People on board

WOODHOUSE, Reginald Coley

Reginald Coley Woodhouse was born on the 23rd of June 1898 in Cannock, Staffordshire to Stephen Woodhouse and Alice Coley. He was the elder of two sons, Dennis Layton being born in 1900. Stephen Woodhouse was an Elementary School Teacher at Great Wyrley Council Schools, his first appointment there being in 1892 according to his retirement notice in 1931. He married in 1895 and the family lived in Cross Street, Bridgetown outside Cannock. Stephen was a regular member of the Great Wyrley parish Council over the years. Reginald was admitted to Great Wyrley School in April 1905 and by then the family had moved to Landywood near Walsall. Reginald then attended Queen Mary Grammar School in Walsall from 1911 until 1917, his photo appearing in the school magazine in 1918.

Reginald Woodhouse appears to have enlisted straight from school and his military record transcription says that he did so in Kingston-on-Thames. However this also gives his birth as being in Surrey so this may not be accurate. He enlisted in the Scottish Horse Yeomanry and in October 1918 was a Lance Corporal in the 2/1st Regiment which had moved to Ireland in April of that year. Presumably returning home on leave, he travelled on RMS Leinster on the 10th. He did not survive the sinking nor was his body recovered.

His name is recorded on the Hollybrook Memorial in Southampton and also on the plaque in Great Wyrley Memorial Garden, on the Great Wryley Wesleyan Methodist plaque and on the Staffordshire Roll of Honour.