Lives of the First World War

Joe Wood in uniform of The Highland Light Infantry

How Wood copy birth certificate - born 2 September 1894 to John Thomas and Alice Ann (nee Kenworthy) at Helmet, Meltham, England

Joe Wood and his family, father John Thomas, mother Alice Ann and sister Edith Winifred (later to become the wife of Matthew Montgomery, also commemorated on this site)

Joe Wood - seated front row, second from left - church or Mill outing

Joe Wood - funeral cards of his brother, Lawrence, and sister, Zilpha, who both died in childhood

Joe Wood - postcard from training period in Troon - Joe is in front row, third from the left

Joe Wood - letter to cousin telling of his time in Troon - he had friends from his home town town and had chummed up with others - nonetheless, Troon was so close to his home town of Neilston that all the family visited regularly.

Joe Wood - writes to his cousin of his time billeted in Troon during army training

Joe Wood - Highland Light Infantry taking a rest from marching - Joe seated front row, second from right - at an unknown location

Joe Wood - first parts of letter from France

Joe Wood - second part of letter to his cousin from France

Joe Wood - third and final part of letter to his cousin Dora Wood in Meltham, describing his accommodation and life in the trenches

Joe Wood with John Lyons, and dog, somewhere in France - taken early 1916

Joe Wood - letter to cousin from France after his Company had gone over the parapet on Saturday 1 July 1916, the first day of The Battle of the Somme. His good friend John Lyons was killed.

Joe Wood - second page of letter telling of losses sustained after his Company went over the parapet on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, Saturday 1 July 1916 and the loss of his dear friend, John Lyons.

Joe Wood's parents, John Thomas and Alice Ann

Joe Wood - first part of letter to sister, Winnie, telling of "the big push" and his feelings on the loss of his friend, John Lyons.

Joe Wood - second part of letter telling of "the big push" on 1 July 1916 and the loss of his friend, John Lyons.

Joe Wood - letter to his sister Winnie on the birth of her son (later to be called Robert)

Joe Wood - second part of letter to his sister on the birth of her son.

Joe Wood - first part of the last letter sent by Joe to his sister Winnie "You have all been in my thoughts ever since I came to France and I think the distance has made my love for you all grow stronger."

Joe Wood - second part of the last letter sent by Joe to his sister Winnie "You have all been in my thoughts ever since I came to France and I think the distance has made my love for you all grow stronger."

Joe Wood - letter confirming location of his grave at Warlincourt Haute British Cemetery and image of the temporary wooden marker

Joe Wood - bottom of gravestone reads "To memory ever dear"

Joe Wood - card is inscribed "To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die" - date of his funeral is not known.

Joe Wood - undated letter to his sister, Winnie enclosing his old cap badge and saying "remember there is history attached to it."

Joe Wood obituary by the Temperance Society

Joe Wood - article from newspaper, title and date unknown

Joe Wood - letter conferring Victroy medal - sadly the medal is not in the ownership of the family

Joe Wood - letter conferring British War Medal - sadly it is not in the ownership of the family

Joe Wood - Letter conferring the Bronze Star 1914-15 Medal. This medal is in the ownership of the family, thanks to a collector who was kind enough to gift it in return for a donation to a war memorial charity, a much-appreciated gesture.

Joe Wood - medal roll confirms Joe died of wounds. The 16th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry was active towards the close of the Battle of the Somme, 18 November 1916, having achieved their objective of taking the village Beaumont-Hamel. The Glasgow Story website states "The attack is best remembered for the epic defence of the Frankfurt Trench, which had been stormed and taken by D Company. Behind them however the Munich Trench was recaptured by German troops, leaving the Glasgow men surrounded. They fought off repeated attacks for eight days before they were finally overwhelmed".

Joe Wood - medal roll confirming posthumous award of British War and Victory medals.

Joe Wood - Joe's father visits the stone erected by Joe's sister Winnie, to the memory of Joe Wood, Matthew Montgomery (Joe's brother-in-law) his niece Alice and his mother Alice Ann. Taken on 26 May 1933.