Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Hood was the eldest of his 6 siblings of whom only 5 had survived by 1911. His father Mark Hood born in 1843 at Hedley, Northumberland married the eldest daughter of William and Lucille Smith. Alice Smith was born at Winlaton, Gateshead, County Durham, in 1848, an unmarried mother with a 2-year-old child Isabella, when she and Mark were married in the district of Gateshead, in 1873. They settled at Winlaton, birthplace of son William, June16th 1875, Joseph was born Barlow, Blaydon-on-Tyne, in 1878, Lucille also in Winlaton in 1880 but in 1881 they were living in the mining village of Garesfield Colliery, Chopwell, where Mark Hood was employed as a coal miner. Over the next ten years Alice gave birth to a further 3 sons, Robert in Winlaton in 1883, Anthony in 1885 and John Thomas in 1888. They were living at Whickham Road, Swalwell in 1891 where both William (16) and Joseph (14) had joined their father at the colliery as coal miner helpers, tragically Joseph at the age of 22-years died during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec)1899. He was not involved in any mining accident; his death perhaps could be attributed to him being a casualty of war as Great Britain fought in South Africa during the Boer War from October 1899 to May 31st 1902. By 1911 only hewers Robert (27) and Anthony (25) were living at home with their parent, which was now 4 rooms at 44, Severn Street, Chopwell, County Durham.
William was married in the district of Gateshead in 1903 to Phyllis Wallis, born June 1st 1882 in Murton, County Durham. In 1911 they were living at 3, Coquet Street, Chopwell, County Durham, with their 4 children, Joseph born March 8th 1905, Alice, November 5th 1906, Beatrice May, March 14th 1909 and newborn Blanch, March 7th 1911, also in the household was Phyllis’ niece Barbara Jane Wallis (14).
Even as war with Germany was pending tragedy struck the Hood family once again with the death, during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1914, of John Thomas Hood, aged 25-years. He and his wife, Mary Jane Walton had only been married since 1909 and had a 1-year old child, Robert. He was a coal miner below ground but no record has been found as regards an industrial accident.
Upon the commencement of war, August 4th 1914, William and his family were living at 30, Wansbeck Street, Chopwell, where Phyllis gave birth to their son Lawrence, October 21st 1914. As a married man and an essential worker William was not called upon to serve until conscription, brought in for all single men 18-40-years of age in January 1916, was extended in May 1916 by a second Act, to married men, however, he enlisted in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland in 1914. Assigned to the 11th (Service) Battalion (County Donegal and Fermanagh) Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, which initially trained in County Down, Ireland, before moving to Seaford, Sussex, in England, as part of the 3rd Brigade, Ulster Division, renamed 109th Brigade, 36th Ulster Division, Lance Corporal 18365 departed to France, October 15th 1915. His wife who was pregnant with their 6th child when he departed gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth Ellen, May 7th 1916.
The 36th Division was one of the few to make significant progress on the first day of the Battles of the Somme, July 1st 1916, during the Battle of Albert, attacking between the Ancre and Thiepval against the Schwaben Redoubt with the loss of 5,000 men killed, wounded or missing. It participated in 1917 at the Battle of Messines capturing Wytschaete, at Langmarck during the Third Battle of Ypres in Belgium, Cambrai capturing Bourlon Wood, St. Quentin, Rossiers, Lys and Kemmel. The 11th Battalion was disbanded in France January 21st 1918. Lance Corporal Hood was posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion (County Tyrone) Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Lance Corporal Hood was captured by the Germans, March 22nd 1918 in the St. Quentin sector, Picardie, France, and transported to Lager Lechfeld Prisoner of War Camp, three hours by train from Munich. The men were crammed into wooden and brick built huts where conditions were atrocious and fed a diet of turnip water, 160 grams of bread a day and the occasional ration of black horse meat. The British servicemen were more fortunate than most as they received Red Cross parcels.
Having been taken ill William was transferred to Lazarett Fürstenfeldbruck, in Bavaria where sadly he died, September 14th 1918, as the result of pulmonary tuberculosis (lungentuberkulose). It should be noted in official German documents William’s date of birth is given incorrectly as June 16th 1872, BMD states 1875.
Lance Corporal 18365 William Hood was interred at Fürstenfeldbruck Cemetery, map reference 54. D. 2. grave R. 9. In 1922-23 it was decided that the graves of Commonwealth servicemen who had died in Germany should be brought together into four permanent cemeteries, the body of Lance Corporal Hood and others at Fürstenfeldbruck were exhumed and taken, the almost 500 kilometres, for reburial within Nederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Hessen, Germany, June 14th 1924. He is now at rest, grave II. F. 18, at the time of his demise in 1918 he was 43 years of age.
His widow as sole legitimate received all monies owed to him from the Army, his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 30, Wansbeck Street, Chopwell. July 3rd 1919 she was awarded a pension of 25 shilling 11 pence a week to be reduced as each of her children turned 16-years of age.
Phyllis Hood nee Wallis died in 1936 aged 54-years registered in the district of Gateshead, County Durham.
Details of William and Phyllis’ children;
Alice Hood married William Forster, 2 known children, William Jnr and Albert. She died aged 51-years, April 17th 1958, resident at 15, Moorland View, Chopwell, Gateshead, County Durham.
Blanche Hood married John Hague, 3 known children, James, Phyllis and Shirley. She died aged 72-years in 1884, Durham Northern.
Elizabeth Ellen married twice, firstly to Henry Whitfield (1911-1978) and after his demise to Sydney Lowes. She died aged 87-years in 2003, district of Gateshead, County Durham.
Further details of Joseph, Lawrence and Beatrice May Hood as yet unknown.
During WW1 William’s brother Sapper Anthony Hood Royal Engineers was killed in action, March 17th 1917.
Alice Hood nee Smith died in 1932, district of Gateshead, County Durham, aged 83-years, her death preceded by that of her husband Mark Hood in 1931 aged 88-years, district of Lanchester, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Hood is remembered at Ebchester on E58.01 and at Chopwell on C92.01 and C92.02
