DENIS WOODWARD was born at West Bromwich in 1884. He was a, bright lad and easily led. “I often thought about my soul,” he said, “but no one ever spoke to me about eternal things.” For several year he was employed as a barman at an hotel in Birmingham, and during this time gave way to drinking, gambling, and card playing. At the age of twenty-five he left his situation and, with a comrade, went off, bent on pleasure, to a seaside resort in Cheshire. Here they spent what money they were possessed of, and soon, like the prodigal of Luke 15, “began to be in want.” In this condition Woodward and his comrade turned into a hall where Gospel preaching was going on, and God, in His grace, saved both that night.
The date was 22nd August, 1909.
From that time onward Woodward’s whole life became different—all desire for drink, billiards, betting and gaming went, and in their place a burning desire to live and witness for Christ.
After some eighteen months of bright testimony for the Lord, Woodward joined the Christian Colportage Association as a colporteur, being stationed at Southport. For some three and a half years he was much used of God in this neighborhood, ever delighting in telling those around him of the love of God in giving His beloved Son to die for guilty man. At the outbreak of the War he, in company with five other Christians, enlisted in the 7th King’s Liverpool Regiment.
These six kept together, testifying for the Lord, giving away the Word of God, tracts, etc., amongst their comrades at Ramsey and Canterbury and afterward in France.
On 20th June, 1915 (Lord’s Day morning), Lance-Corporal Woodward was hit in the head by a hand grenade..., and in two minutes his happy spirit had departed to be with Christ.
His Sergeant-Major, referring to his death, wrote thus: “We have lost in Lance-Corporal Woodward a good cheerful comrade and a true Christian soldier, and I have lost one of my most promising non-commissioned officers!”
His favorite hymn which he delighted to sing was: —
“In loving kindness Jesus came,
My soul in mercy to reclaim;
And’ from the depths of sin and shame,
Through grace He lifted me.
CHORUS
From Sinking sand He lifted me,
With tender hand He lifted me,
From shades of night, to plains of light,
Oh! praise His name He lifted me.
He called me long before I heard,
Before my sinful heart was stirred,
But when I took Him at His word,
Forgiven, lie lifted me.”
To his beloved wife he would often say, “I shall be satisfied when I awake with His likeness.”
The following is an extract from a letter written by him a few days before his death:—
“I am full of gratitude to God for His faithfulness. I am keeping well, and praising God for the wonderful way He has preserved me through many dangers. I am proving Him to be the faithful God, the God of all comfort and grace; even when we are expecting any moment to be blown up by the enemy’s artillery, the Lord draws near with words of peace and comfort.”
In another letter he wrote: —
“Waiting upon God in prayer is what we should all be doing more and more, that we might be strengthened. We need His strength. In Him is plenty, and all grace He gives. In Him is fullness. He is sufficient for all. I was speaking today with a man who desired to talk with me on spiritual things. I spoke to him about the way of salvation. Please pray that God will bless him.”
In the next letter he says: ―
“There has been a terrific bombardment going on for hours. I never heard anything like it. We are expecting to make a big attack, and many are thinking seriously at the thought of being in a charge. I have had a talk with some of the men, and they were interested. I also gave them a Gospel of John each.”
His confidence in God is shown in the next extracts: ―
“The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him. His love is upon all His children for their good. He neither slumbers nor sleeps. This encourages us to put our whole trust in Him. He is able to keep us.”
Extract from his last letter to his wife, written three days before his death: ―
“I pray God that you may be strengthened each moment of the day.
I can say: —
“‘Moment by moment
I’m kept in His love,
Moment by moment
I’ve life from above.’
“How precious the thought that the Saviour loves us every moment, and cares for us every moment, keeps us, protects us, strengthens us, gives us grace, for every moment! How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God, how great is, the sum of them! I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh on me.
“Unsaved comrade, meet God you must, be the time distant or near. Be warned therefore,
“‘For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not’ (Job 33:1414For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. (Job 33:14)). Perhaps this may be the last time He will speak to you before your body is laid in the grave. The fool may say ‘NO God,’ but the ‘time is coming when every shred of his infidelity will be torn into fragments. Thank God the hand of Him Who is ‘Mighty to Save’ is now outstretched to pluck your soul from eternal doom. Rest the weight of your iniquities on His gloriously finished work at Calvary, by faith claim the value of that work for yourself, and say: —
“‘He suffered in my stead
He died to set me free.’
“‘For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God’
“PROMOTED”
Born at Southport in 1889, Will Heyes from earliest boyhood became a regular attendant at the Sunday school. When quite a youth he began to take an active part in the various forms of ritual practiced in a church near his home, this being interspersed with pleasure-seeking,’ and the usual forms of worldly amusement. At an early age young Heyes, was induced to attend a service for young people, at that time being held in the town. Then he heard the glorious Gospel, that “By grace are ye saved through faith, and, that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8, 98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9)).
Here then it was that the subject of this memoir received the gift of God, even Eternal Life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Throwing himself heartily into all kinds of Christian work, he soon became the instrument in God’s hands of much blessing.
At the outbreak of the present War, Will Heyes, in response to his country’s call for soldiers, resigned his position in connection with the Corporation, and enlisted at the same time, and in the same regiment (King’s Liverpool Regent), as Dennis Woodward.
His army life, whether in the camp, barracks, or on the field of battle, was marked by his exemplary conduct and Christian testimony, and as one who knew him well remarked, his very countenance gave evidence of
“Whose he was, and Whom he served”
Soon after his arrival in France, Lance-Corporal Heyes received a letter from the Lord Bishop of Liverpool, a copy of which is here given: —
The Palace,
Liverpool, 9th July, 1915.
My Dear Mr. Heyes, ―I have been told of the good work you are doing amongst your comrades, and have been asked to write to you. With all my heart I bid you God-speed. May the Lord Himself strengthen and uphold you.
May I give you this text?
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and, of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou vest” (Josh. 1:99Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:9)). These were God’s words to a soldier like yourself, to whom He had entrusted great tasks, and they are as true for you as they were for Joshua. Be sure that the Lord is ever close by your side to guard, guide, strengthen and bless you; turn and speak to Him, as to a friend: —
“He will never leave then nor forsake thee,
Living or dying you are His.”
“I shall think of you— Ever your faithful friend — F. J., Liverpool.”
A few extracts from letters written by Sergeant Heye, whilst in France, and invariably headed “K.R.O.B.,” may interest the reader!
May, 1915. — We have had a heavy casualty list in the attack we were in, and I would so’ like to ask for a note of thanksgiving to be sounded on our behalf for God’s protecting care.
June, 1915. — Five of us had a nice walk yesterday, and had a time of prayer together. It was most refreshing.
October, 1915. — Last night we had a nice meeting; I gave the message, and felt there was power. Comrades have expressed their heartfelt thanks.
November, 1915. — Oh what peace and joy it gives to “know that all things work together for good to them that love God.”
March, 1916. — God gives us fresh proofs daily of His keeping care. In the midst of great danger, we are well and happy, realizing that
“Not a single shaft can hit,
Till the God of Love sees fit.”
July, 1916. — We shall be in the trenches again shortly; remember us earnestly in your prayers.
September, 1916. — This is a lovely Sunday morning. My trust is in God; His hand is leading, and I enjoy perfect peace.
The following sentences occur in a letter received by the writer from Sergeant Heyes a few days before his death: “I am grateful to you for your brotherly interest. We are near the big offensive, and I do not know what an hour may bring forth. God is a very present help in trouble, and I am rejoicing in His salvation.”
On 25th September, 1916, while leading his platoon in a Charge on the German trenches at—, Sergeant Heyes was hit in the head with a piece of shrapnel, and rendered unconscious.
Shortly afterward he was “Absent from the body, present wall the Lord.”
Sergeant Heyes’ attachment to’ Lance-Corporal Woodward was most marked. “It did me great good,” he wrote me, afterword’s ward’s death, “to see Lifted,’ and to look once again on dear Dennis’ face. His is a blessed memory to me; please send me some more copies of Lifted.’”
I have often thought of the heavenly love which on earth knit these two Christian soldiers together in true brotherly affection, and now in death they are not divided, and tie same heavenly-mindedness and preparedness which characterized Sergeant Will Heyes and Lance-Corporal Dennis Woodward may be yours, my unsaved, reader, if you accept the work of. Christ at Calvary on your behalf.
There is salvation, shelter, and safety in Christ, the Rock of Ages, and nowhere else.
“They looked unto Him, and were lightened, and their faces were riot ashamed.”
J. J. P.
Further copies of this booklet can be obtained on application to: —
J. J. P.,
18, Broadway, West Worthing.