Leslie Collins Woodward

Leslie Collins was the son of George Mills Woodward and his second wife Alice Gertrude (née Collins). His father George Mills was born in Cropwell Bishop in 1864, the son of Benjamin and Mary Jane Woodward, and baptised at Cropwell Bishop St Giles on 23 March 1864. In 1881 he was a pupil teacher and living with his parents in the village. George married Louisa Huskinson on 17 November 1886 at St Saviour, Meadows, Nottingham. They had a son, George Irvon in 1888 (J/F/M) who died the following year, 1889 (J/F/M) and Louisa also died the same year (J/F/M). In 1891 George was employed as a commercial clerk and living on Kirkewhite Street, Meadows, where he was a boarder. His mother Alice Gertrude was born in Brompton, London, on 3 September 1863, the daughter of William and Jane Collins, and baptised at St Luke Islington on 6 December the same year. The family had moved to Nottingham by 1881 and in 1891 was living on Brierley Street, Meadows; Alice was a milliner. George and Alice were married on 13 August 1891 at West Bridgford St Giles. They had two sons, Leslie Collins b. 1892 bap. St Saviour 31 July 1892 and Cyril George b. 1894 bap. St Saviour 15 August 1894. The family was living on Meadow Lane, Nottingham, when the children were baptised. By 1901 George (37) an estate agent's clerk and Alice (37) were living at 78 Trent Boulevard, Trent Bridge, with their sons Leslie (8) and Cyril (6). By 1911 they were living at 61 Goldsmith Street, Nottingham; Leslie was a bank clerk and Cyril an apprentice to a hosiery manufacturer. Also in the household was a general domestic servant. At the time of their son Leslie's death in 1918 George and Alice were living at Raleigh House, Raleigh Street, Nottingham. George and Alice were living on Holles Crescent, The Park, Nottingham, when he died on 15 November 1932. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Alice was living at 98 Raleigh Street, Nottingham, with her unmarried brother, Frederick William Collins (b. 4 September 1866 d. 1942). Also in the household was a general domestic servant. Alice Woodward probably died in 1957 (O/N/D Newark). Leslie Collins married Annie Sophia Hind at Woodborough Road Baptist Church, Nottingham, on 24 March 1915. They had two sons, Leslie Hind b. 27 February 1916 and Philip Ronald b. 30 May 1918. Leslie and Annie lived at 4 Baker Street, Nottingham. Leslie's widow has not yet been traced after his death. Their son Leslie died in 1984 (J/A/S Rutland) and Philip in 1994 (J/F/M Colchester). Leslie's brother Cyril George married Florence Emmeline Parr (b. 22 November 1888) in 1922. In 1939 they were living on Westgate, Southwell, with their daughter Patricia Butler (b. 5 July 1924). Cyril was a highway engineer and surveyor with the County Council with a war time responsibility for emergency road services. Florence died on 10 June 1947 and Cyril married secondly Ida Campion in 1957. He died on 5 May 1960; Ida survived him.

Woodward attended Nottingham High School and became a bank clerk. He was a member of Nottingham Rowing Club.

Woodward enlisted at on the outbreak of war. He had previously served in the Territorial Force with the Nottinghamshire Royal Horse Artillery (Bombardier). He was twice mentioned in dispatches. DSO London Gazette 18 February 1918. His posthumous DSO was presented to his two year old son Leslie by the Mayor of Nottingham on 15th October 1918. The little boy saluted. The DSO was awarded for 'conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of a brigade. Hearing that the enemy had broken through to his right, he brought up three guns on to a crest and for several hours fought, his battery under heavy artillery and machine gun and rifle fire, only stopping when it was no longer possible to see. Throughout the day he displayed the greatest coolness and courage and the work performed by his battery was invaluable at a critical time.' He was killed in action at Maricourt on 3 September 1918 and was buried in Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe (grave ref VII.B.24). Buried in the same grave is Corporal RJ Daley, Australian Machine Gun Corps, who was killed on 2 September 1918 aged 26. CWGC - Heilly Station Cemetery (extract): 'The cemetery was begun in May 1916 and was used by the three medical units until April 1917. From March to May 1918, it was used by Australian units, and in the early autumn for further hospital burials when the 20th Casualty Clearing Station was there briefly in August and September 1918. The last burial was made in May 1919 ... The burials in this cemetery were carried out under extreme pressure and many of the graves are either too close together to be marked individually, or they contain multiple burials. Some headstones carry as many as three sets of casualty details, and in these cases, regimental badges have had to be omitted. Instead, these badges, 117 in all, have been carved on a cloister wall on the north side of the cemetery.'

CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Who died of wounds in proud and loving memory of my beloved husband until we meet' Inscription family memorial, All Saints Church (WMA27351): 'To the Glory of God and in proud and loving memory of Major Leslie Collins Woodward DSO, 'B' Battery, 63rd Bde, RFA, who fell fighting valiantly at Maricourt, France, 3rd September 1918, aged 26. "So he passed over, and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side."' (Quotation: on the death of Mr Valiant-for-Truth in 'Pilgrim's Progress', John Bunyan) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Marriages’, 25 & 27 March 1915: ‘Woodward-Hind. On the 24th inst., at Woodborough-road Baptist Church, by the Rev. E Carrington, Lieut LC Woodward, RFA, elder son of Mr and Mrs George M Woodward, to Annie Sophia, second daughter of Mr and Mrs Christopher B Hind, both of this city.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Births’, 28 February 1916: ‘Woodward, On the 27th inst. at 4 Baker-street, to Lieut LC Woodward and Mrs Woodward (nee Hind), a son.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Births’, 30 May 1918: ‘Woodward. On May 30th, at 4 Baker-street, the wife of Major LC Woodward, DSO, a son.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) All Saints Church News, March 1918: 'Major LC Woodward RFA, son of Mr and Mrs GM Woodward, 98 Raleigh Street, has been awarded the DSO. Rather more than a year ago he was Mentioned in Despatches (ASCN March 1917). He is the second of our men to win this distinction.' Nottingham Evening Post, 7 September 1918: ‘Died of Wounds. Major LC Woodward DSO RFA, son of Mr GM Woodward, Raleigh House, Raleigh-street, Nottingham, died of wounds on September 3rd. Major Woodward, who was educated at the Nottingham High School, and was a member of the Notts RHA, volunteered for service on the outbreak of war, and received a commission. He had had a distinguished career, being twice mentioned in despatches by Sir Douglas Haig and was decorated with the DSO nearly 12 months ago.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) All Saints Church News, October 1918: 'Major LC Woodward DSO RFA, Raleigh House, Raleigh Street, died of wounds on September 3rd. Major Woodward who was educated at Nottingham High School and was a member of the Notts RHA volunteered for service on the outbreak of war and received a commission. He has had a distinguished career being twice Mentioned in Despatches by Sir Douglas Haigh, and was decorated with the DSO nearly 12 months ago.' Report, Nottingham Evening Post, 14th October 1918:- “HIS FATHER'S D.S.O. “TOUCHING CEREMONY AT THE EXCHANGE HALL. “The Major of Nottingham (Councillor J. G. Small) performed to-day [14th October 1918] one of the most pathetic ceremonies of his second term of office. It consisted in the presentation of the D.S.O. won by the late Major Leslie Collins Woodward, R.F.A., to his widow, and of the pinning of the emblem of honour upon the breast of his two and a half years' old son, in the presence of a large company of civic and military friends. “Conditions rendered it impossible to hold the outdoor parade, which had been contemplated, and the presentation took place in the Council Chamber, which was lined by members of the A.P.C., R.F.C., and the local volunteer battalion of the Sherwood Foresters, under the command of Major W. E. Walker. Troops were also assembled at the Exchange entrance, and on the steps leading to the Council Chamber. The Mayor was supported by the Mayoress, the Sheriff and Mrs. Offiler, and the Town Clerk, and by several magistrates and members of the City Council, while Sir John Tumey, Mr. R. S. Earp, and Lieut. A. Darby represented the Nottingham Rowing Club. Mrs. Woodward and her tiny son were accompanied by Mr. C. B. Hind (her father), Lieut. C. E. Hind, Sherwood Foresters, and Mr. B. J. Hind (her brothers), and by Mr. and Mrs. Woodward, the parents of the deceased officer. “The D.S.O was awarded Major Woodward for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of a brigade. Hearing that the enemy had broken through on his right, he brought up three guns on to a crest, and for several hours fought his battery under heavy artillery, machine gun, and rifle fire, only stopping when it was no longer possible to see. Throughout the day he displayed the greatest coolness and courage, and the work performed by his battery was invaluable at a critical time. “The Mayor also read a letter from the divisional brigadier-general, deeply regretting the loss of a valuable officer and devoted friend, whose death “created a gap which was impossible to fill." This honour, Mr. Small continued, was invariably handed to the recipient by his Majesty the King, but at Mrs. Woodward's request it was be given by him to her son. Major Woodward's gallantry and devotion to duty constituted a record of which any family might be proud, and the city sympathised with them in their bereavement. “The child promptly saluted when the Mayor pinned the medal on his breast, and Mr. Small concluded with an expression of thanks to the officers and units who had paraded. Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Probate: Woodward Leslie Collins of 4 Baker-street Nottingham major in HM army died 3 September 1918 in France Administration Nottingham 10 January to Annie Sophia Woodward widow. Effects £260