  joseph edward woodall vc (1 june 1896 â 2 january 1962) was an english recipient of the victoria cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to british and commonwealth forces. ==details== woodall was 21 years old and a lance-sergeant in the 1st battalion, the rifle brigade (prince consort's own), british army during the first world war when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the vc. on 11 april 1918 the 1st battalion, rifle brigade was rushed up in buses to a position on the la bassÃ©e canal to try to stem the german breakthrough on the lys. over the next eleven days it was involved in severe fighting in the area around hinges and robecq. on 22 april, 1st bn, rifle brigade, together with the 1st hampshires, took part in an attack which helped to secure the canal. it was during this fighting that lance sergeant joseph woodall won his victoria cross on the far side of the canal at la pannerie, near hinges. his citation read: la pannerie, france, 22 april 1918, lance sergeant joseph edward woodall, 1st bn, the rifle brigade. for most conspicuous bravery and fine leadership during an attack. ( la pannerie, france ) sjt. woodall was in command of a platoon which, during an advance, was held up by a machine gun. on his own initiative he rushed forward and, single-handed, captured the gun and eight men. after the objective had been gained, heavy fire was encountered from a farmhouse some 200 yards in front. sjt. woodall collected ten men and, with great dash and gallantry, rushed the farm and took thirty prisoners. shortly afterwards, when the officer in command was killed, he took entire command, reorganised the two platoons, and disposed them most skilfully. throughout the day, in spite of intense shelling and machine-gun fire, this gallant n.c.o. was constantly on the move, encouraging the men and finding out and sending back invaluable information. the example set by sjt. woodall was simply magnificent, and had a marked effect on the troops. the success of the operation on this portion of the front is attributed almost entirely to his coolness, courage and utter disregard for his own personal safety.london gazette, 28 june 1918 ==f
1896_births 1962_deaths British_Army_personnel_of_World_War_I British_Army_recipients_of_the_Victoria_Cross British_World_War_I_recipients_of_the_Victoria_Cross Burials_at_Deans_Grange_Cemetery Deaths_from_pneumonia People_from_Salford,_Greater_Manchester Rifle_Brigade_officers Rifle_Brigade_soldiers