Life John George Woodford

1 life

1.1 life , family
1.2 military career

1.2.1 archaeological work @ azincourt
1.2.2 military reform


1.3 retirement , later life

life
early life , family

born son of lieutenant-colonel john woodford , lady susan gordan (daughter of cosmo gordon, 3rd duke of gordon), woodford younger brother of fellow officer field-marshal sir alexander george woodford. woodford had 3 half-sisters: susan drummond, elizabeth lowther , lady mary fludyer. educated @ harrow under joseph drury. foundations of military career started in 1800, when sent brunswick, @ time in personal union kingdom of great britain, due accession of elector of hannover king george in 1714.

military career

william douglas, 4th duke of queensberry, befriended woodford

granted commission ensign in first regiment of grenadier guards duke of gloucester in may 1800, woodford finished time training in brunswick before return great britain join regiment in 1801. upon return, befriended william douglas, 4th duke of queensberry, presented him fine horse , led him king @ windsor. friendship proved fortunate, douglas left him £10,000 in 1810. although woodford joined regiment in 1801, did not see active service until 1807, when involved in battle of copenhagen. following this, in 1808, sent peninsula under command of sir david baird join forces of sir john moore. here, woodford appointed deputy-assistant quartermaster-general , aide-de-camp moore. involved in retreat corunna, said woodford s heel injured last shot fired in battle of corunna @ dusk. result of this, woodford unfit military service eighteen months until able join duke of wellington s army, had crossed ebro. woodford continued previous roles , participant in numerous battles, including nivelle, nive, orthez, , toulouse.

in 1813, woodford had purchased captaincy in first regiment of grenadier guards. upon return of napoleon in 1815, woodford served in fourth division under lieutenant-general sir charles colville lieutenant-colonel in 1st foot guards. division detailed support prince frederick of netherlands on road halle. however, woodford dispatched colville wellington orders. arriving in morning, wellington ordered woodford remain side aide-de-camp due imminence of battle. sources (medieval dead tim sutherland) state woodford last living british officer have fought @ waterloo. following battle, woodford continued serve under colville , assisted in occupation of cambrai. in 1818, woodford appointed command of army of occupation in france until withdrawal in october of year. woodford made c.b. in 1815.

archaeological work @ azincourt

map of battle of azincourt

during time commander of army of occupation in france, woodford engaged in archaeological excavations on supposed site of battle of azincourt. during these excavations, woodford found numerous artefacts, , these finds reported newspapers @ times, including caledonian mercury on 25 may 1818 , morning chronicle on 20 april 1818. included bones, arrow-heads , upwards of sixty coins. 1 such coin in high state of preservation, on 1 side arms of france , inscription karolus dei gracia francorum rex (translated latin charles, god s grace, king of french) , on reverse pc regnat, pc imperat ( pc standing latin per christum, regnat reign or rule , imperat command , rule or impose ). fragments of iron, 2 lance-heads (one six, other 8 inches long), spur, buckles, other insignia of fray , several rings. these rings, of gold, had inscriptions on them, , thought pledges, given knights fair dames, on departing wars . 1 ring enamelled , on outside has words pleine amitie (roughly translated french solid friendship ) , inside flower rose, belle after it. thought create name of lady, rosabelle. ring, made of brass, found finger bone sticking in it. unfortunately present-day locations of these finds unknown.

records of excavations , finds exist in woodford s letters brother, alexander, preserved in nachlaß of english politician roger newdigate (1719–1806). these letters include illustrations of finds, namely coin , arrow-head. alongside discoveries, there thought have existed diary, although suspected may have been lost in fire @ establishment on belgrave square called pantechnicon, gave name van, in 1874 or 1876. whilst excavating, woodford received considerable hostility local french, considered woodford desecrating graves of war-dead conduct celebration commemorating english victory. appears have been little spin, letters highlight woodford s intention re-bury dead found in consecrated ground – did, there reported several dead azincourt buried in local church under etching in wall reads 1838 .

military reform

derwent water, retirement destination of woodford

following napoleonic wars , excavations @ azincourt, woodford returned home , in 1821 given command of third battalion of grenadier guards in dublin. became colonel on 23 november 1823. under command, forbade flogging in battalion , on 26 may 1830, banned standing under arms punishment. in 1835, woodford published pamphlet entitled remarks on military flogging: causes , effects, considerations on propriety of entire abolition. in this, recommended recreation soldiers in barracks, establishment of carpenters shops, et cetera, teach men useful trades in addition establishment of regimental libraries. these reforms met disapproval of wellington , king, william iv, although remained in place. in part due woodford s advocacy, purchase of commissions , stock abolished in 1871 (cardwell reforms) , 1855 respectively.

retirement , later life

in 1841, in of aunt, lady frances gordon, wife of lord william gordon , daughter of charles ingram, 9th viscount of irvine, woodford received estate on western bank of derwent water, included waterend house. issuing last regimental order on 10 january 1837, promoted rank of major-general , retired service in october 1841. woodford made k.c.b. in 1838. due belief purchase of commissions should abolished, woodford sold commission government £4,500, half of market value. throughout rest of long retirement, woodford surrounded himself rare books , curiosities in addition antiquarian research. said have been linguist , lived life in retirement in soldierly-manner if still in camp. died on 22 march 1879 in keswick.