Harold Wood centre front row
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Harold Wood was born at Stillington in 1897, one of 18 children of whom only 14 survived he was the 7th born of 8 sons and 6 daughters. His father Robert Wood of Bishopton, County Durham, born 1851 married at St. Andrew, Haughton-le-Skerne, Darlington, November 30th 1875 to Margaret Wilson born 1855 at Morley, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham. Prior to his marriage Robert Wood was a servant/farm labourer at Trimdon village, employed by Matthew Maughan, in 1881 he is listed as living with his family at Stillington, a farmer of 260 acres and was assisted by his sons once they left school, by 1911 they had moved to Merton Grange Farm, Stillington near Ferryhill.
Harold Wood enlisted on the outbreak of war and was firstly assigned as Private 4233 Durham Light Infantry and later transferred as Private 200578 5th Battalion D.L.I. Having trained at Ravensworth and Gateshead the main body of men of the 5th Battalion departed to France, April 16th 1915, landing at Boulogne, Private Wood did not join them until 1916. They were serving on the Ypres salient, part of the 150th Brigade, 50th Northumberland Division in the trenches of Armentieres and Kemmel before moving south to the Somme in September 1916 where they suffered heavy casualties in the attack on Prue Trench at High Wood.
During 1917 they fought at the Battle of Arras April 9th-May 10th. During this battle Private Wood was wounded, exact date unknown and evacuated back through the lines to the village of Ficheux where the VII Corps Main Dressing Station had been posted in order to tend the wounded of the battle.
Private 200578 Harold Wood died of wounds sustained on active service April 24th 1917 and interred at Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, Pas de Calais, France, begun by the Field Ambulance in early April 1917. He was 20 years old and single.
His father Robert received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His grief-stricken family received news 5 months later that his elder brother Private George Edward Woodalso serving with the Durham Light Infantry had been killed in action September 22nd 1917 on the Ypres salient. Unlike his brother he has no known grave, his sacrifice is recorded on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing within Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, near Ypres in Belgium. Recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal he was 22 years old and single.
Margaret Wood nee Wilson of Merton Grange Farm died February 21st 1922, aged 67 years leaving effects in the sum of 105 pounds 15 shillings and 9 pence to her husband Robert. Robert Wood aged 81 years died September 29th 1932 at Carter Moor Farm, Egglescliffe, County Durham, leaving effects in the sum of 1,300 pounds to his 2nd born, unmarried daughter, Elizabeth Ann Wood.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Harold Wood is remembered at Stillington on S137.01 and S137.02 at Stockton on S138.35
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 96
