PRIVATE 28235 FRED NORMAN WOOD 12th BATTALION GLOUCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.


PRIVATE 28235 FRED NORMAN WOOD 12th BATTALION GLOUCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. KILLED IN ACTION 4th OCTOBER 1917 AGED 29


Fred Wood was born in 1889 in the Great Horton district of Bradford, the only son of Charles, a chartered accountant, and his wife Ellen. The family moved into Ilkley when Fred was a child to live at a house known as 'The Oakes' on Easby Drive.

Educated at Ilkley Grammar School Fred's chosen career was as an accountant probably in his father’s firm in Bradford. In 1911 he married a local girl called Cora Wood and together they seem to have moved to Bristol, Gloucestershire.

Fred enlisted into the 12 Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment in 1916 and in 1917 was sent to the Western Front. On 4th October the battalion was in reserve just behind the front line near to Sanctuary Wood south west of Ypres when it came under heavy German artillery fire which caused many casualties including Fred who was killed.

It is likely that Fred was buried near to where he fell but subsequent fighting destroyed the grave. Today he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial to the Missing and remembered with pride on out war memorial in Ilkley

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