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.
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
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
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
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.
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: 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
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.
from my point of view typical CWGC process Grave lost/not serviceable so special memorial placed in a more accessible location
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