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  We will remember them, Salford VC's - Part 2
by Tony Flynn
In this second part of our salute to local VC's we tell the story of Joseph Woodall. The other local man to receive the VC was Joseph Edward Woodall who was born in Robinson Street, off Regent Road, Salford on 1st June, 1896 the eldest of ten children. He was educated at St Ambroses Infants school in Salford until the family moved to Patricroft, Eccles where he attended Beech Street school and lived in Bridgewater Street, Winton. On leaving school he started work at George Morts quilt manufacturers on Legh Street, Patricroft, and joined the Ist Battalion, The Rifle Brigade on 2nd September 1914. Woodall was 21 years old when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 11 April 1918 the 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade was rushed up in buses to a position on the La Bassée Canal in order to try and stem the German breakthrough on the Lys. Over the next eleven days it was involved in severe fighting in the area around Hinges and Robecq. On 22 April, 1st Bn, Rifle Brigade, together with the 1st Hampshires, took part in an attack which helped to secure the Canal. It was during this fighting that Lance Sergeant Joseph Woodall won his Victoria Cross on the far side of the canal at La Pannerie, near Hinges. His citation read: La Pannerie, France, 22 April 1918, Lance Sergeant Joseph Edward Woodall, 1st Bn, The Rifle Brigade. For most conspicuous bravery and fine leadership during an attack. ( La Pannerie, France ) Sjt. Woodall was in command of a platoon which, during an advance, was held up by a machine gun. On his own initiative he rushed forward and, single-handed, captured the gun and eight men. After the objective had been gained, heavy fire was encountered from a farmhouse some 200 yards in front. Sjt. Woodall collected ten men and, with great dash and gallantry, rushed the farm and took thirty prisoners. Shortly afterwards, when the officer in command was killed, he took entire command, reorganised the two platoons, and disposed them most skilfully. Throughout the day, in spite of intense shelling and machine-gun fire, this gallant N.C.O. was constantly on the move, encouraging the men and finding out and sending back invaluable information. The example set by Sjt. Woodall was simply magnificent, and had a marked effect on the troops. The success of the operation on this portion of the front is attributed almost entirely to his coolness, courage and utter disregard for his own personal safety. He was awarded the VC at Buckingham Palace by King George V on 23rd November 1918. The town of Eccles was not to be denied it's celebration of their local hero, on his return from London he was taken to Eccles Town Hall and given a civic reception, this was followed by a brass band procession to the Palladium Cinema, Patricroft where before a crowded cinema audience with thousands locked out he was presented with with his medal, a purse of money by the Mayor of Eccles, Alderman Bethel, and somewhat oddly a bicycle by his employers, George Mort, presumably a motor car being too expensive. After the war he moved to Oldham where he obtained work in Royton Mill, tragically he lost part of his arm in an industrial accident. In 1955 he retired to Dun Laoghaire, Dublin where he died of bronchial problems on 2nd February 1962 aged sixty five. Mid-Antrim Friends of the Somme group decided to raise funds for a headstone after learning from Great War Researcher Liam Dodd that Joseph Woodall VC, who served with the 1st Battalion, The Rifle Brigade, was lying in an unmarked grave in Dean's Grange Cemetery, Dublin. The project to raise the necessary funds was successful by involving various organisations which included the UDR Association; the Medal Society of Ireland; Friends of the Somme; Antrim Community Church and Air Cadets ( NI Command ); the UUP in Antrim; along with a generous donation from Larne businessman Kenny Hogg. The task to design and construct a memorial stone to commemorate Joseph Woodall VC was given to Mark Davidson a monumental sculptor in Ballyclare who has great experience in this field and who also made a generous donation in kind. On the 2nd January 2010 a prestigious ceremony took place in Dean's Grange Cemetery where a headstone was unveiled to commemorate the life of Captain Joseph Woodall VC. ( Owing to the wishes of the King family, the Woodall memorial stone was not placed over his actual burial spot but located elsewhere in the cemetery. Due to problems with spam only SalfordOnline members can now leave comments. Becoming a member of SalfordOnline only takes a minute, just hit the red Join Us button at the top right hand side of the page to create your Personal account. Got a news story? Need help with publicity for an event in Salford? Send it to newsdesk@salfordonline.com or call the SalfordOnline newsdesk on 0161 789 5377. |
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