Pte G/19763 John Woods

• Age: 19
• From: Bickerstaffe, Ormskirk
• Regiment: 11 R WEST KENTS 20th Btn
• Died on Thursday 20th September 1917
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 106-108

John Woods was born on 23rd July, 1898 in Bickerstaffe, Ormskirk, the son of Robert and Mary Woods, Fineacre Lane, Bickerstaffe, Ormskirk, Lancs.

He was educated at Church School, Bickerstaffe and on leaving he worked as a farm labourer. 

He enlisted on the 24^th May, 1915 at the age of 16 and served in the 21st Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 26611. He also served in the 18th Battalion K.L.R  before transferring to the 11^th Battallion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) as Private G/19763 on the 25th August, 1917.

Graham Maddocks records in his book Liverpool Pals that whilst in training at Knowsley in March 1916 John was advised by Private 21915 W Heyes, then out in France, to not be over keen to get to the trenches:

"You seem to be a bit put out because your eye is not quite up to the mark, but take my advice and stop at Prescot for as long as you can. You must not think that you get a bed to lie on and lots of blankets here, you get shoved in anywhere, and nothing to lie on but the bare floor, with rats running over you the whole time, keeping you awake. We have been standing to now for over a week expecting being shelled out day and night. Sometimes they will come and get you out at midnight, make you put boots and putties on, and tell you to sleep like that until further notice. 

You talk about the excitement being alright, but I can tell you, it is no cop, its alright seeing them burst around you, but you don't know when one will come and lay someone out, and I can tell you we have had some fellows badly wounded. You will be alright if you can get leave for the Spring and hay time and harvest. 

I am shoeing now at Army Service Corps for about a month and it is a better job than the infantry. You ought to try to get a job at cold shoeing, you would soon pick it up. Don't be over anxious to be a good shot, and pretend you can't throw bombs, as its a rotten job. Any job on the Head Quarters staff or brigade is all right. You always want to keep your eyes open for these jobs and ask for them. An officer's groom is fine, get the Lieutenant Quartermaster's if possible, as he never leaves the Head Quarters".        

John was killed in action on the 20^th September, 1917 aged 19, by a sniper he was not on combat duty that day, his mission had been to reach his comrades who had “dug in” with food and water, but which they had not had for almost two days by the 20th. John had been dodging snipers that morning but was fatally hit on one of his runs in the front line during The Third Battle of Ypres. 

John 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.

John is commemorated on parents headstone in Holy Trinity Churchyard, Bickerstaffe.

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