Personnel

In 1979, Irving “Irv” Waterbury wrote an account of

Woodgate learned to play clarinet, trumpet,

The Century Bombers band at Thorpe Abbotts which

saxophone and the piano during his grade school

fostered his lifelong involvement in band music. Irv

years. “I don’t know where my dad got these talents,

referenced Pfc. Arthur “Woody”

as he had no formal schooling

Woodgate as “the man most

outside of high school,” remarked

responsible” for the band’s

Greg. Before the war, Woodgate

existence, the man Irv called

had a number of odd jobs

the band’s “basic organizer.”

including as a mechanic, camera/

Waterbury, who served in

motion picture repairman, and

group communications, played

other equipment maintenance.

the saxophone in the band

Enlisting in the US Army Air

between 1943-1945, noting he

Forces at Ft. Snelling, MN, in

was “most fortunate” to have

September 1942, Woodgate was

met Woodgate. What the band

later assigned to the 100th Bomb

needed were musicians, and Irv

Group’s ground echelon in the

credited Woodgate for teaching

418th Bomb Squadron. Available

him to play saxophone, thus

records have yet to shed light

officially initiating him into the band.

on Woodgate’s exact assignment in the squadron,

although he was at Thorpe Abbotts for the duration

“Woody, as he was called, was very kind to me. I had

of the war. His pivotal role in the band, however, is

played clarinet in high school, and not too well, but

known thanks to Irv Waterbury.

the fingering is similar to a sax, and a sax man was

what was needed.”

Irv Waterbury’s comments about Woodgate

immediately sparked my interest. This was soon

followed by disappointment because there’s no

information about Woodgate in

our historical archives. Sensing

that Woodgate had a unique

story to tell, I began a search for

any family members. Thankfully

this led me to his son Greg who,

with the help of his siblings Barry,

Kent, and Lorraine, shared several

photos and spoke with me about

his father’s service and love of

music.

Woodgate’s musical talents

stemmed from his parents, who

were very active in the Salvation

Army Band in Minnesota.

Greg recalled his father sharing his experience of

mentoring some of the band members at Thorpe

Abbotts, teaching them to read charts and giving

instruction on how to play different instruments.

According to Irv Waterbury, “Woody actually spent

three months with me in a room

of the Big Top (the enlisted men’s

club), which we called the band

room, teaching me to play the

sax, every night from seven to

about eleven o’clock. Finally,

one of my greatest days arrived.

Woody asked me to go on the job

with the band.” Waterbury noted

The Century Bombers played

numerous engagements, including

“the First Four Graders Club at

the Big Top on varying Saturdays,

the lower graders club on alternate

Saturdays, and the Red Cross on

Wednesdays. We played at fighter

14 Volume 55 - No. 1 Splasher Six

14 Volume 55 - No. 1 Splasher Sixbases, other air bases and had Battles-of-the Bands

with competing Air Force entries.”

At Woody’s urging, Irv went up the chain of command

and they soon had instruments, a P.A. system and

more. With help from Colonel Utley, Ground

Executive, they secured a band hut. Then, with “the

finest Big Band singer in the ETO, our great Mike

Londra, the band was wildly popular… The band’s

first trip off the base was a trip selling war bonds.”

While enjoying a pass to London, Woodgate visited

the Hammersmith Palais de Danse dance hall, where

he met a girl from nearby Shepherd’s Bush named

Daisy Dicker. “My guess is their love of music and

dance made them destined to meet,” said Greg.

“Woody” Woodgate married Daisy on August 26,

1944. Daisy was pregnant with their first child by the

time Woodgate’s service with the 100th BG drew to

a close after V-E Day.

Woodgate returned stateside aboard the RMS Queen

Elizabeth in the fall of 1945, while Daisy and their

young son Barry arrived in New York aboard the

USS Henry Gibbons, a refitted “war brides ship” on

May 29, 1946. The family settled in Bloomington,

MN, where Woodgate worked as a machinist during

the post-war years. Daisy would remain active with

the Transatlantic Brides and Parents Association

(TBPA), and later traveled back to England as part

of a TBPA-sponsored trip. Though Woodgate never

participated in any formal bands following his time

with The Century Bombers, his love of music never

diminished. He continued to play the saxophone

and trumpet for pleasure, and he and Daisy enjoyed

taking part in local dances.

“In addition to his musical talents, my dad had a

great sense of humor and was always a practical

joker. He also had a knack for handywork, and did

some pretty amazing things in his life,” said Greg.

He still has his father’s uniform and the mouthpiece

from his wartime trumpet, which remains a treasured

keepsake. Sadly, Arthur “Woody” Woodgate passed

away on June 23, 1969. He is buried with Daisy, who

lived until 2011, at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.

Woodgate’s contributions to The Century Bombers

band will forever be a part of his legacy.