Quartermaster Sergeant George Woods 30th Foot

Meritorious Service Medal to George Woods.

George Woods was born in the Parish of St Mary’s, Limerick around 1808. He was a weaver. He joined the 30th Regiment of Foot at Tipperary town on 25 January 1825.

Woods served in the East Indies for three years and eight months, Bermuda for two years and 11 months and North America for two years and a month. He was promoted to Corporal in February 1827, then to Sergeant in March 1828 and to Quartermaster Sergeant in January 1847.

Woods was discharged at Chatham on 28 November 1848 having been found unfit for further service. Upon his discharge he was described as being 5 foot 6 inches tall, with hazel eyes and brown hair.

After his discharge he spent five years as a barracks sergeant then joined the King’s County Rifles in King’s County (Offaly), Ireland. In 1858 George is recorded as living in a slated cottage on Grove Street, Crinkill, just beside Birr Barracks. He shared the cottage John Sweeney, an important local contractor.

George's first wife was reported as having died in the King’s County Chronicle on 23 April 1862: “At Parsonstown, suddenly, the wife of Quarter-master Sergeant Woods, King’s County Rifles.”

George married Mary Goodisson in St Brendan’s Church of Ireland Church, Birr on 19 November 1862. George was listed as a widower, his profession was Quarter Master Sergeant of the King’s County Rifles.

George died 3 August 1875 in Crinkill, as a result of liver failure, having served some 40 years in the regular army and militia. He was interred in the local burial ground, Clonoghill Cemetery on 6 August. He rests in an unmarked grave.

General location of George's grave in Clonoghill Cemetery, Birr

The 1901 census records Mary as living in No. 7 Grove Street, Crinkill, later in the 1911 census she is recorded as living in No. 3 Grove Street. She died on 27 February 1916. The King’s County Chronicle reported her death on 2 March 1916:

“DIED, On 27^th February, 1916, at her residence, Grove Street, Crinkle, Mary Woods, relict of the late Quartermaster-Sergeant Woods, entered into rest, aged 96 years. “There remaineth there-fore a rest to the people of God”. Heb. 4. 9.”

Mary was interred with her husband in Clonoghill Cemetery on 29 February 1916.