Joseph Laverick Woodruff
Heslop's Local Advertiser December 1917
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Joseph Laverick Woodruff’s father, coal miner Robert Woodruff born 1858 and his wife Dorothy Harrison born 1857 at Windy Nook, both in Gateshead, whom he married in 1879 in the district of Gateshead, together had 1 son and 3 daughters, the eldest Elizabeth died age 2 years. Dorothy died in 1889 and Robert remarried in 1891 to the widow Catherine Laverick nee Fraser with whom he had a further 7 known children, 3 sons, including Joseph born 1893 at Heworth and 4 daughters. The family lived for over ten years at High Lanes, Heworth, aged 18 Joseph was employed as a blacksmith’s striker whilst his brothers Robert and James worked at the colliery along with their father.
Joseph Laverick Woodruff enlisted in September 1914 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and was assigned as Private 13118 to A Company, 9th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, attached to the 52nd Brigade, 17th Northern Division. The Division crossed to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force in July 1915 and were immediately sent to hold the front line on the Ypres salient in Belgium. In 1916 they were involved at The Bluff in spring and in early summer seeing action in the Battle of Albert and Delville Wood phases of the Battles of the Somme. Having risen through the ranks the now Lance Corporal 13118 Joseph Laverick Woodruff was reported as missing, February 8th 1917 and next of kin informed. After an extensive investigation as to his whereabouts he was officially struck off in December 1917 and officially declared to have been killed in action on or since February 8th 1917. He was 25 years old and single.
His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,246 names of British Empire servicemen inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Somme, France, pier and face 10/11/12B, commemorating those who died in the sector between 1915-1918 and have no known grave.
His father received all monies due to him and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, sent to him at 46, High Heworth, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham.
His younger brother Robert Woodruff Jnr. born 1896 at Heworth enlisted August 26th 1914 at Felling, Gateshead joining the Durham Light Infantry as Private 16631, however, he was discharged February 19th 1915 under King’s Regulations 392 (iii) not being likely to become an efficient soldier.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Lance Corporal Woodruff's death notice in Heslop's Local Advertiser Dec. 1917 reads:
Lance-Corpl. Joseph Laverick Woodruff, N.F., missing since Feb. 8th, now reported killed on that date, aged 25 years. Son of Robert and Catherine Woodruff, of High Lanes, Heworth.
Joseph Laverick Woodruff is remembered at Felling on F32.23 and at Heworth onH92.03
