Pte 12369 James Wood

James Wood was born on 20th July 1881 in Liverpool, the eldest son of James Wood and Jane (née Spencer).  His father, born Liverpool, and his mother in Harlech, married in St. Peter's Church, Everton, in 1877. Jane was a widow; she had married Edward Wynne in Ffestiniog in 1873, had a daughter Mary Ellen in 1874, and was widowed in 1875. 

 

James and Jane had six children, three of whom died young.  Margaret Jane was born in 1878 (died at age 1), another daughter also named Margaret Jane was born in 1880 (died in infancy), James in 1881, Edward 1883, Robert 1886 (died at age 1), and Gertrude in 1888.

 

James was baptised in St. Peter's Church, Liverpool on 03rd August 1881, his parents’ residence given as Everton and his father’s occupation as fireman. 

 

In 1891 they are at 50 Anderson Street, Everton.  His father is a gas stoker, his half-sister Mary Ellen Wynne is 17, a dressmaker, James is 9, Edward 7, and Gertrude 2.

 

In 1901 the family is living at 277 Netherfield Road, Kirkdale. His father is a foreman/gas stoker, James is 19, a coal weigher in the gas works, Edward, 17, is a joiner, Gertrude is 12.

 

The 1911 census finds them at 23 Mandeville Street, Walton.  His father, 63, is assistant stores keeper for a gas company, his mother is 64, James is 29, single, a gas company engine driver, Gertrude is 22, a dressmaker.  Edward has married.  

 

His father died in 1913, aged 65, residence 23 Mandeville Street.

 

Unfortunately, his service record has not survived, but we do know that James enlisted in Seaforth and served as Private 12369, 14th Bn, King’s Liverpool) Regiment. The 14th Battalion was raised in October 1914 as part of the Third New Army and trained in Eastbourne and Seaford.  In April 1915 they moved back to Seaforth and then to Aldershot.  On 4/09/1915 the battalion mobilised for war and landed at Boulogne.  On 28/10/1915 they embarked at Marseilles, arriving at Salonika, Greece on 5/11/1915.   At Salonika, the soldiers experienced harsh living conditions, temperature extremes, and disease (especially malaria) was rampant.  The battalion saw action at the Battles of Horseshoe Hill, Machukovo, and Doiran.  On 11/06/1918 they left the theatre, sailing from Itea, Greece, to Taranto, Italy, then to the Western Front.

 

In August 1918 the 14th Bn is amalgamated with the 18th Bn K.L.R. and becomes the 18th (Lancashire Hussars) King’s (Liverpool) Regiment. The Hundred Days Offensive, the Allied push which would eventually end the war, begins on 8th August, 1918.

 

James died of wounds on or shortly after 09th October 1918.   He now rests at Serain Communal Cemetery Extension, Aisne, France.

Serain was captured by the 66th (East Lancashire) Division on the 8th October 1918.

The Communal Cemetery was extended by the Germans on the North-West side, and in October 1918, the present British Extension was made on the North-West side of the German. After the Armistice the German Extension was removed; 264 German, seven Russian graves and one American were taken to other cemeteries; and 32 British graves (from the German Extension and other German cemeteries) were brought into the British Extension.

There are now over 100, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, nearly 20 are unidentified.

The cemetery covers an area of 630 square metres and is enclosed by a stone rubble wall.

 

James earned his three medals.

 

His effects of £30-10-8d, as well as a War Gratuity of £24 and a pension of 5/- a week went to his mother Jane Wood, at 23 Mandeville Street, Walton, later at 22 Oak Street, Bootle.  Jane died in 1922 at age 74. His parents are buried together in the non-conformist section of Anfield Cemetery. 

 

Sadly, James has not been found on any local memorials.