Robert Woodward was born in Tyldesley, Lancashire, England, on the 22nd September 1892, the son of Edward and Alice Woodward (née Beswick). He was one of eight children in the family, although by 1911, only Robert and four of his siblings were still living. His father was a coal miner.
On finishing his formal education, Robert went to work in a local cotton mill.
In February 1912, he had emigrated to the United States of America and settled in Niagara Falls, New York, where he obtained employment with The Onelda Community Limited. When the company re-located to Sherrill, he firstly went with it and then returned to the city.
Then, when the war broke out, he crossed to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls and enlisted in the Canadian Army. One source states that this was the 44th Infantry Battalion, but this battalion was not raised until 1st July 1915, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In any event, having volunteered for overseas service, he was unable to pass the medical examination and was thus rejected.
For a long time he pondered his future, but still mindful of his patriotic duty and wishing to visit his widowed mother who was still living in England, he decided to return home and try to enlist there.
Consequently, he booked a third class passage for himself on the May sailing of the Lusitania and crossing back into the States, he travelled to New York City and joined the liner at her berth at Pier 54 on the morning of 1st May 1915, in time for her scheduled 10 o’clock sailing. This was then delayed until just after mid-day as she had to embark passengers, crew and cargo from Anchor Liner, the S.S. Cameronia, which the British Admiralty had requisitioned for war service as a troop ship at the end of April.
The Lusitania was almost at the end of her voyage to Liverpool when, six days out of New York, on the afternoon of 7th May, she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20, whilst steaming close to The Old head of Kinsale in southern Ireland.
Although nearly 65% of the third class passengers on board were killed as a result of this action, Robert Woodward was one of the lucky ones who managed to survive.
Having been rescued from the sea, he was landed at Queenstown, from where he was able to inform friends and relatives of his survival. The Niagara Falls Gazette edition of Saturday 8th May 1915, reported: -
At 3.15 o’clock this afternoon, Mrs. Edward Town of 630 Twenty-second street received a cable message from Robert T. Woodward, stating that he had landed at Queenstown early today and that he was uninjured.
Presumably Mrs. Town was the landlady of the boarding house he resided at in Niagara Falls.
Having recovered from his ordeal, Robert Woodward was eventually able to finish his journey to his intended destination. He was 22 years old at the time of the sinking.
It has not been determined if Robert Woodward enlisted in the British Army during the War, but if so, he survived, because on the 3rd March 1920, he boarded the Adriatic at Southampton, Hampshire, and disembarked in New York City a few days later. As his passage was paid by the British government, it is likely that he served during the War in some capacity.
On arrival in New York City, he continued overland to Niagara Falls, where he stayed at the home of Edward Towns, who was now residing at 2730. Pierce Avenue, Niagara Falls.
On the 30th November 1922, he married Madge McCulloch, a Scottish immigrant, in Niagara Falls, and they had no children. Robert worked in the Shredded Wheat Company factory at Erie Avenue, Niagara Falls.
Sometime after his retirement, Robert and his wife moved to 4851. Gandy Boulevard, Tampa, Florida. He died in Tampa on the 28th August 1972, aged 79 years.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, New York County Marriages 1907 – 1936, Florida U.S. Death Index 1877 – 1998, 1901 Census of England & Wales, 1911 Census of England & Wales, 1930 U.S. Federal Census, UK Outward Passenger Lists 1890 – 1960, U.S Border Crossings from Canada to U.S. 1895 – 1960, Canada Border Crossings from U.S. to Canada 1908 – 1935, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards 1942, Buffalo Morning Express, Buffalo News, Niagara Falls Gazette, Tampa Times, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry,
Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.