EDWARD HUNTER THURTELL WOODS

Images courtesy of Niki.

Born: 22nd January 1895, 12, Redan Street, Ipswich

Died: 15th July 1916; age 21; KiA whilst leading his platoon against the Germans. Mortally wounded by machine guns, near Bazentin-le-Petit (River Somme), on the attack on High Wood.

Residence: ‘Ellingham’ Hatfield Road, Ipswich.

Occupation: an Accountant.

Date of Entry Therein: 30th May 1916 – France.

Original enlisted 1st December 1914 as a Motor Dispatch Rider. Gazetted 29th July 1915 – 2nd Lieutenant, Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion. He was only temporarily attached to the 98th Trench Mortar Battery, in connection with which he was killed.

Rank: 2nd Lieutenant.

Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion – attached to the 98th Trench Mortar Battery.

Medals Awarded: Victory & British War.

Believed to be buried in this Cemetery:

Memorial Reference:

1914. Special Memorial 4.

Caterpillar Valley Cemetery,

Longueval,

Somme,

France.

Relatives Notified & Address: Eldest son of William Hunter Woods & Rosa M. Woods of ‘Ellingham’ 121, Hatfield Road, Ipswich.

Brother to HAROLD WALLACE WOODS.

CENSUS

1901   16, Redan Street, Ipswich.

Edward was 8 years old and living with his parents & brother.

William Hunter Woods, 33, a Coal Merchant – own account, born Walton, Suffolk.

Rosa Maria Woods (nee Thurtell), 32, born Mettingham, Suffolk.

Harold Wallace Woods, 4, born 12, Redan Street, Ipswich.

1 governess

1 domestic servant.

1911   121, Hatfield Road, Ipswich.

Edward was 16 years old, a Junior Clerk in the Public Body – Ipswich Dock Commission. He was living with his parents & siblings.

William, 43, a Coal Merchant – own account.

Rosa, 42.

Harold, 15, a Student.

Adelaide Anthea Muriel Woods, 6, born Ipswich.

1 visitor

1 domestic servant.

Edward’s paternal grandfather, Edward Hunter Woods and his first wife Lois Elizabeth Woods nee Cordy (sister to Edward’s paternal grandmother Adelaide Cordy), resided at Sparrow’s Nest, Henley Road. Here Edward was a farmer of 168 acres and in 1861 employed 8 men.

Edward was educated at Ipswich School – entered 1906. Member of the School’s O.T.C., he was a keen sportsman, and an excellent cricketer – Edward played in the School eleven at cricket.

After leaving school, Edward was a member of the Ipswich and East Suffolk Cricket Club.

1/4^th Suffolk Regiment,

B.E.F.,

France.

Saturday

Dear Uncle Claude,

 Just a line to let you know what I am up to. We came out of the trenches last Wednesday night, arriving in this village in the early hours of Thursday morning dead tired. The billets are good, especially for the men. The whole of my company are in an old farmhouse & the surrounding buildings are quite comfortable. We had a fairly lively time in the trenches, what with mines going up (it is a fine sight) & shelling & I can’t tell you much more about it though in this letter, if you ask Dada the next time you see him you will see that we had a very lucky escape from being blown to h—, still we are out now enjoying the rest. We carry on with ordinary parades just as if we were in England.

I think we go back to the trenches again on July 2, we were six days in reserve & 5 in the front line this time. I have had a bit of a cold, otherwise quite well & as happy as can be. I rode horseback for about 12 miles yesterday afternoon & enjoyed it very much. I had a lovely letter from Nellie Sy— the other day, telling me where Cecil and Denis are. I passed through the town where Cecil is on my way up, but it is some distance from here. Tell Jean I was awfully pleased with her letter & will write to her next time. Love to Auntie & Jean. Hope you are all well.

Your affectionate nephew

Edward

Edward’s medals were sent to ‘Ellingham’ 121, Hatfield Road, Ipswich in February 1922.

Suffolk and Essex Free Press – 26^th July 1916 – SECOND-LIEUT. EDWARD H.T. WOODS.

Second-Lieut. Edward H.T. Woods, of Ipswich, killed in action, joined the Army as a motor-dispatch rider in December, 1914, and early in the following August he was given a commission in the 4^th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment. He was only temporarily attached to the 98^th Trench Mortar Battery, in connection with which he was killed. He was educated at Ipswich School, and played in the School eleven at cricket. After leaving school he was a member of the Ipswich and East Suffolk Cricket Club. As already stated, he was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Woods, of Hatfield Road, and was 21 years of age.

DNW Auction House: EDWARD & HAROLD’S MEDALS.

The auction of the medals was held in December 2013. Sold for £430.

Pair: Second Lieutenant E. H. T. Woods, 4th Battalion Suffolk Regiment, Killed in Action, in the attack on High Wood, Battle of the Somme, 15th July 1916
British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.)

Pair: Second Lieutenant H. W. Woods, 4th Battalion Suffolk Regiment, killed in action, battle of the Scarp, 23rd April 1917
British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.) extremely fine £250-300.

Edward is also remembered on the Chapel war memorial at Ipswich School, and on the war memorial at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Ipswich. Edward and Harold are also commemorated on either side of the Altar by panels erected by their parents.

The Somme Offensive Day 15

The battle of the Bazentin Ridge and the attack on High Wood.

The 4^th Battalion the Suffolk’s 15^th July 1916 regimental records:

While the 4^th Battalion was moving through Becordel to the position between Fricourt and Mametz where they bivouacked during the night of July 14^th-15^th, the battle of the Bazentin Ridge was raging in all its fury. They were not destined, however, to remain long thus upon the fringe of the hostilities, and at dawn went out under the command of Major H.C.Copeman D.S.O to support the 1^st Middlesex Regiment in an attack on Switch trench. After severe fighting, a line immediately in front of the Village of Bazentin-le-Petit was taken up and held for the remainder of the day. The casualties in the battalion exceeded two hundred.

This is the highest death rate of the war for Ipswich. 17 men.

Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion

Suffolk Regiment Battalion movements

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