| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Wilfred was born in Beverley in 1891, the son of John Edmund Egan and his wife Mary Emma (nee Ringrose). John was born in Woolwich, Kent in 1868, the son of a Sergeant in the Royal Marines, he married Mary Emma Ringrose from Hillam, Yorkshire, in 1889. By 1891 John and Mary had moved to Beverley and were living in Waltham Terrace, Mill Lane with their two sons, Charles Edward and Wilfred. By 1901 they had a third son, George William. Between 1901 and 1911, the family changed their surname to Wood. Wilfred was employed as a general farm servant at Burn Butts, Cranswick.
Wilfred's, photograph appeared in the Beverley Guardian in Oct 1916, stating he was a Private in the Yorkshire Regiment (T), and that he had been wounded. His photograph appeared again in the Beverley Guardian 4 Aug 1917, stating that, "Mr. John Wood, of 17 Mill Lane, Beverley, has received word that his son, Private Wilfred Wood, Yorkshire Regiment (T), was killed in action on July 19th."
Letters received from Lieutenants in Wilfred's battalion following his death state:
"He was instantaneously killed on the morning of the 19th instant by a whizz-bang shell, which dropped into the trench he was in; he was buried behind the lines on the 20th, and a good cross is being erected to his memory." and "Your son was a capital soldier, and was a great favourite with the others, and feared nothing."
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission have no record of Wilfred Wood but they do list "William Wood" of the 5th Battalion. Yorkshire Regiment who died on 19 July, 1917. The 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment Diaries list "William Wood" born in Beverley, enlisted in Beverley, died 19 July, 1917.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |