Born on the 9th November 1897, the birth being
registered during the December quarter 1897 in the
Runcorn R.D. - refs - either: 8a/204 or 8a/206,
the son of Samuel John & Mary Elizabeth Woodcock
(nee Fairhurst).    His father was a Baker and
Store Keeper at the Bridge Stores Grappenhall.   
Baptised at St. Wilfrid's P.C., Grappenhall on the
2nd January 1898.

1901 Census - Portland Cottage, Grappenhall,
Runcorn, Cheshire.   Son - aged: 3 - born:
Grappenhall.   Head of household - Samuel John
Woodcock - Married - aged:  42 - occ: ????? Baker
and Assistant Overseer - born: Manchester.   Also
Mary E. Woodcock - Wife - aged: 40 - born:
Latchford, Cheshire.   Plus 3 elder siblings all
born at Grappenhall.

1911 Census - Tanners Lane, Grappenhall, Cheshire.
  Son - aged: 13 - Scholar - born: Grappenhall.   
Head of household - Samuel John Woodcock - Married
- aged: 52 - occ: Grocer & Baker - born -
Manchester.   Also - Mary Elizabeth Woodcock -
Wife - aged: 50 - occ: Assisyting in business -
born: Latchford, Cheshire. Plus 3 elder siblings
and 1 niece.

In October 1915, he enlisted in the Royal Field
Artillery and was posted to France in February
1917.   On the 11th/12th May 1917 he was commended
for bravery for saving 600 artillery rounds from a
dump whilst it was exploding and being shelled by
Germans.  In 1921, with fellow veterans he
established the Grappenhall Ex Service Club which
is still open on its original site.

Married - Ethel Gilks on the 18th October at
Latchford, the marriage being registered during
the December quarter 1926 in the Warrington R.D. -
ref: 8c/191.

1939 National Registration.   509 Stockport Road,
Thelwall, Warrington.   William Woodcock - born on
the 7th November 1897 - Married - occ: 	Commercial
Traveller for Engineers Stores & Contractors
Tools.   Ethel Woodcock - born on the 14th March
1902 - Married - occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties.  
There is one redacted record at this address,
which will be their son - Roger Fairhurst
Woodcock, born in 1931.  He is also listed as
being an Air Raid Warden, No. 17210, County of
Cheshire A.R.P..

Mortally injured whilst on duty as a Fire Watcher
at his workplace, Kenyons, Victoria Bridge,
Manchester and died later that night in Ancoats
Hospital, Manchester.  He had been trying to
rescue injured personnel from a bombed building,
when a wall fell on him.

His son - Roger Fairhurst Woodcock was born during
the June quarter 1931 in the Warrington R.D. -
ref: 8c/301.   Roger joined the Navy and rose to
become a Lieutenant.  He is recorded on the:-

1958 Navy List - Lieutenants - 1st May 1955 -
Attached to the Solent (List.2) Division.

1960 Navy List (Supply & Secretariat Branch) -
Lieutenants List - ref: 1st May 1955 - Un. (Sol.)
10.

CWGC - of 509 Stockport Road, Thelwall,
Warrington. Died at Ancoats Hospital, New Cross. 
Commemorated on the Thelwall Memorial Cross and
the WW2 memorial in St. Wilfrid's P.C.
Grappenhall..

Anther Salford Fire Watcher was also severely
injured in this incident - James Henry Redgrave,
but he was the last person to die from the
Manchester bombing as he survived his injuries
until the 21st January 1947.