Ernest's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Ernest Woodward was born in late 1875 and baptised on 7 April 1876 at St Michael's Church, Macclesfield, the son of Hannah and Ralph Woodward, a carter of Sutton, near Macclesfield. In 1881, five-year-old Ernest was living at 31 Byrons Lane, Sutton, Macclesfield with his parents and brothers Aaron (10), Ashley (7), Stephen (3) and Lennard/Leonard (1).
Ernest's brother Aaron died in December 1881, followed by Stephen in February 1882 and father Ralph in March 1882; all three were buried at Wincle. Another son, Eli, had been born in late 1881 but he also died, in July 1882, and was buried at Wincle.
Ernest's mother Hannah married William Rushton Parrott in 1886, but the couple seem to have separated by 1901.
In 1891, Ernest and Leonard were living at Gap House, Kettleshulme, both employed as farm servants. Ten years later, they were living at 5 Ivy Road, Macclesfield with their mother; Ernest was a farm labourer and Leonard a cattle man.
In 1906 tragedy struck the family again when Ernest's brother Ashley died after being gored by a bull; he was buried at Wincle on 26 December. By 1911, Hannah and her two remaining sons, Ernest and Leonard, had moved to Eddisbury Gate Farm, Buxton Old Road, Macclesfield. Hannah died in 1916, and was buried at Wincle; Leonard later lived at Ingersley Vale, in the parish of Rainow.
WW1 SERVICE
Ernest Woodward attested in Manchester on 1st March 1916, joining the Royal Welsh Fusiliers with service number 66339, stating that he lived at 19 Tram Street, Openshaw and his occupation was "Shell Making." He named his mother, Mrs Hannah Parrott of 7 Ivy Lane, Macclesfield as his next of kin. Ernest was mobilised on 28 January 1917 and after a short period of training at Kimnel Park, North Wales, he was drafted overseas to France/Belgium on 16 May 1917.
Ernest was wounded later that year on 24 November, receiving a gun shot wound in his back, and was treated firstly by no. 136 Field Ambulance, then no. 3 Casualty Clearing Station, and finally admitted to no. 12 General Hospital at Rouen, where he remained for two months. Ernest returned to the front on 27 January 1918 but two weeks later he was granted two weeks' leave to the UK.
Some time after Ernest's return to duty, on 6th April 1918, he was transferred to the York and Lancaster Regiment. He was killed in action two weeks later on 21st April 1918.
Ernest was wounded later that year on 24 November, receiving a gun shot wound in his back, and was treated firstly by no. 136 Field Ambulance, then no. 3 Casualty Clearing Station, and finally admitted to no. 12 General Hospital at Rouen, where he remained for two months. Ernest returned to the front on 27 January 1918 but two weeks later he was granted two weeks' leave to the UK.
Some time after Ernest's return to duty, on 6th April 1918, he was transferred to the York and Lancaster Regiment. He was killed in action two weeks later on 21st April 1918.
Private Woodward's cousins, who lived near Rugby, placed an announcement of his death in the Macclesfield Courier on 4 May 1918:
WOODWARD - In memory of Private Ernest Woodward, late of Ivy Lane, Macclesfield, who was killed in action by a shell on April 21st, 1918, in the village of Forceville, France, and was buried in the Military Cemetery there, aged 42 years.
"He bravely answered duty's call."
From his cousins, Church Lawford, Rugby.
Private Woodward's death was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 10 May 1918:
The relatives of Private Ernest Woodward, late of Macclesfield, have been informed of his death in France on April 21st. He was killed by shell-fire. Pte Woodward was 42 years of age.
After his death, the recipient of Ernest's outstanding Army pay and his personal effects was Miss Elizabeth Wainwright, of Walnut Tree Farm, Church Lawford, Rugby, at the request of his brother Leonard, of Bell Farm, Tytherington, Macclesfield, who received the gratuity payment. Elizabeth, along with her father and siblings had been born in Rainow, near Macclesfield.
COMMEMORATION
Private Ernest Woodward is buried at Forceville Communal Cemetery and Extension, France, in grave ref. Plot 4. Row A. Grave 6.
In Macclesfield, Private Ernest Woodward is commemorated on the Park Green and Town Hall war memorials.
NOTES
Brother of Leonard Woodward, who served as Private 230562 in the King's Shropshire Light Infantry and survived the war.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births, Marriages, Deaths
Diocese of Chester Parish Baptisms St Michael’s Church, Macclesfield (Find My Past)
Census (England & Wales): 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911
Soldiers Died in the Great War (Find My Past)
WWI British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects (Ancestry)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Lives of the First World War website
Macclesfield Courier: 4 May 1918
Macclesfield Times: 10 May 1918
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.