George Wood (27.9.1915)
Date of birth: 1890
Date of death: 27.9.1915
Area: Outwood
Regiment: King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Family information: Husband of Harriet nee Ward
Rank: Private
Service number: 17540
War Service
George joined up as Private 17540 George Wood in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 9th Battalion and arrived in France on 12th September 1915. His battalion fought in the Battle of Loos (September 25th – October 8th), arriving at the trenches NE of Loos at 1am on the 26th and then advancing two and half miles under heavy artillery fire. Later that day they took part in the attack on Hill 40 when, according to the battalion war diaries, they lost “215 rank and file killed, wounded and missing”. The following day at 3am they were relieved and went back to billets so I believe George was one of those 215, although he was recorded as being killed on 27th September 1915 aged 28. He was awarded the 14/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal and is buried at Lillers Communal Cemetery, with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission stating that he was from 2 Roger Fold Kirkhamgate. He is also included on the Wrenthorpe Colliery War Memorial and Kirkhamgate War Memorial. His death was reported in the Wakefield Express as follows:
“KIRKHAMGATE SOLDIER DIES OF WOUNDS
Private George Wood 9th Battalion KOYLI has died from wounds in a hospital in France. Deceased lived at Old Row Kirkhamgate and worked as a miner at Newton Pit. He leaves a widow and two young children. A memorial service is to be held at St Mary’s Mission Room tomorrow afternoon. Deceased was a brother in law of Joseph Ward who was recently killed in action.”
His widow married Charles Overton in 1919.
Family Life
George was born on 31st July 1890 to George snr, a shunter and his wife Isabella. He was baptised at St Philip’s, Dewsbury on 27th March 1893 while they were living in Colliers’ Row, Leeds Road, Dewsbury. His sister Nelly, who had been born the previous month and his brother Henry, born in 1889, were also baptised on the same day.
The 1891 census reveals Isabella was staying with her parents in law in Nottinghamshire, but baby George at 8 months was now called Arthur! Unfortunately, George as he is once again named, had already lost his father by the 1901 census, as he was living with his widowed mother and siblings at the bottom of Leeds Road Cutting Soothill. By 1911 he was a coal miner and boarding in Victoria terrace, Outwood. His brother was a miner boarding in Featherstone. I believe his mother died in 1909 and his sister Nellie died in 1913 aged 20.
On 21st October 1911 George married Harriet Ward at St Mary Magdalene’s, Outwood but once again he was named Arthur! He was living at Princess Ave, Outwood, His father is named as George Wood (deceased) a shunter, so it seems fairly certain that it is George.
Lillers Communal Cemetery
