Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Grosvenor Frederick Wood, known as Fred, was the eldest of 3 siblings, 2 sons and a daughter, all of whom survived. His father William Wood born in the hamlet of Arnold, Yorkshire, in 1863, who at the age of 17 was an assistant schoolmaster had by 1891 transferred to Glinton, Northamptonshire. He was living as a boarder in the home of railway plater William Moulds at Village Street Cottage, employed as an elementary school master. Whilst living at Glinton he met the girl who was to become his future wife, Kate Harrie Lord, born at Marsham in 1867, daughter of widower, William Lord, a certified elementary teacher at the same school. August 12th 1894 at Christ Church, Doncaster, William and Kate were married, settling at Whatton, Nottinghamshire where daughter Mary Emma was born in 1895, Fred September 4th 1896 and John William 1898, their father was the local school master. Between 1901 and 1911 the entire family migrated to the north east, William was employed by the County Council as an elementary school head teacher, Kate as his assistant, they and their children occupied the School House, Quebec, County Durham, consisting of 6 rooms. Mary Emma (15), Fred (14) and John William (13) were scholars.
When war was declared with Germany, August 4th 1914, Fred was only 17 years of age, too young to enlist. Although training to become a teacher, he enlisted December 4th 1915, at Battersea, London, aged 19 years 3 months under his full name Grosvenor Frederick Wood. Assigned as Private 28162 Durham Light Infantry, the medical board found him to be fit only for home duty and he was posted to the 3rd Battalion D.L.I. as part of the Tyne Defences at South Shields and Jarrow. The battalion also trained men for the draft and recuperating wounded soldiers. Due to the huge losses sustained during 1916 on the Western Front the decision as regards Fred’s health was reversed, he departed to France, January 1st 1917. Once arrived at the 35th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples he was posted to the 12th Battalion and January 25th 1917 to the 20th Battalion, joining them in the field. The 20th Battalion as part of the 123rd Brigade, 41st Division, was in action in Belgium on the Ypres salient. Private Wood was one of many men sent on loan to the 233rd (Northumbrian) Field Coy, Royal Engineers, part of the 41st Division.
Private 28162 Grosvenor Frederick Wood Durham Light Infantry was killed in action, June 3rd 1917 and interred at Dickebusch New Military Cemetery Extension, near Ypres, Belgium, used by the fighting units and Field Ambulance in the area. He is at rest grave III. B. 1. Fred was 20 years of age and single.
His mother as sole beneficiary received all monies due to him, a pension, his personal effects consisting of; Bible, 2 pair of gold rimmed glasses, wristlet watch, photos, pencil case, wallet, July 12th 1917 and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, sent to her at the School House, Quebec, County Durham. His father William commissioned at a cost of 15 shillings 9 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “Father In Thy Gracious Keeping Leave We Now Thy Servant Sleeping.”
No record has been found for John William Woods.
Details as regards the demise of William Wood, unknown, Kate Harrie Wood nee Lord died in 1939 aged 72 years registered in the district of Durham Central.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Eddie Castling & Andrew O’Sullivan have submitted the following:
WOOD, Grosvenor Frederick
He was born 4th September 1896.
He lived at School House, Quebec, where his father, William, was Head Teacher and his mother, Kate H., was a teacher. He had a brother and a sister. The family was originally from Nottinghamshire.
He attended Durham Johnston School. On leaving school became a student teacher.
On enlistment he was deemed fit for Garrison duty only because of poor eyesight, but was sent to join 20th Battalion D.L.I. in France in January 1917.
He died 3rd June 1917, aged 20
Medals: British Defence Medal, Victory Medal
Grosvenor Frederick Wood is remembered at Durham on D47.025 and at Quebec on Q2.05
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 140
