William Jolm Wood
W. J. Wood was a transport driver with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire 2/4th Battalion. He served at Ypres. During his service he was shot in the leg and has itching leg many years later. He survived the war and went on to father six children. He was described by his family as a strict man with a hard life, but fair, good and hard-working.
War and victory medals
demobilisation paper
spurs
newspaper cuttings
cards
standing orders
Other
Transport
Spurs
Front
Official document
What Every Soldier Should Know
Trench Life
Manual for soldiers
Soldier's Manual
What Every Soldier Should Know Manual
CONTRIBUTOR
NWood
DATE
1914 - 1918
LANGUAGE
eng
ITEMS
38
INSTITUTION
Europeana 1914-1918
PROGRESS
METADATA
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William Stringer
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Various photographs of contributor's grandfather, William Stringer, who joined the 20th Hussars on Aug. 4th, 1914. Also various postcards, including woven silk postcards from members of her family. || Certificate of Employment Photographs of William Stringer Photograph of Albert Mellor (donor's Great Uncle who died in the war) Photographs of William Stringer's brothers - John and George Family photo album Three woven silk postcards from Albert Mellor (donor's Great Uncle, her Grandmother's Uncle)
William Stevens
2 Items
Wedding photograph 1917 Casualty label used in 1915 || My maternal grandfather was born 7 April 1888. He qualified as a teacher in 1911. In 1914 at the beginning of WW1 he enlisted into 1/5 Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment. By the time the Bn. set off for France on 1st March 1915 he was already promoted to sergeant. The Bn. travelled from Saffron Walden to Southampton by train. During this journey 5 of their Clydesdale horses were lost due to being loaded into unsuitable railway wagons. They fell and died. Embarked on Empress Queen, they sailed to Le Havre. There they were issued with extra equipment and then marched over several days via Rouen, Montrollier, Buchy, Abbeville, Boulogne, Calais, St. Omer to Arneke, all in dreadful weather, marching in snow and sleeping under canvas. Much kit including horses and rations was lost en-route, the extra kit and equipment, issued in Le Havre, including sheepskin jackets and field cookers were then withdrawn. After several weeks of training and relocation they entered the front line trenches between Bailleul and Neuve Eglise outside the village of Wulverghem, trenches 9-10. They spent the month in the lines taking casualties at a steady rate. On 27th April Sergeant Stevens said that he was indicating to officers the weakness of their defences and lack of sufficient sandbags in front of the fire-step. At this time, to prove his point, a sniper shot him. The bullet passed through his face, breaking his jaw and removing many teeth, deafened him in one ear and damaged one eye. He was evacuated to the Aid Station set in a mental hospital in Bailleuil and then evacuated by wagon, train and ship to Number 1 Military Hospital in Aldershot. After treatment here he was moved to convalescence in Mablethorpe and later rejoined his Regiment as S.Q.M.S and was stationed at Catterick. After the cessation of hostilities he returned to his career as a teacher and later Headmaster. || || Photograph || Brierley Hill || wedding || || Bailleuil Military Hospital || Casualty Label || A cardboard label with strings which was attached to casualties. This one is for the subject and indicates on the reverse: Gun Shot Wound: Face : Severe