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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 626

Three: Private R. Woodward, 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, who was killed in action during an attack on Rifle Trench near Monchy on 28 April 1917

1914-15 Star (40507 Pte. R. Woodward. Norf. R.); British War and Victory Medals (7-11795 Pte. R. Woodward. Linc. R.), good very fine (3)

Robert Woodward was born at Welby, Lancashire in 1894, the son of Charles and Emma Woodward 27 Tyndal Road, Grantham. Enlisting with the Lincolnshire Regiment on 5 October 1914 at Lincoln he was posted first to the 7th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment and entered the war in France with them on 14 July 1915. He served here for some time before being wounded in action on 18 August 1915, he returned to Britain on 19 March 1916.

Returning to France in September 1916 Woodward was transferred to the 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment the next month on 15 October. Appointed Acting Lance Corporal on 10 April 1917 his unit went on the offensive less than three weeks later on 28 April.

Their objective was Rifle Trench, to the north of Monchy, with an aim to taking the Black Line and advancing on the Blue Line. 'C' Company moved on Rifle Trench at first light and managed to take it with 'A' and 'B' companies bypassing the position to take the Black Line. This was achieved and in conjunction with the 7th Suffolks they moved on the Blue Line. Heavy rifle and machine gun fire coupled with a lack of intelligence - which had rendered artillery fire useless - forced them to ground. In the ensuring withdrawal Rifle Trench was lost, only to be retaken two days later. Woodward was not their to see it having fallen in the fighting, he is commemorated upon the Arras Memorial; sold together with copied research comprising MIC, Commonwealth War Graves certificate and a Battalion War Diary extract as well as Soldiers Died in the Great War entry.

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Sold for
£100

Starting price
£80