Wilfred Wood
Private, 10th Battalion The Northumberland Fusiliers
- Register No.
- 1325 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 10th Battalion The Northumberland Fusiliers all Northumberland Fusiliers VCs →
- Date of action
- 28 October 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 17th October 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 2nd February 1897 at Stockport, Cheshire
- Died
- 3rd January 1982 at Hazel Grove, Nr. Stockport, Cheshire
- Memorial / grave
- Regimental Museum of The Northumberland Fusiliers, Alnwick Castle, Northumberland in the form of a Name Plate from a London Midland and Scottish Railway engine
Digest of citation
On 28 October 1918 near Casa Vana, Italy, when the advance was being held up by hostile machine-guns and snipers, Private Wood on his own initiative worked forward with his Lewis gun, enfiladed the enemy machine-gun nest and caused 140 men to surrender. Later when a hidden machine-gun opened fire at point- blank range, Private Wood charged the gun, firing his Lewis gun from the hip at the same time. He killed the machine-gun crew and, without further orders, pushed on and enfiladed a ditch from which three officers and 160 men subsequently surrendered
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
WOOD. Wilfred (Reg No.1325)
Private 10th Battalion The Northumberland Fusiliers.
London Gazetted on 27th November 1918.
Born on: 2nd February 1897 at Stockport, Cheshire.
Died on: 3rd January 1982 at Hazel Grove, Nr. Stockport, Cheshire.
Memorials at: Regimental Museum of The Northumberland Fusiliers, Alnwick Castle, Northumberland in the form of a Name Plate from a London Midland and Scottish Railway engine.
Digest of Citation reads: On 28 October 1918 near Casa Vana, Italy, when the advance was being held up by hostile machine-guns and snipers, Private Wood on his own initiative worked forward with his Lewis gun, enfiladed the enemy machine-gun nest and caused 140 men to surrender. Later when a hidden machine-gun opened fire at point- blank range, Private Wood charged the gun, firing his Lewis gun from the hip at the same time. He killed the machine-gun crew and, without further orders, pushed on and enfiladed a ditch from which three officers and 160 men subsequently surrendered.
WOODCOCK Thomas. Private (later Corporal) 2nd Battalion Irish Guards.
London Gazetted on 17th October 1917 VC Medal's Custodian is the Guards Regimental HQ Born on 19th March 1888 at Wigan, Lancashire.
Died on 27th March 1918 at Bullecourt, France.
Memorial on grave at Douchy-les-Ayette British Cemetery. France.
Digest of Citation reads: On 12/13 September 1917 at Broenbeek, Belgium, when an advanced post had held out for 96 hours and was finally forced to retire, the lance-sergeant (See MOYNEY, John Reg. No.895) in charge of the party and Private Woodcock covered the retirement. After crossing the stream themselves, Private Woodcock heard cries for help behind him--he returned and waded into the stream amid a shower of bombs and rescued another member of the party whom he carried across open ground in daylight towards our front line regardless of machine-gun fire.
Additional information: Private Woodcock was Born on in Wigan Lancs on the 19th of March 1888. He was educated at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic School there. On the 26th May 1915 he joined the Irish Guards and served in the European War (WW1) in France. Where he won the Victoria Cross.
London Gazetted 17th October 1917. He was accorded a public welcome by the Mayor and towns-people of Wigan. He was presented with a sum of over £200 from public subscription as well as an illuminated address. He was married and had three children. On his return to the Front line Private Thomas Woodcock was killed in action on the 27th of March 1917.
Alf's notes on his life
WOODCOCK Thomas. Private (later Corporal) 2nd Battalion Irish Guards. London Gazetted on 17th October 1917 VC Medal's Custodian is the Guards Regimental HQ Born on 19th March 1888 at Wigan, Lancashire. Died on 27th March 1918 at Bullecourt, France. Memorial on grave at Douchy-les-Ayette British Cemetery. France. Digest of Citation reads: On 12/13 September 1917 at Broenbeek, Belgium, when an advanced post had held out for 96 hours and was finally forced to retire, the lance-sergeant (See MOYNEY, John Reg. No.895) in charge of the party and Private Woodcock covered the retirement. After crossing the stream themselves, Private Woodcock heard cries for help behind him--he returned and waded into the stream amid a shower of bombs and rescued another member of the party whom he carried across open ground in daylight towards our front line regardless of machine-gun fire.
Additional information
Private Woodcock was Born on in Wigan Lancs on the 19th of March 1888. He was educated at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic School there. On the 26th May 1915 he joined the Irish Guards and served in the European War (WW1) in France. Where he won the Victoria Cross.
He was accorded a public welcome by the Mayor and towns-people
of Wigan. He was presented with a sum of over £200 from
public subscription as well as an illuminated address. He was
married and had three children. On his return to the Front line
Private Thomas Woodcock was killed in action on the 27th of March
1917.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Regimental Museum of The Northumberland Fusiliers, Alnwick Castle, Northumberland in the form of a Name Plate from a London Midland and Scottish Railway engine
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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