Trafford

Born during the December quarter 1890 in the Altrincham R.D. - ref:8a/158,
the eldest son of Samuel & Annie Woodhead (nee Metcalfe).

1891 Census - Craven Terrace, Sale.  Son - aged:5 Months - born: Sale.  
Head of household - Samuel Woodhead - Married - aged: 24 - occ: Solicitor's
Clerk - born: Newton Heath, Manchester.   Also - Annie Woodhead - Wife -
aged: 27 - born: Kirkby Stephen, Westmorland.

1901 Census - 6 West Grove, Sale.   Son - aged: 10 - born: Sale.  Head of
household - Samuel Woodhead - Married - aged: 33 - occ: Solicitor's
Managing Clerk - born: Newton Heath, Manchester.   Also - Annie Woodhead -
Wife - aged: 38 - born: Kirkby Stephen, Westmorland.  Plus 5 younger
siblings and 1 domestic servant.   This included Cyril Samuel Woodhead
aged: 7, who was also killed during WW1.

1911 Census - 6 West Grove, Sale.   Son - aged: 20 - occ: Insurance Clerk -
born: Sale.  Head of household - Samuel Woodhead - Married - aged: 43 -
occ: Solicitor's Managing Clerk - born: Newton Heath, Manchester.   Also -
Annie Woodhead - Wife - aged: 48 - born: Kirkby Stephen, Westmorland.  Plus
5 younger brothers.   This included Cyril Samuel Woodhead aged: 17 - occ:
Solicitor's Clerk, who was also killed during WW1.

Eric attended St. John's Church, Brooklands and the Sale Wesley School, in
School Rd.   He was unmarried and was employed by the Refuge Assurance Co.
Manchester.     He was a member of Sale RYFC and Sale Moor C.C. 

Enlisted  in September 1914.    He was a Bomber in the Grenade Section
(Trench Mortars).     On the 26/05/1916 he was buried amongst debris after
a shell burst in the trench parapet.   He was rescued but suffered from
shell shock for 12 days after that.    Killed by a hand grenade.

Eric's brother Cyril, was also killed in this war.    His younger brother,
Harold was serving with the Cheshire Rgt in the UK.    Their father was a
Sale solicitor and he was one of five brothers - the others were - Neville
residing Marsland Rd, plus Alfred and Frank (also a solicitor) residing
Northenden Rd

He was reported as serving at Grantham at the time of his brother's death
in June 1915.

The "Brooklands - Past & Present" books by Irene Collins states that the
Woodhead brothers sang in the Church Choir, taught at the Sunday School,
and supported the Mens' Society and the Gleaners Union (an organisation to
promote foreign missions) as well as playing football and cricket for local
clubs.

Death reported in  the 328/07/1916 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.   
M.I. - "Duty nobly done".

St. Paul's memorial simply states E. Woodhead.

Listed in the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1917.

Along with his brother - Cyril Samuel Woodhead, he is commemorated on the
family gravestone in Sale Cemetery.