WOOLLARD, George Charley



No.332068, Private, George Charley WOOLLARD
Aged 27


'C' Coy., 2nd/9th Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Killed in Action on Saturday 1st June 1918


George Charley Woollard was born in Cowlinge (Risbridge Q2-1891 4A-728), baptised on 23rd April 1893 in Cowlinge, son of George and Mary Ann WOOLLARD(née CHAPMAN).

1901 census...Aged 9, he was at Queens Street, Cowlinge with his father George WOOLLARD [40] carpenter; his mother Mary Ann [37], and sisters Violet [11], Laura [7], Mary [6] and Mabel [9 months]. All were born in Cowlinge.

1911 census...Aged 19 he was at Kings Weston Gardens, Bristol, with Edgar Fuller [25] born Aldershot. Both were domestic gardeners. His parents and sister Laura Ada were at 1 Queen Street, Cowlinge.

His Cheveley connection has not been established. CWGC have his parents in Ashley.

One pension card had his mother at 4 The Street, Cheveley (died 1939) replaced by sister Mary Jane at 20 Holland Rd, W Kensington.


He enlisted in Seaforth, Lancashire, when resident in Prescot, Lancashire. His medal index card and "Soldier Died" somehow have him as George E Woollard.
In February 1918 the 1st/9th and 2nd/9th battalions merged to become the 9th Battalion. From the war diaries:-
The Battalion was in reserve to the Brigade in the left Brigade Sector at GOMMECOURT, with Head Quarters in the old German Support line north of GOMMECOURT WOOD which was renamed RUM SUPPORT.
The companies were disposed from right to left in the order "B", "A" & "C" in GOMMECOURT TRENCH & GOMMECOURT SUPPORT. "D" Company was in reserve. The Companies were housed in mined dugouts made by the enemy, and again evidence of the industry of the Germans was seen in the mined dugouts, armoured sentry boxes, substantial revetments & belts of wire entanglements.
At morning "stand-to" the enemy put down a barrage on the Divisional Front. The S.O.S. went up in several places, & our artillery - some of which was immediately in rear - opened with rapid fire. It transpired later that the enemy raided the right brigade sector without success. The usual working parties were provided in the evening.


It seems possible that the 7th, 8th and 9th battalions were in the same area as entries for Couin Cemetery have several from each battalion (3 from the 9th) killed on 1st June.



photo; Commonwealth War Graves Commission



George Woollard is buried in Couin New British Cemetery , grave F:34
and commemorated on the Cheveley war memorial and also in Prescot,Lancashire

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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