First 50 Heroes
The Coalville First 50 Heroes Series celebrates the first fifty volunteers from our area to take part in the Great War of 1914-18. Each geocache commemorates a real volunteer and describes his activities during the Great War.
The "Famous Fifty" (one of what became known as the "Pals" battalions) were the first of the August 1914 volunteers from the Coalville area to join up and set foot in France to fight on the Western Front. They marched off from St John the Baptist Church in Hugglescote to the train station in Coalville, with thousands lining the streets to wave them off and singing songs in a show of patriotic fervour.
Because of their experience in mining many of the Famous Fifty were used as tunnellers and some were entombed at Vimy Ridge during the battle of Arras in 1917.
Of the original Fifty, 28 were to be killed in action during the course of the War and many of the 22 who returned home had been gassed and injured, and were left to face the grim reality of a very different kind of life.
Everard Victor Woolley was born on 20th May 1892 in Hugglescote, to Thomas and Eliza Woolley.
He was an excellent dancer and keen footballer.
Everard worshipped at Ebenezer chapel on Ashby Road, Coalville.
He survived the war, and in 1919 he married Drusilla Adams.
Everard was employed as an Engineer at Stableford Wagon Works.
He died on 12th September 1954 in Ibstock from a heart attack.
A model of Everard Victor Woolley was created by Stephensons College for an exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.