14588859 Gdsm. James Woodman: Bringing Multiple Sources Together

Thank You!

Since my recent post, and the appeal for support on social media, I’m pleased to report that I have been sent several Squad Photographs over the last few days – thank you ever so much to those that have been able to help!

Whilst trawling the internet searching for these said Squad Photographs, I found the below pic posted online. A check of the names against my database (N.B. I have c.1400 of the c.2000 men recorded) revealed one member of 3Bn namely 14588859 Gdsm. James Woodman. This Squad Photo jogged my memory of his interesting story, and consequently, I thought I’d pull a short article together this morning:

James Woodman

James was from Swansea and enlisted into the General Service Corps on 15 April 1943 (hence the 145***** number in lieu of the normal 237/238/239**** regimental numbers allocated). He was later transferred to the Welsh Guards during the autumn of that year and subsequently posted to 3Bn.

He served in Italy with 3 Platoon, No.1 Company and was wounded during the fighting at San Marco, Perugia on 22 June 1944. He was again wounded whilst the batallion was deployed at Carre in the high Appenines north of Fontanelice on 27 January 1945.

The below excerpt from an account written by (then) Capt. Christopher Thursby-Pelham printed in the Regimental News Sheet 14 on 1 February 1945, gives a excellent summary of the journey to, and conditions faced, by the men of 3WG at Carre.

“Although perhaps more severe fighting has been experienced in the past, for sheer physical stress and discomfort, this period has been unsurpassed. From the blazing heat and dust of September, the weather changed to ceaseless rain and mud; and now later snow. And in like manner, the Battalion’s dress has changed from K.D. to Battle Dress, to white snow camouflage. It has been a campaign of Hilltops – there is always one further hill to gain.”

Some contemporary pictures help set the scene at the time of James’s second wounding:

James’s case gives an excellent example of how multiple data sources can be used to tell an individual story.

Whilst searching through the British Newspaper Archive last year, I found the below article published by the South Wales Evening Post on 12 February 1945. It contains several useful pieces of information including his address, previous employment, the fact that he was married, previous wounding, details of his parents and where they lived, his brother’s service and a photograph. A veritable treasure trove in a few lines:

As I have previously written here, and on my social media channels, I am both extremely privileged and honoured to be in contact with the families of several officers and men who served with the battalion. One of these is Steven Dann, whose father Lieut. Bernard Dann was the 2 Platoon Commander of No.1 Coy whilst 3WG were deployed in the Verro sector.

Fortuitously, Lieut. Dann kept a diary which he retained after the war. Stephen kindly scanned the diary for me which I have recently transcribed. Lieut. Dann also retained various other items including the 2 Platoon notebook, maps, photographs and several other items from his service. His diary for Saturday, 27 January 1945 records that:

                  “…. At 0650 just before stand down Woodman (3 Platoon) was standing up in a dark gas-cape rubbing his hands together just over his heart. A sniper fired, the bullet went through a sandbag and a hand and lodged in the other hand. No bone broken; he was incredibly lucky… “

This record provides the micro detail of how he was wounded (on this occasion), that is, that he was standing early in the morning in a dark coloured gas cape at a time where others were likely wearing snow suits, and consequently was picked out and shot by a German sniper! It also pin points the Platoon he served in (3.Pl) at this time.

Following the war, James was discharged on 29 August 1946 and he later lived at 16 Clarence Street, Swansea.

Conclusion

What I’m seeking to illustrate in this article, not least to tell James’s story, is to evidence the strands of information I’m able to bring together that enables me to piece together the individual stories of those that served in 3Bn. I hope James’s case illustrates this.

All of this is made possible by the kind support I continue to receive to fulfill my endeavor of telling the story of the men of 3Bn in my forthcoming book “The Forgotten Fighting Third”. Albeit, the ‘nice to have’ challenge of having an abundance of information presents the conundrum of deciding what to include!

If you have anything you think may help, please do reach out to me.

Diolch yn fawr iawn,

Gareth