William Eric Woodward

William Eric, known as 'Eric' was born in 1899. His father, a painter and decorator, died in 1908 when Eric was eight years old and Eric's mother, Elizabeth Murdoch Woodward, took up her late husband's occupation to support her family. In 1911 Elizabeth (33) was living at 58 Gawthorne Street, New Basford, with her children, William Eric (11) and Agnes Guthrie (9), together with her unmarried sister, Violet Agnes KAY (23).

Eric joined the 1st Caledonian Scout Troop in 1909; the Troop had been formed in Nottingham in May 1909 for boys of Scottish descent (his mother was from Newton Mearns in Scotland). The Troop adopted the 'Hunting Stewart' tartan. The 1st, and later the 2nd and 3rd Troops, were based at the Blackwoods site on Hucknall Road, Sherwood. The Troops disbanded in 1915 as many of their older members had enlisted, and Eric joined the 24th Nottingham Troop which took over the Blackwood site. On leaving school Eric was employed by John Player.

DLI 52nd (Depot) Bn. Eric enlisted in the East Midlands Brigade, 273rd Graduated Battalion in 1917. The graduated battalions received recruits under the age of 19; recruits would have had about four months basic training in a Young Soldiers Battalion before a further period of training in the graduated battalion. By the end of training most young men would have reached the age of 19 and thus eligible for active service overseas. Eric joined the 52nd Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry, formed in October 1917, from the 273rd Graduated Battalion. He is buried in Nottingham (New Basford) Cemetery with his father (grave ref A.2.5). The cemetery is a short distance from the family home and Blackwood Scout site.

Research courtesy of Andrew Adam.