ALFRED EDWARD WOODLEY
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Photograph courtesy of Russell.
Born: 23rd June 1915, Ipswich.
Died: 29th February 1944; age: 28; Anzio Beach Landings.
Residence: 363, Bramford Lane, Ipswich.
Occupation: Builder’s Labourer.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 5831616.
Regiment: Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey) – Infantry.
Grave Reference:
VI.H.4.
Anzio,
Lazio,
Italy.
Images courtesy of Sean Winters.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of George & Lily Woodley; husband of Elsie May Woodley, of Ipswich.
Son of GEORGE WILLIAM WOODLEY and cousin to FREDERICK ALBERT WOODLEY.
Father: George William Woodley, born 1885, St. Ives, Huntingdonshire – died in the First World War on the 7th September 1917, age 32, at 341, Bramford Lane, Ipswich. Served 12 years & 344 days as a Private, Service Number 6108, for the Suffolk Regiment, 3rd Battalion.
Mother: Lily May Rose Woodley (nee Jessop), born July 1888, Ipswich.
CENSUS
1921 33, Beaconsfield Road, Ipswich.
Alfred was 6 years old and lived with his widowed mother and siblings.
Lily Woodley, 34 years & 11 months old, Home Duties.
Alice Rose Woodley, 12 years & 2 months old, at School, born Ipswich.
Ethel Louisa Woodley, 11 years & 8 months old, at School, born Ipswich.
George William Woodley, 10 years & 6 months old, at School, born Ipswich.
Lily May Woodley, 4 years & 6 months old, born Ipswich.
In 1934, Ipswich, Alfred married Elsie May Topple, born May 1911, Walton, Suffolk – daughter of Charles Henry Topple, a baker for the Co-operative Society, and Adelaide Eliza Topple (nee Gorham), of 487, Bramford Road, Ipswich.
Elsie and Alfred had two daughters:
Janet Woodley, born on New Year’s Day, 1939, Ipswich.
Kathleen Woodley, born 1941, Ipswich.
ENGLAND & WALES REGISTER 1939.
Alfred was a Builder’s Labourer. He and Elsie and their baby daughter, Janet, lived at their family home – 363, Bramford Lane, Ipswich.
The Anzio landings commenced on 22nd January 1944 on the west coast of Italy, known as “Operation Shingle”, taking the two coastal towns Anzio and Nettuno, just 40+ miles west of Rome, the capital city. The Italian campaign had come to a halt, hampered by mountain terrain and layers of fortified German and Axis positions known as the Gustav Line. It had been decided to leapfrog around the coast, setting up new beachheads, outflanking the German positions.
The Amphibious assault was a great success on the first few days, by midnight, 36,000 soldiers and 3,200 vehicles had landed on the beaches consisting of US and allied forces, but failed to push deep inland, choosing to hold back, for more troops to be landed before moving. By January 24th, the Germans had moved over 40,000 troops into the area and surrounded the beachhead. Shelling the Allied forces trapped in a small area, laying flooded terrain, held up the breakout. Fierce fighting continued until June, when the Allied forces finally broke out from the beachhead, taking Rome on the 4th of June.
Ipswich have long historical links with the Italian coastal town of Nettuno; Ipswich’s Borough Council has a “Cooperation”( Twinning) link.
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