Lance Corporal THOMAS WOODCOCK
Irish Guards
2nd Bn.
Died 27 March 1918
Age 29 years old
- Country of Service United Kingdom
- Awards Victoria Cross
- Additional Info Born at Wigan. Son of Henry and Isabella Woodcock; husband of Mary Woodcock, of 41, Cambridge St., Wigan. A scholar at St. Patrick's School.
- Personal Inscription FIRST MY GOD THEN MY COUNTRY
- Additional Citation note
An extract from the "London Gazette," dated 16th Oct., 1917, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery and determination. He was one of a post commanded by Lce. Serjt. Moyney, which was surrounded. The post held out for 96 hours, but after that time was attacked from all sides in overwhelming numbers and was forced to retire. Pte. Woodcock covered the retirement with a Lewis gun, and only retired when the enemy had moved round and up to his post and were only a few yards away. He then crossed the river, but hearing cries for help behind him, returned and waded into the stream amid a shower of bombs from the enemy and rescued another member of the party. The latter he then carried across the open ground in broad daylight towards our front line regardless of machine gun fire that was opened on him."
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