Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Wood, a shoe trade finisher, born 1864 in Barwell, Leics., and his wife Sarah Wood (nee Chamberlain, married on the 6th November 1888 in Monks Kirby, Warwks.), born 1869 in Wolvey, Warwks. Arthur William was born on the 22nd August 1890 in Barwell, Leics., he had one sibling, a sister, Gertrude Florence, born in the 2nd quarter of 1889 in Barwell, Leics., in April 1891 the family home was at Chapel Street, Barwell, Leics. In March 1901 Arthur was residing in the family home at 97, High Street, Barwell, Leics., together with his father, a boot trade edge setter, his mother and siblings, Gertrude, Maud Ellen, born in the 1st quarter of 1892, Elizabeth Lilian, born in the 4th quarter of 1895 and Leonard, born in the 3rd quarter of 1898, the latter three siblings were all born in Barwell, Leics. In April 1911 Arthur was no longer living in the family home at 97, High Street, Barwell, Leics., residing there was his father, a boot and shoe trade finisher, his mother and siblings, Maud, a boot and shoe trade fitter, Lilian, a boot and shoe trade machinist, Leonard, a schoolboy and Shirley, a schoolboy, born in the 3rd quarter of 1904 in Barwell, Leics. In the 3rd quarter of 1911 another sibling, Vera I., was born in the Hinckley, Leics. district. The background relating to the circumstances in which Arthur lost his life are as follows: During the Battle of Jutland on 31st May 1916, she was the flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Arbuthnot, leading the First Cruiser Squadron. The squadron formed the starboard flank of the cruiser screen, ahead of the main body of the Grand Fleet. HMS Defence was just to the right of the centre of the line. At 5.47 p.m., HMS Defence, and HMS Warrior, the leading two ships of the squadron, spotted the German II Scouting Group and opened fire. Their shells fell short and the two ships turned to port in pursuit, cutting in front of the battle cruiser HMS Lion, which was forced to turn away to avoid a collision. Shortly afterwards, they spotted the disabled German light cruiser SMS Wiesbaden and closed to engage. When the two ships reached a range of 5,500 yards from SMS Wiesbaden they were spotted in turn at 6.05 pm by the German battle cruiser SMS Derfflinger and four battleships who were less than 8,000 yards away. The fire from the German ships was heavy and HMS Defence was hit by two salvoes from the German ships that caused the aft 9.2 inch magazine to explode. The resulting fire spread via the ammunition passages to the adjacent 7.5 inch magazines which detonated in turn. The ship exploded at 6.20 pm with the loss of all men on board, between 893 and 903 men were killed. There were no survivors.