Rifleman John Woodward 2nd Bn King's Royal Rifle Crops

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Oldleg, Nov 11, 2017.

  1. Oldleg

    Oldleg Well-Known Member

    I am helping the family of Rifleman John Woodward to learn about their relative. At the moment the family know very little outside of the way he was killed. All they know was that John was in Egypt in '42 and that he was killed when he was carrying out some reconnaissance on August 30th 1944 whilst his batallion was in Fleury La Foret. He was apparently shot by a sniper.

    Am I right in thinking that his service records would be held at Kew?

    One interesting point about his grave is that the cross which is there has the '44' written in such a way that it resembles the form of the SS symbol. Is this common with people who were killed by the SS? I know that the SS were around along with the Hitler Jugen.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  3. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Rifleman WOODWARD, JOHN WILLIAM
    Service Number 6898253

    Died 30/08/1944

    Aged 28

    2nd Bn.
    King's Royal Rifle Corps

    Alternative Commemoration - buried in Fleury-la-Foret Isolated Grave.


    INSCRIPTION
    BURIED AT FLEURY-LA-FORET
     
  4. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    The 44 of 1944 is written in the French way an 'open' not a closed one - as I and I am sure you have often seen. Another minor flaw in the argument is that if he was shot by a sniper why would the SS be involved, the sniper would have just moved off and/or moved on to the next target

    TD
     
  5. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    I find it odd that his grave is still there without a CWGC headstone & there is a seperate memorial to him at Rouen.
    edit: I thought that was his grave but it seems it isn't. (sorry being a bit thick) This says his grave was lost .
    Milcombe
     
    Tricky Dicky likes this.
  6. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    [​IMG]
     
    Tricky Dicky likes this.
  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    That's what I read earlier so am confused why he hasn't got a proper CWGC headstone .
    There are plenty of isolated graves around France with proper headstones.
     
  8. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945
    Name: John Woodward
    Given Initials: J W
    Rank: Rifleman
    Death Date: 30 Aug 1944
    Number: 6898253
    Birth Place: London E
    Residence: London N
    Regiment at Enlistment: Queen's Westminster and Civil Service Rifles
    Branch at Enlistment: Infantry
    Theatre of War: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45
    Regiment at Death: King's Royal Rifle Corps
    Branch at Death: Infantry

    UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947
    Name: John William Woodward
    Death Date: 30 Aug 1944
    Cemetery: St Sever Cemetery Extn Rouen Fr 590
    Burial Country: France
    Regimental Number: 6898253
    Region or Memorial: France
    Other Records:
    40465_291523-00066.jpg

    The .pdf attached aseems quite specific -
    "Alternative Commemoration - buried in Fleury-la-Foret Isolated Grave"

    TD

    What does the reference mean - Index No Fr 954 - is that a French reference to details of where the grave is, or a CWGC reference to a French file ......................................... etc etc
     

    Attached Files:

    CL1 likes this.
  9. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    No answer to your question Owen found this website
    https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&r...ilcombe.html&usg=AOvVaw1pnazE1AnPlE6x3DwI0-ww

    John William WOODWARD
    Rifleman, 2nd Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Army no. 6898253
    He was killed in action on 30 August 1944 in the fighting near Gournay during the Falaise actions. He was 29.
    He was the son of Albert J and Mary Woodward and the elder brother of Herbert, the previous entry
    He was buried in an isolated grave near Fleury la Forêt. This grave has since been lost but he is remembered on spec memorial block S near plot IV St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen.
     
  10. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    So did I in post #5 mate :)
     
  11. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    Whoops need to get my eyes tested
     
  12. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    from my point of view typical CWGC process
    Grave lost/not serviceable so special memorial placed in a more accessible location
     
    Deacs likes this.
  13. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    What does the reference mean - Index No Fr 954 - is that a French reference to details of where the grave is, or a CWGC reference to a French file i.e if CWGC were contacted would be able to enlighten us on this?

    I would have thought there would be something/someone locally to say where the grave was/is. The local Mayors office usually would be helpful and provide contact to locals who may answer your question

    TD
     

Share This Page