Wigan Album

I don't remember seeing this in St Pat's church, next time I go I will make a point of looking for it. There are so many familiar family names, especially Penmans and the Irish names. There is a Maypole Disaster sign underneath the carpet in the porch, which is inlaid in the tiles. Perhaps it was covered over to preserve it. They are lovely tiles underneath...if I remember correctly.

It isn't actually on display, but is kept in the Memorial Chapel. I was there researching for the Imperial War Museum's website - so, although I saw two Maypole disaster memorials - a tablet in the Memorial Chapel, and a brass plaque under one of the Stations of the Cross - they were not of immediate interest to me - though I hadn't heard of them before, and only knew of the big memorial outside St John's in Abram. Interesting to hear of the one you mention Veronica.
I looked in vain for a memorial tablet carrying the names of the men from St Patrick's who fell in the Great War - only seeing the wayside shrine on the outside wall, now bereft of its statue of the Sacred Heart.

Reverend David. There is a picture (B/W) of the Memorial in the book 150 Years of St Patrick. It states " Pray For The Victims Of The Maypole Pit Disaster And For The Donor" it is on Pg 116 and the names and addresses of all the 19 victims from the Parish are on the next page. If I could take a good enough picture I would send it, but it wouldn't be very good.

Ps Rev. David if you would like me to type out the names and addresses for you of the victims,I could do. How sad that the 'grey' statue of the Sacred Heart has gone - I didn't know that.

I remember seeing this as a child. When the anniversary of WW1 approached I wrote the following article which highlights 2 St Patrick's men.I hope viewers find some interest in it.

Deadman's Penny.

By

Tom Walsh.



As the anniversary of the end of First World War approaches I began again to think about Wigan’s involvement in the war to end all wars – if only it were so – and my mind wandered back to my school days at St Patrick’s School and being told about Thomas Woodcock V.C., a former pupil of the school. We were told how after a Civic Reception at Wigan Town Hall he was the guest of honour at our school and that very night he left Wigan to return to the front, never to return to Wigan.
He had cheated death once but wasn’t to be so fortunate a second time. He was killed in action on the 27 March 1918, only months before the armistice. His bravery was further underlined by the fact that as a recipient of the Victoria Cross, he was excused front line action, but he insisted on rejoining his comrades. Considering his experience, his insistance on returning to rejoin battle was surely as brave as his exploits on the battlefield; by this commitment surely another medal for bravery was deserved.
His citation reads:
‘On the 13 September 1917 north of Broenbeek, Belgium, when an advanced post had held out for 96 hours and was finally forced to retire, Private Woodcock covered the retreat. Private Woodcock heard cries for help behind him – he returned and waded into the stream amid a shower of bombs and rescued another member of the party the latter he then carried across open ground in daylight towards our front line, regardless of machine-gun fire.’
In preparing this story I had the great pleasure of meeting Mrs Veronica Ashton, grand-daughter of this outstanding man. She was able to give me an insight into the pride his family still have almost a century after his sacrifice; she allowed me to view her albums and a picture that has pride of place in her home. She recalls clearly his medals being displayed in a glass case in her grandmother’s home in Cambridge Street. Mrs Ashton has visited her grandfather’s grave along with her children; she tells me of the overwhelming feeling of pride mixed with sorrow, tears only just held back. Veronica is a kind person, of steely determination and it is clear that Thomas Woodcock’s traits have been passed down the generations. As she is proud of him, I’m sure he in turn would be equally proud of her.
There are memorials to this brave soldier in both St Patrick’s Church and School. His Victoria Cross can be seen at The Guards Museum, Wellington Barracks, London. I haven’t yet seen the medal but on my next visit to the capital I shall certainly pay a visit. I’m sure it will be a surreal experience knowing that I’ve shared a schoolyard with a man of such outstanding courage, albeit 55 years apart!
My only real memory regarding the First World War was of seeing a large coin type ornament on the sideboard of a neighbour in McCormick Street. Mrs Kelly had lost a son in The Great War, as she always described it, and asking her about it she explained that it was given to the families of servicemen who died in the war and that it was called ‘The Deadman’s Penny’.
I remember saying in a childlike way, ‘a penny isn’t much for a life’. I can still remember her reply, ‘Eh" love it’s not but it’s all I’ve got of him, and it’s worth its weight in gold to me’. At such a young age I couldn’t fully comprehend what she meant or understand her great sorrow, which never truly healed. Mrs Kelly died in the family home in 1951, still a broken woman. The suffering of the First World War was not only on the battlefields of Flanders and Passchendaele, but in the hearths, hearts and homes of the mothers and fathers who would never see their sons again, not even left with a grave to tend. I think I half realised, even for one so young, that part of Mrs Kelly died on that day in 1918.
As the centenary of the start of that war is remembered, my mind went back to Mrs Kelly and the so called Deadman’s Penny and I resolved to find out more about her son. The following article is what I was able to ascertain with the help of the records from Wigan’s Archives & Local Studies, where the newspaper index and records of the war are truly amazing; thanks are due to all who worked on its compilation. Below is the full report:
‘Wigan Observer, 2 November 1918.
Nineteen, and Four Years’ Service.
Mrs Kelly of 34 McCormick Street Wigan has received news that her son Pte. John Kelly, Royal Irish Fusiliers Lewis Gun Corps, has been killed in action. Pte. Kelly who was nineteen years old and single enlisted in November 1914 and was last employed as a drawer at the Maypole Collieries. A comrade-in-arms, writing to the bereaved mother, tell her that her son was very well liked by all the boys in the platoon.’
John Kelly was born on the 4 June 1899, so he was only fifteen years, six months old when he volunteered (conscription was only introduced in 1916). Therefore, he must have exaggerated his age to enlist; I don’t think many questions were asked in those days. The tragedy is compounded by the nearness of the ceasefire; had that taken place a week or so earlier, John Kelly would have returned to Wigan a war hero and Mrs Kelly would have been spared thirty-three years of heartache. If a week is a long time in politics, it must be an eternity in war.
I was only six years old when Mrs Kelly died and I have often wondered what happened to the penny. I hope it didn’t go in a house clearance or was sold in a second-hand shop for a few coppers; a man’s life surely deserves better than that. Had I been older when Mrs Kelly died I would have suggested that it was placed in her coffin. Mother and son together forever. What ever its fate, I’m sure Mrs Kelly would be proud to see her son still remembered almost a hundred years after his death.

References:
• Wigan Observer, 2 November 1918.
• Wigan Observer, 20 October 1917.
• Wigan & Leigh Archives Online http://archives.wigan.gov.uk/entity/64617.

Veronica - thank you for the offer - but my research at present covers the local War Mmorials... so it's a list of the men from St Williams who were killed in the Great War that I am looking for.
Tom - thanks for that piece about Thomas Woodcock and John Kelly. Could I ask you to email me, please? I am hoping you can help me with some queries I have about the Imperial War Museum's records of memorials at St Patrick's, and St John's in Wigan.

Such a sad story Tom and multiplied over and over for many families.
That's ok Rev. David, although I have sent you an email with pictures of the plaque and a list of names and addresses. At least you will know what lies beneath the carpet.

My grandfather William Long a lifelong member of St Patricks parish served in France from 19/9/1914 until being injured, he was returned to England on 26/10/1914 aboard the Hospital Yacht Albion and admitted to Queen Alexandra hospital London for treatment . Grandad had previously served in South Africa. He died in 1956.Would I be correct in assuming that he is the W Long listed on the plaque.

Oops - I meant to say it's the list of men from St Patrick's I'm looking for. The Roll of Honour from St Williams has been rescued, and now hangs in the Memorial Chapel at St Patrick's.

Geraldine - I should think so - the dates qualify him to have joined the Chums.
Veronica - nothing has arrived. Have you used the email address from my Comments here?

I sent the email to the one above Reverend but it came back unsuccessful... I tried another one david@scars.org.uk which did send. I will try again if you haven't got that one.

The email has gone now Rev. David ( for what it's worth) my daft iPad changed the i to I... Which I hadn't noticed! The perils of iPads !

I think my G Grandfather’s is on this plaque. His name was Joseph WARD (Ashton Street) and he lost his life on the first day of the battle of The Somme 1st July 1916. His body was never recovered and he is remembered at Thiepval, as well as the Wigan War memorial at All Saints. We have photograph and his death penny. Sadly his brother Lawrence went through the war in the Army, to then join the Royal Navy to work on minesweepers and died in 1919 whilst in service. He has a war grave at Ince. These lads were loyal St Pats boys and I’m so proud of both of them. My grandma was Agnes Howe (nee Ward). I’d love to see some recognition for the sacrifice these boys made, as they lost their lives to give us the freedom we have now.

Adelle - the J Ward on this plaque will have survived the war, and gone on to join the 'Old Contemptibles Association'.
It's a pity St Patrick's appears not to have compiled a list of men from the Parish who were killed. Some appear on the memorial at St Catharine's - but he is not listed there.