Henry 'Harry' Wood

[originQuest]

Yes generally speaking but I also have to get copies of the death certificate which are in England and not so easy for me to do so until I'm able to get them.

[rosie99]

I don't know if I have missed it somewhere in this post but the birth registration & death have a middle name - T / Thomas

Birth Mar qtr 1889   
Henry Thomas Wood       
Middlesbro'    9d   566

Death Dec qtr 1953   
Henry T Wood
age    65   
Middlesbro'    1b   663

Have you looked at this Medal Index card 
Henry T Wood
Service number   91083
Rank    -Gunner
Royal Garrison Artillery
Archive reference   WO372/22
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D5977294

[originQuest]

Thank you Rosie but that isn't him.  My ancestor was born Henry Langburn Wood in Mar 1889. He married as Henry Wood in 1909 but was always known in the family as Harry and died with that name in 1953.

He dropped the name Langburn before his marriage after an argument with his brother who dropped the name Wood.

It can get confusing can't it?

[rosie99]

Thank you for the extra information, saves me looking at the wrong person 
He was still using the middle initial when he completed the last census form.

[originQuest]

Oh thank you Rosie ... I didn't realise that.  I suppose I'd normally include that info but for some reason here I didn't.

[originQuest]

Hi there,

The records from the MOD for HENRY LANGBURN WOOD arrived today.  It includes both his services in WW2, and his time in WW1.  I'm thrilled.

Regiment Number 50811 who enlisted on 15th September 1914.    He arrived in France on 8th July 1915 with the 15th Sig Coy (Stamp marked).  But then a handwritten note with the the 15th Signal Co is later crossed out and R.E. is next to it.

Does this seem to fit with the photograph I uploaded earlier in the thread?

Thank you

[originQuest]

It seems he was attested at Middlesbrough on the 15th September 1914 as a driver in the RE.

He was transferred to the 15th Sig Co on 31st October 1914.

He was 'Home British' from 15.9.1914 - 6.7.1915
Then Br Ex Force from 7.7.1915 - 7.8.1918
Then Home from 8.8.1918

He was wounded with gas on 3.8.1918

His next of kin is his wife of 34 Victoria Street, but this is crossed out to 16 Severs Street Off Newport Rpad, Middlesbrough (this is address my family knew him at).

[MaxD]

From what you post, we can say:
The note about RE is an addition rather than a correction.  The Royal Engineers (and the cap badge at the beginning of the thread is RE) were responsible in WW1 for communications.  15 Sigs Coy was the RE Signals Company of 15th (Scottish) Division who went to France in July 1915 (fits with his overseas date).

There are a number of war diaries for the company http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_aq=%2815%20AND%20divisional%20AND%20signals%29%20AND&_or1=france&_or2=belgium&_dss=range&_ro=any&_p=1900&_st=adv  (the first five on this page) each of which can be downloaded.

His service earned him the 1914/1915 Star, the British War and Victory Medals.  Left the army finally on 4 March 1919.

Reading matter:

Outline history of 15 Div http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/15th-scottish-division/

RE Sigs companies http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/the-great-war/great-war-on-land/britain-allies/359-re-sigs.html#sthash.8XsefDso.dpbs

More possibly if you are able to post his record. but see my PM (not sent)

MaxD

[originQuest]

Thank you Max, that explains a lot.  Here is his WW1 medal card:

Harry L Wood
 in the British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920

View
 

Add Alternative Information
Report issue
Name:
Harry L Wood
Regiment or Corps:
Royal Engineers
Regimental Number:
50811
Other Records:
Search for 'Harry L Wood' in other WWI collections

I'm going to have a look through the war diaries.  Would be great to get an idea of where he physically was and what he was actually doing there.

Thank you

PS did your PM not send?