Charles Woodall

War Service

On 12/12/1915 Charles enlisted in the 3rd Battalion of the York & Lancaster Regiment – service number 63199.
Details of his postings show that he was-
Home 12/12/1915 to 12/12/1915
Reserves - 13/12/1915 to 19/7/1918
3rd Reserve Battalion
Formed in August 1914 at Pontefract. A depot/training unit, it moved on mobilisation to Cleadon and in January 1915 went on to Sunderland. Moved in August 1915 to Durham but returned to Sunderland in February 1916 where it remained as part of the Tyne Garrison.
Home 20/7/1918 to 29/11/1918
France 30/11/1918
Posted to 6th battalion Y&L BEF France.
5/12/1918 joined unit in the field
6/3/1919 - Demobilised Class ‘Z’ list.
Because Charles served overseas after the armistice date of 11/11/1918 it seems he was ineligible for award of either War or victory medals.

Family Life

The Woodalls (sometimes Woodhall or Woodle) had a presence in Brotherton in the mid 1700’s. Anthony (1st) was born in the village in 1795 although his parents are, as yet, unknown. In 1788 he married Ann Yates in St Olave’s Church, York.
They had 8 children but at least two of those were short lived. Anthony (2nd) was born in 1806 and he went on to marry Ann Appleyard in Leeds in 1827.
This marriage produced 7 children the eldest of which was Anthony (3rd) born in 1829. This was the same year that his grandfather Anthony (1st) died.
Another son - Edwin Machin Woodall (1837) married Mary Ann Crosland and in turn their daughter Matilda Ann married John Wilson. Two of their sons – John William Wilson and Harry Wilson were both killed in 1918.
In 1841 Anthony (2nd) was living in the Manor House, Brotherton and is described as a ‘Farmer’. Ann, his wife, is not present and it is possible that she had died in 1840. Six children were present including Anthony (3rd) aged about 11, Annie (9), William (8), John (6), Edwin Makin (4) and Thomas (2).
The Manor House has a long history dating back to the time of the Normans and it is on record that the Archbishop of York was in residence on the 19th November 1298. On the 1st of June 1300 a more notable event occurred - King Edward 1st (Edward Longshanks) was engaged in a war against the Scots and his wife, Queen Margaret (daughter of Phillip 111 of France) was residing at Pontefract Castle. Whilst out hunting she was taken in labour resulting in the birth of Prince Thomas.
Anthony (2nd) died in 1842 aged 36 and it seems the family left the Manor House.
Anthony (3rd) married Sarah Bridsall in Leeds in 1851. Prior to that however he had been living in the house of Tobias Birdsall (Sarah’s father) who was a ‘Basket Maker’.
By 1861 Anthony (3rd) was resident in the High Street and was a ‘Butcher’ by trade. As well as his wife and 4 children - Anthony (4th) aged 9, William (7), May Jane (30 and 10 month old Edward Makin, there were two of his brothers. William (28) and (Edwin) Makin (20) were both working as ‘Potato Dealers.’ There was also a ‘Servant’ called Jane Pennington and a cousin named Mary Petty living with them.
Anthony (3rd) died in 1868.
Sarah and family appear to have then moved to live with her brother-in-law, William and in 1871 they were living on the North Road. William was described as a ‘Farmer of 36 acres’.
Present in the household were six of Sarah’s children, Mary Jane being the absent one, and a servant called Mark Wainwright.
In 1875 William married Kezia Asquith born in Featherstone in 1857. They were married in Leeds. By the time of the 1881 census they were living in the High Street with three children - Edward born in 1876, Emily (1878) and Anne (1880). William was employed as an ‘Ag Lab’.
Sarah was still on North Road and seems to have taken over the Farm upon the death of brother-in-law William in 1882. Anthony and three daughters were still living with her.
A decade later in 1891 William and Kezia were still living on the High Street with an expanded family. Since the previous census 5 sons had been added - Frederick (1881), William (1883), Herbert (1886), Charles (1888) and Walter (1890). William was described as a ‘Farmer & Coal Dealer’. He probably farmed the same as his mother, Sarah, who was still on North Road and a ‘Farmer’ though accompanied only by youngest daughter Eliza who was a ‘Dress maker’.
The family had expanded again by 1901. William was still a ‘Farmer’ . Additional children included Adelaide (1892), George (1893), Harry (1895), Irvine (1897) and Gladys (1899). Sarah, by then aged 67, had retired from farming and moved to Carleton Terrace, Pontefract where she was ‘living off her own means’. With her was 6 year old grandson George William and two visitors - George William Pickering, a 24 year old ‘Agricultural Student’ from Brotherton and Blanche Warren a ‘Liquorice Worker’.
Sarah Woodall died in 1906 aged 72.
William Woodall, husband of Kezia, died on 7th May 1910 aged 56.
So, by 1911, Kezia was herself a ‘Farmer’ at Dobson’s farm, High Street. According to that census she had a total of 15 children of which 14 survived, although only 13 names have been found to date. Nine of those were still living with her on the farm with eight of them employed in various ways. Fred and Harry were working on the farm, Herbert and Charles were ‘Colliery Labourers’, Walter a ‘Blacksmith’, Adelaide a ‘Dress maker’ and George a ‘House-painter and Plumber’.
After the War – Charles returned to Brotherton where it appears he required treatment for a ‘specific disease’ contracted whilst on military service. A document issued by the Doctor Ward shows he was treated at Leeds General Infirmary.
Charles’ mother Kezia died in Brotherton on April 15th 1924.
Charles or Charley as he was probably better known died in February 1962 at the Memorial Hospital, Selby and was buried in Brotherton on the 27th.