Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Henry Albert Woodman, a domestic groom, born 28th August 1875 in Chichester, Sussex and his wife Ada Alice Woodman (nee Bott, married on the 14th August 1897 in Melton Mowbray Parish Church, Leicestershire) born 5th August 1876 in Quorn, Leicestershire. Charles Henry was born on the 4th January 1898 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, and was baptised on the 12th February 1914 in Melton Mowbray Parish Church, in March 1901 the family home was at 20, Regent Street, Melton Mowbray. In April 1911 Charles was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at 20, Regent Street, Melton Mowbray, together with his father, a domestic groom, his mother and siblings, Alice Emily M., a schoolgirl, born 1902, William Richard, a schoolboy, born 8th October 1904 and baptised on the 25th March 1915 in Melton Mowbray Parish Church, Albert Edward, born 1907, George Frederick, born 23rd January 1909 and Margaret Ellen, born 11th October 1910 and baptised on the 28th March 1915 in Melton Mowbray Parish Church, all his siblings were born in Melton Mowbray. Charles also had two further siblings, Irene M., born in 1915 and Elsie, born in 1919, both siblings were born in Melton Mowbray. In 1939 Charles father was employed as a builder’s labourer and was residing in the family home at 20, Regent Street, Melton Mowbray, together with his wife and daughter Margaret, a wool mill worker.
Charles’s service records did not survive, he initially enlisted into the Leicestershire Regiment subsequently being transferred to the Northampton shire Regiment. he was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
The War Diary records: 20 Oct-17 – POELCAPELLE. Fair generally. – A few showers. – Wind South West. Intermittent shelling by enemy during the morning. Increased during the afternoon. A whizz bang entered V.9 dug-out about 5.00pm.
6.00pm. Battalion relieved by QUEEN’S REGIMENT. Relief completed by 7.00pm. Marched to IRISH FARM. Entrained:- Arrived West of POPERINGHE 7.00am. Marched to TUNNELLING CAMP.
On Friday November 2nd 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – MELTON SOLDIERS KILLED. – P.c. Clarke, 52, Lancaster-street, Leicester, has received official news of the death from wounds received in action of his half brother, Pte. E. E. Thompson, Leicester’s. Deceased was about 32 years of age, and previous to enlistment in May, 1915, was for about 10 years in the employ of Messrs. Smith, Faire, and Co., boot and shoe manufacturers, Melton Mowbray. Deceased, who was single, lodged in Melbourne-st., Melton, with Mrs. H. Hunt, who has been notified by the chaplain of his death.
News has reached Mrs. W. Woodman, 20, Regent-street, Melton Mowbray, that her eldest son, Pte. Charles Henry Woodman, Northamptonshire Regt., has been killed by a shell. On Tuesday she received the following letter: “Northamptonshire Regiment, in the Field, 26th October, 1917. “Dear Mrs. Woodman, - I am awfully sorry to have to write and tell you that your son, No. 40492 Pte. Woodman, in my Company, was killed by shell fire last Saturday night about 8p.m. The battalion was being relieved at the time, and in the confusion and rush of things I had hoped that first reports of his death might subsequently prove untrue, and that eventually we might find he had been wounded and taken to some dressing station. But I have made very careful inquiries since, and unfortunately there is no doubt whatever that he was killed, together with another man of his own platoon. It may be some little comfort to you to know that he died almost immediately after he was hit, and was so spared long suffering. I have just seen Pte. Hourd, of B Company, who tells me he was an old workmate of your boy, and he has promised to write to you. Though he was not with him when he was hit he has found the man in whose arms your boy died, and will I hope be able to give you a few more details. I wish I could tell you more myself. I can only say how very really we shall miss him. He was such a cherry boy – just one of the sort who help to keep us alive out here. I had several times lately noticed how happy he invariably managed to keep – not only himself, but also everyone else, no matter how uncomfortable and cheerless the surroundings. I need hardly add that he died as he had always lived – a real soldier and a real man. In very true sympathy, Yours Sincerely, R. B. Fawker, Lieut.” Pte. Woodman was only 19, worked four years for Mr. H. J. Hardy, Market-place, then for two years at the Army Remount Depot. From there he joined up on the 28th of last February, and went out to France at the beginning of May. His father has been out in France with the Remount Corps for three years.