WOODWARD, DOUGLAS FREDERICK
Rank:
Service No:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment/Service:
Grave Reference:
Text on stone:
Corporal
5389202
21/09/1944
27
The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 1st Bn.
I. B. 05.
Proud and treasured memories of my beloved husband, on whose souls sweet Jesus, have mercy
Additional information:
Son of Frederick W. and Abi S. Woodward, of Bicester, Oxfordshire; husband of May Aldomla Woodward, of Bicester.
Killed during battles around the Wilhelmina Canal near the town of Oirschot. Initially buried at Oerle.
I am writing to give you a bit of history and personal information about my father.
He was born in Bicester, a market town in Oxfordshire. He was the youngest son of six children. Two boys and four girls. He met my mother May Hart when they were teenagers and i twa his one and only true love. When he left school he went to work in our towns co-op which was and still is a supermarket. He was soon promoted to assistant manager. He was very well loved and a popular man in Bicester town. He married my mother at Hethe Catholic CHurch. He converted tot he Catholic relegion to have the full ceremony in the church.
When I was born 4-12-42 he was away at the war, after joining the Oxford and Bucks regiment. I was named Patricia after a man called Patrick who was his close friend in the army and died just before I was born. I wonder if he is also is buried in Valkenswaard War Cemetery?
On the 60th aniversary myself, husband William, and our three sons came to Valkenswaard to meet up with Mr. Van Gent OBE and his wife Agnes who took us tot he grave, and the place where my father died by the canal. It was a very moving expierience one we shall never forget.
Since then all our seven grandchildren have visited the grave. They went every year for several years visiting Centre Parks and making it their base. We have many pictures, along with paper cuttings That I will send you.
My father was quitte a hero. The day before he died he managed to save several people from a burning farm house. I wish I could remember this brave, kind and wonderful man but sadly I was too young.
From the service records of Douglas Frederick Woodward, the following account can be reconstructed.
Douglas Frederick Woodward was born on 16 November 1916 in Bicester, Oxfordshire. In civilian life he worked as a grocer’s assistant. He enlisted in the British Army on 18 April 1940 and joined the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
He married May Aldona Hart on 16 April 1940 in Oxfordshire. The couple had one child.
Douglas Frederick Woodward embarked for service in North West Europe on 24 June 1944.
According to his service records, he was 5 feet 10 inches tall, with brown hair and brown eyes.
Douglas Frederick Woodward was killed in action on 21 September 1944.
