George Henry Wood
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George Henry was the son of Henry Thomas and Emma Wood. By the time of the 1911 Census Henry and Emma had seven children: Henry Ernest b. 16 October 1878, Emily Gertrude b. 21 October 1880 and George Henry b. 4 October 1882 or 1883, who were all born in Nottingham and Lily Emily b. 5 May 1885, Lewis Joseph b. 22 October 1886, Henry Thomas b. 22 May 1889 and Clara Evelyn b. 17 September 1891 who were all born in Melbourne, Derbyshire. All seven children were baptised in Melbourne parish church on 25 October 1891; the dates of birth are from the parish register. The parish register gives George's date of birth as 4 October 1882 (Birth Index: George Henry Wood 1882 O/N/D Nottingham) but the Canadian Attestation papers give the year as 1883. In 1891 Henry Thomas (37) a silk and cotton warper and Emma (36) were living at Rock Cottage, Penn Lane, Melbourne, Derbyshire, with their children Henry Ernest (12), Emily (10), George (8), Lily (6), Lewis (4) and Henry Thomas (1). Their youngest child, Clara Evelyn, was born later that year. By 1901 the family was living at 2 Rob Roy Avenue, Lenton, Nottingham. Henry (47) was a lace maker (employer). All seven children were in the home on the night of the census: Henry Ernest (22) a lace maker, Emily (20), George (18) a carter, Lily (16) a winder (lace trade), Lewis (14) a shop lad, Henry Thomas (11) and Evelyn [Clara Evelyn] (9). The family home was still at Rob Roy Avenue in 1911 but only three of Henry and Emma's children were in the home on the night of the census: Emily (30) who had no occupation and Lily (26) and Clara (19) who were both winders in the lace trade. George Henry had emigrated to Canada by 1911; his history on the Canadian veterans' website (www.veterans.gc.ca) records that he 'came to Brandon, Manitoba, in 1904. He moved to the Sheho district in 1907 and farmed until his enlistment.' George married his wife Sarah in Canada and they lived in Netherton, Sheho, Saskatchewan.
10th Canadian Railway Troops Expeditionary Force. George's Canadian Attestation papers survive. He attested on 14 September 1916 and his date of birth was recorded as 4 October 1883 although the service record describes him as 34 years of age rather than 32. However, British records give his year of birth as 1882 making him 33 years old when he atttested in September 1916 and 35 at the time of his death, as recorded on the CWGC record. He served in Canada, England and France. He was killed on Vimy Ridge, France, and is buried in Ligny-St. Flochel British Cemetery Averdoingt (grave ref. II.A.4).
A photograph of George Henry is posted on the website, www.veterans.gc.ca
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