Pte 29117 Robert Woodward

• Age: 24
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Peronne Rd Cem Maricourt
  Panel Ref: IV.I.27

Robert Woodward was born in Liverpool in January 1892, the son of Daniel Woodward and his wife Margaret (nee Williams). His parents were married on the 27th February 1888 in St David's Church, Liverpool. Daniel was a 26 year old labourer of 84 Pecksniff St, father Robert, whilst Margaret was aged 22 of 4 Bruce St, father William. 

At the time of the 1901 census, 9 year old Robert is living with his parents at 42 Geraint Street, Liverpool.

His father, Daniel, was 39 and was born in Nerquis, Flintshire, he was working as a checker in a sugar refinery. His mother, Margaret, was 32 and was born in Ebenezer, Carnarvon. Robert had four brothers born in Liverpool – 12 year old William H., John 5, Thomas O. 2 and 2 month old Daniel. 

Robert’s father died on 21st April 1910 and was buried in Toxteth Park Cemetery.

The family are at the same address when the 1911 census is taken.

Robert, now aged 19 is working as a labourer in a sugar refinery. He’s living with his widowed mother aged 42, and his siblings; John, aged 15 and who is working as an office boy for a cotton porters, Thomas Owen aged 12, Daniel aged 10 and Mary who is 6 years old who are all at school. There is also a visitor Nellie Hughes, aged 16 from Carnarvon declared at the property at the time that the Census was taken.  

Robert enlisted in Liverpool on 26th May 1915 joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 29117 and crossed to France on an unknown date after 31st December 1915 as part of a reinforcement draft for the 18th Battalion.

Robert took part in the attack on Montauban on 01st July 1916, the fateful opening day of the Battle of the Somme. The 18th battalion diary reports:

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”. 

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257.

Robert is listed as having died of wounds on the 01st July 1916. However his body is buried not far from the battlefield, it is probable that he was fatally wounded and died the same day. He was 24 years of age.

He now rests at Peronne Road Cemetery, Maricourt, France.

Maricourt was, at the beginning of the Battles of the Somme 1916, the point of junction of the British and French forces, and within a very short distance of the front line; it was lost in the German advance of March 1918, and recaptured at the end of the following August.

The Cemetery, originally known as Maricourt Military Cemetery No.3, was begun by fighting units and Field Ambulances in the Battles of the Somme 1916, and used until August 1917; a few graves were added later in the War, and at the Armistice it consisted of 175 graves which now form almost the whole of Plot I. It was completed after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields in the immediate neighbourhood and from certain smaller burial grounds.

There are now 1348, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 366 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 26 soldiers from the United Kingdom known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of three soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in other cemeteries, whose graves could not be found.

The cemetery covers an area of 3,787 square metres and is enclosed on three sides by a low red brick wall.

Soldiers Effects to mother Margaret and brother Thomas and pension to Margaret.

Notices from Alma:- 

Liverpool Echo 2nd July 1917 

WOODWARD - In loving memory of Private Robert Woodward K.L.R. (Pals), killed in action, July 1st 1916. (Always remembered by Alma.) 

A notice from Alma 1st July 1918

WOODWARD - In loving memory of Pte ROBERT WOODWARD (K.L.R.), killed in action, July 1st 1916. (My thoughts fly to thee - Alma.)

Robert is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance at Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 32 Left.

His brother John Woodward who originally enlisted as Pte 9541 in the 10th [Territorial] Battalion King's (Liverpool) Regiment [Liverpool Scottish] as Private 9491 was transferred to the Labour Corps. John died in Prees Heath Military Hospital, Salop just three days after the Armistice on the 14th November 1918, aged 23. He now rests at Toxteth Park Cemetery in Liverpool.  

Liverpool Daily Post 20th Nov 1918 

WOODWARD - November 14 of at Prees Heath Military Hospital, aged 23 years, Private JOHN WOODWARD (1/10th Liverpool Scottish), third son of Margaret Woodward and the late Daniel Woodward of 42 Geraint Street, Liverpool. Interment at Smithdown Road Cemetery tomorrow (Thursday) at 2pm. 

His other brother William Hugh Woodward has service papers, he originally enlisted as Pte 5561 in the 10th [Territorial] Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment [Liverpool Scottish], promoted Cpl, and was transferred to the Royal Engineers(Railways), 256024 and 2/Cpl WR/178762. He received the SWB. 

Mother died aged 77 in 1946 and was buried on the 1st October at Toxteth Cemetery. 

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