219314 L/Cpl. Thomas Woodcock VC.British Army 2nd Btn. Irish Guards from:Wigan (d.27th Mar 1918) Thomas Woodcock served with the Irish Guards 2nd Battalion. He was killed in action on 27th March 1918 and is buried in the Douchy-les-Ayette British Cemetery in France.
He was born at Wigan. the son of Henry and Isabella Woodcock; and husband of Mary Woodcock, of 41, Cambridge St., Wigan. He was a scholar at St. Patrick's School
An extract from the London Gazette, dated 16th October 1917, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery and determination. He was one of a post commanded by L. Sgt. 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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