15500. Private Hugh Woodney

17th. (Service) (1st. City of Liverpool) Battalion, The King’s (Liverpool Regiment) “The Liverpool Pals”, 5th. Army. Born 1st. February 1895. Baptized 18th. August 1895 in the Parish of St. Peter, Liverpool. Enlisted in Liverpool. Killed in Action on Wednesday 12th. July 1916, aged 21, during the 12th. day of The Battle of The Somme. Buried in Bernafay Wood British Cemetery, Somme, France, Row H, Grave 53. Son of Christopher Woodney and Mary Ann Woodney. Hugh was 1 of only 2 Servicemen with the surname “Woodney” to have fallen during The Great War. 

29 of Hugh’s Comrades from the Battalion were also Killed in Action on this day, 3 of whom are buried in the same Cemetery, one of them buried next to him: 

15424. Lance Corporal Charles G. Croxson, buried in Row H, Grave 52 

The following Officer Fell between the 10th. and 12th. July 1916

Major George Frederick Higgins

17th. (Service) (1st. City of Liverpool) Battalion, The King’s (Liverpool Regiment)

Formed in Liverpool on 29 August 1914 by Lord Derby, in the old watch factory at Prescot. It as the distinction of being the very first of the "Pals" Battalions to be formed. 

The 17th Earl of Derby proposed forming a Battalion of "Pals" for the King's Regiment, to be recruited from men of the same workplace. His proposal proved successful. Within a week, thousands of Liverpudlians had volunteered for service, to eventually be formed into the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th Battalions. Collectively, the Battalions became known as the City of Liverpool Battalions or "Liverpool Pals".

Lord Derby addressed recruits on 28 August:

“This should be a Battalion of Pals, a Battalion in which friends from the same office will fight shoulder to shoulder for the honour of Britain and the credit of Liverpool.” 

All those who volunteered before 16 October 1914 were given a Hallmarked Silver Cap Badge as a personal gift from Lord Derby. The Eagle and Child are taken from the heraldic crest of the Stanleys, the Earls of Derby which shows the Eagle and Child in its mediaeval form. His personal motto “SANS CHANGER” (CONSTANT - WITHOUT CHANGE) was also adopted by the Liverpool Pals. The Liverpool Pals Battalions served in 89th Brigade until 1918, part of 30th Division which was the first of the Pals Divisions.

CONCENTRATION OF GRAVES (Exhumation and Reburials).

BURIAL RETURN.

Name of Cemetery of Reburial  BERNAFAY WOOD  57c S .28B 7.9.

Map Reference where body found  57c S 28 A

Was cross on grave?  H.D.4.

Regimental particulars  Pte WOODNEY H.

Means of identification  17/ Kings Liverpools

Hugh’s Medal Roll Index Card notes:

CAMPAIGN:- 1914-15.

Deceased

THEATRE OF WAR. (1) France

QUALIFYING DATE. 7.11.15.

Hugh was eligible for The Victory Medal, British War Medal and 1915 Star.

Barry Jenkins