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Private Harry Cecil Woodward
Description
TitlePrivate Harry Cecil WoodwardSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionHarry was born at Oxford on 27 May 1885, son of William and Emily Woodward. He was educated at Oxford School and after the family moved to Springston, he worked for a number of years for local farmers. Before enlisting he and his brother, Mr J. Woodward, were farming on their own account in the Lincoln-Prebbleton district. He was greatly respected for his honesty and integrity. He was 5ft 5in tall with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.
Harry enlisted at Christchurch on 23rd May 1917 and was attested on 20th August 1917 but was transferred on 15th November 1917 to leave without pay for a month which was extended until 4th February 1918. His records give no reason why but his services may not have been needed. He finally reported for duty in February and was assigned to the 34th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, C Company. He embarked on board the Ulimaroa on 8th February 1918 and arrived in Liverpool on 29th March 1918. He marched into Brocton Camp, base of the Rifle Brigade on 29th March 1918. However he then marched out to Sling Camp where he was attached to the Canterbury Infantry Regiment on 20th April 1918. He left for France with them on 26th May and marched into camp at Etaples on 28th May. From there he joined the NZ Entrenching Battalion, which had become a reserve and general purpose Battalion, on 30th May. From there three months later he was then transferred to the 1st Battalion Canterbury Regiment and posted to 13th Company on 20th August. Only six days later he was wounded in action, suffering a gunshot wound to the abdomen, on 26th August 1918. At this time the New Zealand Division were fighting around Bapaume. For three days the battle had raged about the broken walls of Bapaume, as the German Divisions had been told to hold the town at all costs. Harry was taken up by the No 1 field Ambulance and admitted to No 56 Casualty Clearing Station, but sadly he died of his wounds on the 27th. He was buried in the Bagneux British Cemetery, Gezaincourt. In New Zealand Harry is remembered on the Springston War Memorial.
Gezaincourt is a village is situated 2 Kms to the south-west of the town of Doullens. The cemetery was begun in April 1918 after the close of the German offensive in Picardy. At the end of March, the 3rd, 29th and 56th Casualty Clearing Stations had come to Gezaincourt where they were joined for a short time in April by the 45th. They remained until September. The graves in Plot III, Row A relate to a bombing raid over Doullens on 30 May 1918. There are 1,374 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.First NameHarry CecilLast NameWoodwardFamilySingleSon of William and Emily WoodwardDate of Birth27 May 1885Place of BirthOxfordDate of Death27 August 1918Place of DeathSomme, FranceCause of DeathDied of woundsAge at Death33
Harry enlisted at Christchurch on 23rd May 1917 and was attested on 20th August 1917 but was transferred on 15th November 1917 to leave without pay for a month which was extended until 4th February 1918. His records give no reason why but his services may not have been needed. He finally reported for duty in February and was assigned to the 34th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, C Company. He embarked on board the Ulimaroa on 8th February 1918 and arrived in Liverpool on 29th March 1918. He marched into Brocton Camp, base of the Rifle Brigade on 29th March 1918. However he then marched out to Sling Camp where he was attached to the Canterbury Infantry Regiment on 20th April 1918. He left for France with them on 26th May and marched into camp at Etaples on 28th May. From there he joined the NZ Entrenching Battalion, which had become a reserve and general purpose Battalion, on 30th May. From there three months later he was then transferred to the 1st Battalion Canterbury Regiment and posted to 13th Company on 20th August. Only six days later he was wounded in action, suffering a gunshot wound to the abdomen, on 26th August 1918. At this time the New Zealand Division were fighting around Bapaume. For three days the battle had raged about the broken walls of Bapaume, as the German Divisions had been told to hold the town at all costs. Harry was taken up by the No 1 field Ambulance and admitted to No 56 Casualty Clearing Station, but sadly he died of his wounds on the 27th. He was buried in the Bagneux British Cemetery, Gezaincourt. In New Zealand Harry is remembered on the Springston War Memorial.
Gezaincourt is a village is situated 2 Kms to the south-west of the town of Doullens. The cemetery was begun in April 1918 after the close of the German offensive in Picardy. At the end of March, the 3rd, 29th and 56th Casualty Clearing Stations had come to Gezaincourt where they were joined for a short time in April by the 45th. They remained until September. The graves in Plot III, Row A relate to a bombing raid over Doullens on 30 May 1918. There are 1,374 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.First NameHarry CecilLast NameWoodwardFamilySingleSon of William and Emily WoodwardDate of Birth27 May 1885Place of BirthOxfordDate of Death27 August 1918Place of DeathSomme, FranceCause of DeathDied of woundsAge at Death33
Connections
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryBagneux British CemeterySpringston Wae MemorialOccupation before EnlistingFarmer Regiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry Regiment Enlistment Details23rd May 1917 at ChristchurchService Number63077Embarkation8th February 1918TransportUlimaroaReinforcement34th ReinforcementsCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. SeatonTaken FromPhoto taken from Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph. Please refer to this site for the photo’s copyright license
Private Harry Cecil Woodward. Selwyn Stories, accessed 08/11/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/358
