Wood,+Herbert-MM

Rifleman, Rifle Brigade 1st Bn (The Prince Consort's Own). Service No: S/7377. Killed in action on 6th July 1915, aged 24. Awards: M M, Mentioned in Despatches. Memorial YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Panel 46 - 48 and 50. Son of Hartley Wood, (Engineer-in-Charge), Denholme Mills, Denholme, Bradford, Yorkshire. Returned from Petrograd to enlist in Oct., 1914. Born in Germany. Born in Greenberg, Germany. Resident in Bradford, Yorkshire. Enlisted in London.
 * Herbert Wood M.M.**

Former pupil at Keighley Trade and Grammar School (Keighley Boys Grammar School). Brother of Harry (Henry) Wood


 * Keighley News reports about Herbert:**

DENHOLME. THE LATE RIFLEMAN WOOD'S GALLANTRY. Mr. Hartley Wood, engineer at Denholme Mills, has received a communication from the War Office informing him that his son, the late Rifleman Herbert Wood, of the Rifle Brigade, who fell in the fighting at Hooge, on July 7, 1915, was mentioned in a despatch from Field Marshall Sir John French, dated November 30, 1914, for gallant and distinguished service in the field, and that they wished to express the King's high appreciation of his services. In August last a letter was received from the Rifle Record Office, enclosing a card from the Commanding Officer of the late Rifleman Wood and Brigade Commander, testifying to his gallant and distinguished conduct, and saying that he upheld the high tradition of the regiment to which he belonged. Letters of sympathy have been received by Mr Wood from the French and Russian Embassies in London, and also from the British Embassy in Petrograd. The letter from the latter Embassy, dated February 2, states: "No-one who is interested in the deeds performed by the Petrograd contingent can fail to be stirred by the tale of heroism and devotion which is told by those of your son's friends who witnessed his bravery and cool headedness."

FORMER TRADE SCHOOL BOY KILLED IN ACTION. A FINE TRIBUTE FROM COMRADES. Mr Hartley Wood, engineer at Denholme Mills, has received notification from the War Office that his eldest son, Rifleman Herbert Wood, 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade, was killed in action in France on July 6 last. Rifleman Herbert Wood was but 24 years of age. He was born in Germany, his mother being a German lady. He received his preliminary education at Grunberg, in Prussia, and later at Berlin, and when in his teens spent two years as a student at the Keighley Trade and Grammar School. He was well known in Keighley, for he served his apprenticeship to engineering with Messrs, Darling & Sellers prior to taking up an appointment with the Kitson Lighting Company, Stamford, Lincolnshire, and later with the Morgan Crucible Company in whose interests he was in Russia at the outbreak of war, having been there for three years at Moscow and Petrograd, During the time he was in Keighley he was a member of the Keighley Territorials for three or four years. His brother Henry was also a "Keighley Terrier," and is well known in boxing circles. He is also serving in the forces, having enlisted in the 1st Surrey Rifles. At the outbreak of war the deceased soldier volunteered for active service along with about forty others in Petrograd, and they were brought over to this country via Archangel, reaching Newcastle in October last. Rifleman Wood was put on active service immediately after joining, at the Thames and Medway defences at Sheppey, and on Whit-Monday he went out to France. He had often refused promotion. The esteem in which he was held and his gallantry as a solider are clearly shown in a letter which his father received, signed by half a dozen members of the Petrograd contingent, under date July 11, 1915. The letter states: "It is with extreme regret that we have to acquaint you that your son Herbert, our friend, has been posted as missing. We have waited a few days in the hope of gathering some definite information, but inquiries have been made at all dressing stations in the neighbourhood of last Tuesday's action and through every possible source, but we have been reluctantly compelled to abandon the hope that he has survived. Herbert formed one of a party of bomb-throwers who took a leading part in the attack, in which we captured a portion of the German trench. The portion was extremely difficult on the left where the Germans were in possession of the continuation of the same trench, and it was the bomb-throwers' part to hold this. At times the situation was critical, and it was then he seemed to stand apart. The barrier officer killed, he took charge, urging the men on, rallying them when they wavered, constantly exposing himself on the parapet, the better to direct the fire. Early in the day he was wounded, but stuck on, and at night, when the company was relieved, he was asked to stay, which he did. To of us having to leave with the company were the last to see and speak to him. His name was taken not only by our own officer, but also by an officer of another regiment, and we have been informed that he was recommended for the V.C., an honour which we, in common with the whole battalion, consider his heroism more than merited. His loss is deeply felt by everybody, for he was a great favourite, while we, his friends, have lost a brother. Deeply condoling with you, and assuring you that if we hear any definite news we will, of course, immediately let you know." Rifleman Wood was an expert linguist, and could speak Russian, German, and English fluently.

We'd particularly like to thank the Diggers website for supplying information about Herbert Wood to us.