Guestbook

Mick, u can write to me at sheda71@yahoo.com.sg

Hey Mick, how are u doing? Good to know that your missis is a Singaporean. I know where Clementi & Bukit Batok are, somewhere West side of Singapore. Im staying in Simei, that's in the East. Not too far from the Airport.

Cheers!

Hi Sheba where about in Singapore do you live my missis is a Singaporean and we have relatives in Clementi and Bukit Batok

Im from Singapore & i enjoyed looking at all those beautiful pics of Wigan. I got a friend living there and hope to come visit someday.

Cheers!

re:lauren parkinson my sister-in-law veronica
ashton nee collier was thomas woodcock's grandaughter

Rose, Post on Communicate & lets have some thi humour,

i am looking for any Donnellys in Wigan

Hello Alan just a little bit of news for you
My friend as found out that there was only one shop named Hunter and that was in High street Golborne, now there was three butchers in High street but we don't know which one of them belonged to Mr Hunter.
I worked in two of them Pillings and Foulds
but knew the other owner of the other Alf Horabin. any way will let you know if my friend finds anything else out.

Thanks Gordon for info on Hunters of Golborne,I await further results

Ihave known about wigan world for a while only just started to veiw bellting sight

Lauren, I have found a link that may be useful to you . www.aftermathww1.com/woodcock.
A news article was featured in the Manchester Evening News 30 June 2006. There was a picture & write up of your Grt Grt Grandfather Thomas Woodcock. The paper should be able to help you with news clippings of the period. Try Google.
I think we should all try & find out about the people who have gone before us & who have shaped who we are today. Good Luck.

ihave been asked on a numerous occasions about about the pit i used to wok at and had i heard of a bloke named freddy foster, yes i do remember freddy and after reading his books on the website it brought back plenty of good memorys and it out a smile on my face with his stories which i well remember. i will be visiting the site more as i found it very interesting.

my great great grandad is the victoria cross holder. i know his backgound etc as i have inherited items and have become interested in finding out more about him and was just wanting more photos and news clippings of him.

JM I found a BUCKLEY HOUSE INN , A William Halsall owned it and he lived in Gidlow Lane, I was browsing the 1869 directory,

Sorry Lauren....I called you Laura.

Laura,
A quick look on the LDS Family Research website shows there were several Thomas Woodcock's around the Wigan area. You need to know roughly where & when he was born, the more info the better the result. Also have you tried the Wigan History section on WW...easy to use.

thomas woodcock is my very special great great grandad and will always be remembered for his bravery.

Hi VP,
Yes L/Cpl Thomas Woodcock was one tremendous person.
In training for the Irish Guards we had rooms named after Irish Guards Victoria Cross winners.
I was in L/Cpl Thomas Woodcock VC's room.
How is that for coincidence

Albert very interesting piece of local history, My granndparents were very friendly with a married couple named Woodcock who lived in the same area i wonder if they were the same Woodcock family, i bet they were.
her name was Bella although that was her married name cant remember her husbands name{pity}because he was the Woodcock.

Wigan's first VC.

A VALIANT Victoria Cross winner is to be honoured with a plaque at a memorial service attended by members of his old regiment.

Lance Corporal Thomas Woodcock won the VC for his bravery and determination in defending a post on the Western Front for 96 hours before rescuing a fallen colleague and then carrying him to safety.

He was later killed in action on March 27, 1918, shortly after his 30th birthday.

Today, the Regiment of the Irish Guards is to celebrate its centenary with a visit to St Patrick’s Church, Wigan, where a memorial plaque will be unveiled during a service in L/Cpl Woodcock’s memory.

He was born in Wigan in March 1888 and went to St Patrick’s primary school.

He worked in the mines, which made him exempt from wartime service, but the father-of-three volunteered to fight with the Irish Guards.

After his heroics, he returned to Wigan in March 1918, where he was given a civic reception and a parish reception in St Patrick’s school

Having earned the VC he did not have to return to fight in the war, but he headed back to the Front to fight just days after his hero’s reception on St Patrick’s Day.

His grave is in the British military cemetery at Douchy-les-Ayette, France.

L/Cpl Woodcock won his VC for defending a post which came under attack on all sides. While fellow soldiers escaped, he provided covering fire before fleeing when the enemy was only yards away.As he crossed a river he heard a colleague scream for help.

L/Cpl Woodcock dodged bombs and bullets to pull him out of a stream and carry him to safety.

Before today’s memorial service, the Guards were to assemble in St Patrick’s Way and march to the church past the current St Patrick’s school, which is built on the site of L/Cpl Woodcock’s family home.
During the church service, the plaque was being unveiled by the Regiment of the Irish Guards’ Lt-Col Brigadier Sebastian Robert.