Pte 204723 James Woods

• Age: 35
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Voormezeele Cem Encl No. 3
  Panel Ref: XIV.E.3

James Woods was born 27th November 1881 in Liverpool and was baptised 7th December 1881 at St Peter's church, Liverpool. He was the son of John James and Katherine Woods, of 9 Lowwood St, Low Hill, Liverpool and the husband of Catherine Woods (nee Slattery). James and Catherine had married 1st April 1907 at St Augustine church, Everton. (Census records her name as Kate).

The 1891 Census shows the family living at Oswald Street, Liverpool. His father, John, is aged 34, born in Northwich in 1857 and is a general dealer, his mother, Catherine, is aged 28, born 1863 in Liverpool and has no occupation listed. They have five children at home at the time of the Census being taken, Annie aged 11, born 1880, James aged 9, born 1882 and Margaretta aged 5, born 1886 are all scholars, Catherine aged 4, born 1887 and Mary aged 1, born 1890. The children were all born in Liverpool. 

RN Service Records exist:- Signed up in 1900 for 12 years, a labourer, 5' 3", hair dark brown, eyes brown, ruddy complexion. Served on shore bases, and a stoker on battleship HMS Albion and frigate HMS Fisgard.

The 1901 Census shows the family have moved to 49 Lowwood Street, Low Hill, Liverpool, but James is not present as he is most likely away at sea. His father, John, is aged 43, and is a firewood dealer, mother Catherine is aged 41 with no occupation listed. They have five children living with them at the taking of the census,  Margaret 15, Catherine 13, Mary 11, Thomas 9 and Betsy 2.

James left/absconded the Navy on the 8th January 1906 whilst serving at Saphire II, it says "Run" 

He married Catherine Slattery on the 1st April 1907 at St Augustine Church, Everton, James was a 25 year old labourer of 128 Stitt St, Catherine was 25 of 133 Stitt Street. 

Strangely, James is single on the 1911 Census boarding at 133 Stitt Street, Liverpool. The head is widowed Mary Emma Slattery aged 60, children George 32 a dock labourer, Kate is single aged 27, Thomas 22 is a chemist shop assistant. They have a visitor George Barnes 10 at school, boarder James is 28(?) a bricklayers labourer (everybody born Liverpool).[Perhaps on the run from the Navy?] 

On 1911 Census his family are still at 49 Low Wood Street, Low Hill, Liverpool. Father John is aged 53, is a labourer, Mother Catherine is aged 51. They advise that they have been married for 34 years and have had 12 children 9 of whom have survived. Four children are in the household; Catherine 23 a bottle washer at mineral water works, Thomas 19 a bottle washer at mineral water works, Robert 17 a van lad, and Betsy 13 at school.

James enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 204723 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918 aged 35 during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary entry for the day gives an insight into the events of the day. 

29 April 1918 

A 3 a.m. the Enemy opened up a very heavy Bombardment of High explosive and Gas shells on our covering Artillery and at 6 a.m.. launched a powerful attack , smothering our outpost line, but failing to pierce the Battalion front, being repulsed with heavy loss. At 8 a.m. the Enemy again attacked but was repulsed. Many Casualties were caused to him during the day, as numbers of the enemy were picked off as they endeavoured to get back to their own lines.

Casualties were Capt E B Hough Killed, 2nd Lt W. Munro Killed and 12 Other Ranks Killed, 28 Wounded and 13 Other Ranks missing"

James now rests at Voormezelee Cemetery Enclosure No 3, Belgium. 

The Voormizeele Enclosures (at one time there were a total of four, but now reduced to three) were originally regimental groups of graves, begun very early in the First World War and gradually increased until the village and the cemeteries were captured by the Germans after very heavy fighting on 29 April 1918.

Voormezeele Enclosure No.3, the largest of these burial grounds, was begun by the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in February 1915. Their graves are in Plot III, the other Plots from I to IX are the work of other units, or pairs of units, and include a few graves of October 1918. Plots X and XII are of a more general character. Plots XIII to XVI were made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from isolated sites and smaller cemeteries to replace the French graves (of April and September 1918) that were removed to a French cemetery. These concentrated graves cover the months from January 1915 to October 1918, and they include those of many men of the 15th Hampshires and other units who recaptured this ground early in September 1918.

There are now 1,611 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in Voormezeele Enclosure No.3. 609 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 15 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of five casualties whose graves in PHEASANT WOOD CEMETERY could not be found on concentration.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Soldiers Effects to his brother-in-law Thomas Slattery and Miss E. Eskrigge.

Pension to his wife Catherine. 

On 1921 census parents are now at 9 Lowward St. 

At 9 Lowward St, father John drops off the electoral roll in 1928, mother Catherine drops off the electoral roll in 1930. 

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