Trafford

Born during the June quarter 1875 in the Chester R.D. - ref: 8a/387, the
son of John & Ann Woodcock (nee Langford).

1881 Census - Old Moss Lane, Tarvin, Cheshire.   Son - aged: 6 - Scholar -
born: Tarvin, Cheshire.   Head of household - John Woodcock - Married -
aged: 44 - occ: Agricultural Labourer - born: Tarvin.  Also Ann Woodcock -
Wife - aged: 46 - born: Tarvin.    Plus 5 siblings and his paternal
grandfather.

1891 census - Utkinton, Nantwich, Cheshire.  Servant - aged: 16 - occ:
General Servant (Farm) - born: Tarvin, Cheshire.  Employed by Farmer -
George Bebbington.

He joined the Army in 1895, aged: 20 and served in India from 1895 until
1902, then in South Africa from 1902 until 1903, after which he went into
the Reserves until 1904.  He had been trained for Mounted Infantry.

1901 Census - serving in India at this time.

Married Alice Broster at Chester on the 21st January 1903, the marriage
being registered during the March quarter 1903 in the Chester R.D. - ref:
8a/569.
: 
1911 Census - Great Barrow, Chester, Cheshire (Tarvin).    Head of
household - Married - aged: 36 - occ: Farm Labourer - born: Tarvin,
Cheshire.    Also - Alice Woodcock - Wife - aged: 28 - born: Tarvin.   Plus
4 daughters - Mary Alice (b.1902) - Ethel May (b.1906) - Lucy (b.1908) -
Emily Elizabeth (b.1911).

The family moved to Sale sometime between 1911 and 1914, where he was
employed as a Carter by Messrs. Bethell & Sons (Contractors) Sale.

He had served in the Army for 10½ years, including the Anglo-Boer War at
Ladysmith (siege of), being awarded the South Africa Medal with Transvaal
bar.    Most of that 10½ years had been served overseas.

WO 363 - Enlisted into the Cheshire Rgt at Altrincham on the 31st August
1914.   He stated that he was aged, 29 years, 142 days and born at Tarvin,
Cheshire.  [He seems to have knocked 7 years off his age to make sure that
he would be accepted!!!].   He was employed as a Labourer, residing at 21
Ergerton Road, Sale and had previously served in the 1st Bn, South
Lancashire Rgt.  He was 5 feet, 6 inches in height and weighed 120 lb.  
His chest measurements were 34 to 36 inches.  He had a Fresh complexion,
Blue eyes, Brown hair and his religion - Church of England.   He had a
tattoo of a lady's bust on his right arm accompanied by an eagle over a
tree.   On his left arm he had a Dragon (record states Dragoon?), plus a
flower pot with flowers and a man and a woman.

He was posted to France on the 26th October 1914.

The records show that he had 5 daughters - Mary Alice (b.26/10/1903). 
Ethel May (b,13/07/1905).  Lucy (b.11/01/1908).  Emily Elizabeth
(b.26/08/1910) and Annice (b.14/03/1912) - all born at Tarvin.  They also
reveal that he had 4 brothers - Harry, aged: 60 - William, aged: 52 -
James, aged: 43 and Charles, aged: 39.   He also had 2 sisters - Alice,
aged: 55 and Sarah, aged: 40.

Pension Records - confirms they had 5 daughters as listed above.   His
widow was NOT eligible for a Grant.   She was awarded a weekly pension of
24/6d w.e.f. the 2nd august 1915.

Death reported in the 19/05/1916 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.   He
left a widow and five daughters, the eldest being just 13 years of age.

By 1919, his widow - Mrs. Alice Woodcock, was residing at 35 Chester
Street, Oxford Road, Manchester.

His widow, later went by the name of Mrs. Alice Norton, still residing at
35 Chester Street, Oxford Road, Manchester.  [I can find no trace of a
Woodcock-Norton marriage].

Listed in the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1917.