Name
Henry John Wood
05/05/1880
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/12/1914
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
6188
Essex Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
STRAND MILITARY CEMETERY
X. K. 4.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
"FERNS HOLLOW UPSHIRE WALTHAM ABBEY"
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Christ Church (formerly Holy Trinity Church) Waltham Cross Memorial, Waltham Abbey Memorial, Essex
Pre War
Henry/Harry John Wood was born on 5th May 1880, in Waltham Abbey, Essex, son of Harry “William” Wood, a Gardener and Elizabeth Alice Wood (nee Heasman). The eldest of thirteen children although one died in infancy.
He was Baptised on 30th May 1880, at The Abbey Church of The Holy Cross and St Lawrence, Waltham Abbey, Essex.
1881 Census records Henry aged 11 months, living with his parents, at Copt Hall Green, Waltham Abbey, Essex.
1891 Census, Henry (10), is at school living with his parents and five brothers in Copt Hall Green.
Henry enlisted at Warley, Essex, the home of the Essex Regiment, in late 1900 early 1901, issued with the service number 6188
1901 Census records Henry aged 21, single and a Private in the Infantry, stationed at the Military Barracks, Colchester, Essex . His parents, seven brothers, sisters Elizabeth (7) and Marjory Agnes (2), are still living in Copy Hall Green.
1911 census, Henry (29) is now out of the Army and employed as a Factory Worker, living back at home with his parents, four brothers and sister Marjory Agnes (12), at Ferns Hollow, Copt Hall Green, Waltham Abbey, Essex.
His brother Arthur Edwin Wood *1 and sister Elizabeth A. Wood, emigrated to Canada Abt. 1913.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war Henry was recalled from the Army Reserve and mobilized for war service, he arrived in France on 3rd November 1914, he died seven weeks later on 19th December 1914, of wounds received in action, aged 34. At the time of his death he was serving with the 2nd Battalion, of the Essex Regiment. He was initially buried in Le Bizet Convent Military Cemetery, which was located in the grounds of the Assumptonist Covent, later concentrated into Strand Military Cemetery, Hainaut, Belgium. Grave Ref; X. K. 4.
Additional Information
His mother Elizabeth received a dependents pension of 5/- a week from 21st November 1916. His effects of £5-9s-11d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £3, went to his father Harry “William”.
His Headstone inscription: “FERNS HOLLOW UPSHIRE WALTHAM ABBEY” was requested by Mrs. E. A. Wood, Ferns Hollow, Upshire, Waltham Abbey, Essex. (His mother).The Holy Trinity Church Memorial records his date of death as 1916.
Brother Private M2/052469 Everlyn Ernest Wood of the Royal Army Service Corps, Survived the war.
Brother Sergeant 4719 Frederick W. Wood of the 13th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade, Survived the war.
Brother Private 5923 later 702624 Charles Leonard Wood of the 23rd (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment, Survived the war.
CWGC record him as Harry John Wood.
We have not found a direct connection for Harry to Cheshunt; however, we have not found any other man that could fit so and given the proximity of Waltham Cross and Waltham Abbey to Cheshunt, we believe he is the correct man.
*1 Brother Pioneer 863084 Arthur Edwin Wood of the 123rd Battalion, Canadian Pioneer Battalion, (Royal Grenadiers) died on 21st October 1917, of wounds receive in action, he is buried in the Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave Ref; I. H. 69.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
