Andrew Wood
Wood Brothers
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Andrew Wood was born at Windy Nook, Felling, near Gateshead, County Durham, in 1885 one of 10 known children, 6 sons and 4 daughters born to Thomas Wood, native of Wooler, Northumberland born 1846 and his wife Elizabeth Parkinson born 1856 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, whom he married in the district of Gateshead in 1876. He and Elizabeth along with their 4 children, his widowed mother, brother Robert and nephew Adam were living in 1881 at Dixon’s Property, Heworth, Gateshead, Thomas and his brother were employed as coal miners, at the time of brother George’s birth they were at 4, Albion Street Back. By 1901 their family was complete, Thomas and his elder sons Robert, Thomas Jnr and Andrew were all employed as shifters at the colliery. George's father died between 1901 and 1911, exact date unknown. His widow Elizabeth moved to 1, Drummond Row, Windy Nook, Gateshead supported by her three youngest sons, Andrew (26) a hewer, George (19) employed as a putter, William known as Willie (15) was a pony driver.
On the outbreak of war Andrew was 29 years old. He enlisted at Felling, October 27th 1914, along with his younger brother George, both were assigned to the Durham Light Infantry, Andrew as 21036 and George as 21063. The following day Private Andrew Woods joined the Regiment at Newcastle-upon-Tyne assigned to the 13th Battalion one of the new army battalions. The 13th Battalion attached to the 68rd Brigade, 23rd Division moved to Aldershot in November and on to Willesborough, Kent in March 1915 and by May they were at Bramshot. The Regiment departed to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force, 68th Brigade, 23rd Division, August 26th 1915 concentrating near Tilques. September 5th they were attached to the III Corp and moved to Merris-Vieux for trench familiarisation from the 20th and 27th Division, taking over the front line sector between Ferme Grande Flamergrie to the Armentieres-Wez Macquart road in their own right by September 14th. Having been spared action during the Battle of Loos, they spent the rest of 1915 and early 1916 in and out of the trenches at Armentieres and Souchez. During that winter he was sent twice to the 69th Field Ambulance for treatment suffering from tonsillitis, the second occasion returning to duty in the field January 1st 1916.
Private 21036 Andrew Wood Durham Light Infantry was killed five days later January 6th 1916. His body was taken to Bois-Grenier, 3 kilometres south of Armentieres, where the basement of the brewery had been transformed into a dressing station and was interred in the adjoining orchard used by the dressing station. Now known as Brewery Orchard Cemetery, Bois-Grenier, Nord, France, at rest grave, VI. A. 19, he was 31 years old and single.
His mother as sole beneficiary received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 23, Albion Street, Windy Nook, Felling, County Durham.
All four of the, “younger”, Wood brothers enlisted. Six months after Andrew’s death his brother Lance Corporal 20/129 Thomas Woodserving with the 20th Battalion (Tyneside Scottish) Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action July 1st 1916 and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval France, he was 35 years old, awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
George Woodenlisted as Private 21063 assigned to the 13th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. He is deemed to have died either killed in action or to have died of wounds received in action, October 8th 1918. His sacrifice is recorded on Special Memorial 1 Beaurevoir British Cemetery, Aisne, France. His memorial is one of only 4 erected to soldiers from the United Kingdom known or believed to be buried amongst the 300 casualties commemorated within the cemetery, almost 50 of which are unidentified. Private Wood was 26 years old and left a widow Mary and daughter, recipient of the 1914-15 Star, British war Medal and Victory Medal.
William Woods known as Willie enlisted aged 19 years and was assigned to the Royal Naval Division as a Private. He was the only one to survive the conflict of WW1 as he is listed along with his mother and siblings as, “ next of kin, “ in relation to both Andrew and Thomas in documents dated 1919 in relation to a war pension to be assigned to Mary Wood their mother.
Transcription error in newspaper cutting related to Wood brothers, third from the left and deceased should read as Andrew.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Andrew Wood is remembered at Heworth on H92.04 and H92.07 and at Windy Nook on W95.01 and W95.02
