Home News Features Forgotten hero finally remembered in Dublin

Forgotten hero finally remembered in Dublin

Thursday, 21 January 2010

A forgotten war hero who lies buried in a Southside cemetery was finally commemorated recently after a father and son team of military historians researched the unknown soldier's war records and erected a headstone in his honour. Sergeant Joseph Edward Woodall, who came from Eccles near Manchester, was awarded the highest military decoration for valour by the British Army in 1918 for his service during the First World War. But the Englishman moved to Sandycove in 1952 where he lived the last years of his life and his final resting place is in Deansgrange Cemetery where he was buried in 1962. Mr Woodall enlisted in the Rifle Brigade during the First World War and while a Lance Sergeant with the 1st Battalion was awarded a Victoria Cross during an attack on the La Bassée Canal, France, on April 22, 1918. On his retirement, Mr Woodall returned to England where he worked before eventually moving to Sandycove. He died on January 2, 1962 in St Michael's Hospital, Dún Laoghaire of burns received after an accident in his home. He was buried in Deansgrange Cemetery but his grave was never marked with his name. Then Liam and Conor Dodd, a father and son team of military historians from Dún Laoghaire, stumbled upon a mention of the war hero while they were researching records for Victoria Cross winners. Liam and Conor set about researching the war record of Mr Woodall and discovered that he was presented with his Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace on November 23 1918, by King George V. With the help and fundraising efforts of the Medals Society of Ireland and the Mid Antrim branch of the Friends of the Somme Association in Northern Ireland, Liam and Conor succeeded in collecting enough money to design and erect a headstone to the war hero in Deansgrange Cemetery. Speaking to Southside People, Liam Dodd explained that he believes it is of paramount importance that any soldiers who were brave enough to have won the Victoria Cross or other similar medals of valour should be properly remembered. “For anyone who received the Victoria Cross they have to have exhibited exceptional bravery,” he said. “And for a man like this to be forgotten is unacceptable. Before now if you had looked for this man's grave in the cemetery you wouldn't have found him because his name was not on the gravestone. “But now, with the help of Deansgrange Cemetery, we have erected a headstone with his name and the crest of the Rifle Brigade as well as the crest of the Victoria Cross.” The unveiling of the headstone was attended by Liam and Conor Dodd as well as members of the Mid Antrim Branch of the Friends of the Somme Association, members of the British Foreign Legion and retired members of the Irish Defence Forces. Liam said that he could find out little about Mr Woodall's personal history after he came to Ireland because he rarely spoke to his contemporaries and friends in Ireland about his heroism during the Great War. “A man I interviewed said he knew him and he said Woodall never spoke about his Victoria Cross,” Liam said. “His medals, including his service medals, are now on loan to the Imperial War Museum in London.” The citation for the actions which resulted in the award of the Victoria Cross to Mr Woodall stated: “For most conspicuous bravery and fine leadership during an attack. Sergeant Woodall was in command of a platoon which, during an advance, was held up by a machine gun. On his own initiative he rushed forward and, single handedly, captured the gun and eight men.  “After the objective had been gained, heavy fire was encountered from a farmhouse some 200 yards in front. Sergeant Woodall collected ten men and, with great dash and gallantry, rushed the farm and took thirty prisoners.” It adds: “The example set by Sergeant Woodall was simply magnificent, and had a marked effect on the troops. The success of the operation on this portion of the front is attributed almost entirely to his coolness, courage and utter disregard for his own personal safety.”