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Lieutenant James Steward WOODIN (177739)
Hampshire Regiment attached to the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers Date of birth: 19th August 1912 Date of death: 5th December 1943 Died of wounds aged 31 Buried at Padua War Cemetery Plot I Row G Grave 12
James Steward Woodin was born in Hampshire on the 19th of August 1912 the younger son of the Reverend Stanley Hassall Woodin MA, Rector of Yarmouth, and Maud Harriett (nee Clarke) Woodin of The Rectory, Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight. He was christened by his father at All Saints Church, Fleet in Hampshire on the 15th of September 1912. He was educated at Lancing College where he was in Sandersons House from January 1926 to July 1929. He was Captain of Sandersons House Cricket XI and was awarded his House Colours for Cricket in 1929. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps. He went to work as an inspector for the Legal Assurance Company. He was married in 1939 in Norfolk to Angela Mary (nee Perks) and they lived at “Gairlock”, Forehoe and Henstead in Norfolk. Following the outbreak of war he became a member of the Special Constabulary before attending an Officer Cadet Training Unit from where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Hampshire Regiment on the 15th of March 1941. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 15th of September 1942 and was later attached to the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. On the evening of 23rd October 1943, the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers was in positions on the Calione ridge, just to the south of the Trigno river. The only bridge across the river had been blown and the Royal Engineers were tasked with constructing a crossing. On the 24th of October A Company of the Lancashire Fusiliers crossed the Grigho River to establish a bridgehead and allow the engineers to work unmolested. On the 25th of October it was decided that while A Company held the bridgehead B and C Companies would move through them and attack San Salvo railway station. By 10.30pm A Company had completed their task with four casualties and the other two companies moved forward to attack the railway station. As they approached it the leading platoon came under "friendly fire", lost contact with battalion and were all killed wounded or captured. It was decided to regroup and attempt to attack the railway station the following night, the 26th. Before the attack was to be repeated a strong fighting patrol under James Woodin was sent forward at last light to cover adjustments which were being made to the battalion's positions. At a farm the patrol became engaged in a heavy fire fight with enemy troops during which Woodin was wounded and captured. He died of his wounds as a prisoner of war the following December. San Salvo finally fell on the 4th of November 1943. He is commemorated on the Yarmouth war memorial.

Sandersons House