242251 Sgt. William Henry Wood MM.British Army 2nd Btn. Leinster Regiment from:Folkestone, Kent Will Wood served in the Second Battalion of the Leinster Regiment, firstly in India where life was quite pleasant. He returned home with a collection of Benares-ware, a bracelet of Indian annas, and a pair of sunglasses with thick lenses and side pieces designed for the Indian sun. He returned to the Regiment's base in Cork and returned to England to leave the Army and marry his childhood sweetheart. When WWI broke out he was on the reserve list and found himself in France quite quickly. He just had time to see his newly born son before he left. The Second Battalion was made up of regular soldiers and remained in France and Belgium throughout the war. William Henry Wood was awarded the Military Medal in 1916. His name appeared in the London Gazette Supplement of 11 October 1916 and he was mentioned in despatches on 13 November 1916. The Regimental history of the Leinsters provides some details of its engagements and also comments on the heavy drinking of the Irish, who seemed to enjoy their rum ration. Who could blame them! William Wood became a heavy drinker in civilian life. William Wood was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in the London Gazette Supplement of 17 June 1918, possibly for length of service. He also received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal with Oak Leaf, the latter being awarded to those mentioned in despatches, issued on 8 August 1919. His 1914 Star with Clasp or Mons Star was approved in 1917 and awarded to all who served in France and Belgium between 5 August and 22 November 1914: fewer than 400,000 were awarded. By June 1918 he was Acting Quartermaster Sergeant attached to the 73rd Infantry Brigade at Crawley Barracks. William Wood never spoke about his experiences but it appears that a bullet passed between his legs and lodged in his greatcoat. He certainly experienced gas attacks and it seems probable that these had long term effects on his health. After the war, William Wood refused to give his consent to his son's joining the army and would not allow him to read 'The History of the Great War'. I remember him as a fat man who sat with his nose bleeding over a bowl for a very long time. There was no trace of the somewhat arrogant-looking young soldier who was photographed with his horse 'somewhere behind the lines' in 1916.
|