagnell with six children.  His father is a fishmonger, both parents are 48, Henry is 4.  

By 1891 his mother with seven children is in Bristol, living at 15 Tudor Road.  Mary, 21, is a staymaker, George, 18, is a driver in the Royal Artillery (George had joined the Royal Artillery in 1889 and appears to have served two years).  Alice 16, has no occupation, and Henry 14, is a cabinet maker.  Charles, 12, Arthur, 10, and Walter, 6 are at school.  His father is working as a fishmonger in the village of Hubbleston, Pembrokeshire, near Milford Haven.)

Henry is shown in the 1901 Census as having been born in Bermondsey, London, he is now a 24 years old cabinet maker, and living with his parents and two younger brothers at 5 Badminton Street, Bristol. His mother died in 1905 and in 1911 his father, now 68 years old, a fishmonger by trade, is living with his married daughter, Alice Kathleen Holloway, at 41 Quarrington Street, Bristol. 

The 1911 Census shows Henry (Harry) boarding at 11 Green Street, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire with the Smith family. The head of the household is the father George Smith aged 44, born 1867 who is employed as a chair-maker and was born in High Wycombe. His wife Mary aged 47 has no occupation listed and was also bon in High Wycombe as were their two children, Emily aged 18, is a upholsterer’s clerk and Harold aged 15, born 1896 is an architect’s clerk. Henry is now aged 34 and employed as a cabinet maker. 

His father died in Bristol in 1915, aged 72.

Henry enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 17th Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 30251 when he was killed in action on 20^th June 1916 aged 39. (His medal card shows him as having 2 medals). The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that Henry had served for no more than a year when he was killed.

He was buried close to where he fell in Maricourt Military Cemetery and his grave marked with a cross. The cemetery was at the south-east corner of the village, on the road to Clery. It was begun by French troops in December, 1914, and was known to the French by the name of Ferme Caudron.  It was taken over by British troops in August, 1915, and used until July 1916.  After the war when graves were concentrated his body was removed and reinterred in Cerisy-Gailly Cemetery where Henry now rests in Grave II L 2 and where his headstone bears the epitaph;

"WITH CHRIST WHICH IS FAR BETTER".

His Army effects and a War Gratuity of £3 went to his sister Alice Katheleen Holloway.  No pension card has been found, indicating that Henry had no dependents. 

CWGC communicated with his sister Mrs A. Holloway, 43 Thomas Street, St. Paul's, Bristol, regarding his headstone.  

His youngest brother Walter served as a Sergeant with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and survived the war. 

Sadly, Henry has not been found on any memorial.
We currently have no further information on Henry Woodley, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.