Wilfred Woodruff (1896-1916)
Hartlepool man served as a stoker in the Royal Naval Reserve on HMS Vengeance
Wilfred Woodruff was born on 23 August 1896. He was the youngest of seven children made up of four boys and three girls. His father was Thomas Woodruff (1848), a bricklayer who was born in Witton-le-Wear. His mother was Ellen Pickering (1862), a brick maker’s daughter from Hartlepool. They married in Teesdale in 1879.
At the time of the 1901 census the family were living at 28 John Street, Witton Park. Ten years later, at the time of the 1911 census, they were living at 54 Charlotte Street, Hartlepool. Wilfred was still at school at this time.
Wilfred was a member of the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) and when war broke out he served as a stoker with the service number 6081S. In December 1916 he was serving on HMS Vengeance, a Canopus-class battleship, in the Mediterranean Sea. The ship’s log for 5 December 1916 shows that two RNR stokers were discharged to hospital in Malta. One of these was Wilfred who died in the hospital on 9 December 1916 from cerebral abscess and cardiac failure. He is buried in the Naval Cemetery, Capuccini, Malta in grave number 333. He is also honoured on four memorials in his home town of Hartlepool.
Wilfred Woodruff was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service in World War One.
Civil Parish: Hartlepool
Birth date: 23-Aug-1896
Death date: 09-Dec-1916
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: 28 John Street, Witton Park (1901 census)
54 Charlotte Street, Hartlepool (1911 census)
Employment: Scholar (1911 census)
Family: Parents: Thomas Woodruff (1848), Ellen Woodruff nee Pickering (1862)
Siblings: John William Woodruff (1879), George Edward Woodruff (1885), Walter Woodruff (1886), Elizabeth Woodruff (1887), Margaret Woodruff (1889), Lavinia Ellen Woodruff (1892)
Military service:
6081S
Stoker
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Vengeance
Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal
Memorial(s): Naval Cemetery, Capuccini, Malta (grave number 333)
Book of Remembrance Fallen 1914-18, Hartlepool
Harbour Light 1914-18, Hartlepool
Obelisk 1914-18, Hartlepool
Roll of Honour Men of West Hartlepool 1914-18
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham