Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Henry Wood, an agricultural labourer, born 1865 in Brinklow, Warwickshire and his wife Emily Wood (nee Bottrill, married on the 21st September 1890 in Sowe, Warwickshire), born 1868 in Walsgrave on Sowe, Warwickshire. Thomas was born on the 19th November 1895 in Shilton, Warwickshire, and was baptised on the 12th April 1896 in Sowe, Warwickshire, his siblings were, Sidney, born 1890, Alice Hilda, born 1892 and Charles Henry, born 1894, the latter three siblings were all born in Walsgrave on Sowe, Clara, born 1998 in Shilton, and baptised on the 30th January 1898 in Sowe, and Alfred William, born 1900 in Walsgrave on Sowe, in March 1901 the family home was at Glebe Farm, Thorpe Arnold, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Thomas was employed as a blast furnace office boy and was residing in the family home at 15, Rosebery Avenue, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, together with his mother and siblings, Alice, a wool spinning mill worker, Clara, a schoolgirl, Alfred, a schoolboy, Elizabeth, born 1903, Emily, born 1905, Ernest, born 1907 and Herbert, born 1910, the latter four siblings were all born in Melton Mowbray.
Thomas attested into the Army Reserve (Special Reservist’s) to serve 3 years service on the 2nd September 1914 in Melton Mowbray. He gave his place of birth as Walsgrave on Sowe, Coventry, Warwickshire, his age as 19 years and 296 days and his trade or calling as crane driver. He gave his present home address as Iron Lodge, Sysonby, Leicestershire. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father William Henry Wood of Wibtoft, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, his mother Emily Wood of Wibtoft, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, his brothers Charles Wood of Stanley, Derbyshire and Sydney Botterill Wood of Ruddington, Nottinghamshire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6½ inches in height, weighed 133 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 34 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was brown and he had grey eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England, He was pronounced fit for the Army Reserve on the 2nd September 1914 in Melton Mowbray. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 13107 on the 4/9/14. Posted to the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Aldershot on the 24/9/14. Posted to Folkestone on the -?-. Posted to Perham Down on the -?-. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. Killed in action, place not stated on the 25/9/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 2/9/14 – 28/7/15, 330 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 25/9/16, 1 year 60 days. Total service 2 years and 25 days. Thomas was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Thomas’s father W. H. Wood on the 11th May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by William C. Humbley, Clerk in Holy Orders, Withybrook Vicarage, Coventry on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, William H. Wood, age 55 of Copston Magna, Hinckley. Mother of soldier, Emily Wood, age 52 of Copston Magna, Hinckley. Full blood brothers of soldier, C. H. Wood, age 25 serving with the B.E.F in France. A. W. Wood, age 19 of Londonderry, Ireland. E. Wood, age 12 of Copston Magna, Hinckley. H. Wood, age 7 of Copston Magna, Hinckley. Half blood brother of soldier, Sidney Bottrill, age 29 of Ruddington, Nottinghamshire. Full blood sisters of soldier, Clara Wood, age 21 of Coventry. Lizzie Wood, age 16 of Barn-?- Hall. Thomas’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 24-30 Sep-16 - East of TRONES WOOD. About 7.00pm on the 24th the Battalion marched up to take a position prior to making an attack the next day. Before they reached the position the enemy heavily shelled our men, several casualties resulting. At 12.30pm on the 25th the first attack was launched, the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT being in a position on the right of FLERS. The objective was the first German line, a distance of about 1000 yards from the trench from which the Battalion launched the attack. The attack was made in waves, each platoon forming a wave, and 2 waves going over at a time. The attack was launched with splendid heroism, the first objective was gained in about ¾ of an hour, the men then stopped a short time to consolidate their gain, and to allow the artillery barrage to lift. They then pressed on to their second objective which was the village of GUEDECOURT. By the time they reached the village their ranks were sadly thinner, by the tremendous artillery barrage the enemy put up, and by machine guns which wrought terrible havoc. Never the less with dauntless gallantry they pressed on reaching the village and engaging the enemy in hand to hand fighting, which took place all the night. In the morning the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT relieved the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT in the village, and the enemy were finally driven out. The 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT were brought back to the second line of trenches, where they were relieved by the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT on the 28th. They then went back to SWISS TRENCH where they remained until relieved on the night of October 1st.
On Friday October 27th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – PRIVATE WOOD. News has been received that Pte. Wood, of the Leicester’s, who formerly resided in Rosebery-avenue, Melton, has been killed in action.
On Friday November 3rd 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.” – IN MEMORIAM. – WOOD. – To the memory of Pte. T. Wood, late of Rosebery Avenue.
He left his country, quite prepared.
His fair young life to give.
He nobly answered duty’s call.
He gave his life for one and all.
Not now but in the coming years.
It may be in the better land.
We’ll read the meaning of our tears.
And then up there we’ll understand.
From his sister and husband, Ab Kettleby, and aunt and uncle, Burton Lazars.