Joe Wood

Private 38145. 17th Battalion. West Yorkshire Regiment.

Born: 1892 in Wellhouse..

Son of Thomas William and Mary Wood of Swallow Lane, Golcar.

Brother of Fred, Annie, Willie, Walter and James, Grandson of Lydia.

Husband of Lily nee Naylor. Married 1915 September %.

Address: 106 Swallow Lane, Golcar.

Employed as a Fettler by Joseph Dyson & Son, Milnsbridge.

Joined the army in October 1916.

Killed on 15th April 1917. Aged 25.

Buried at Bellicourt British Cemetery. France. Plot 4. Grave 5.

Joe's wife received a letter from her husband's commanding officer confirming his death, and also one from his chum saying that he had been killed. "The Germans had been shelling very heavily during the day, and after tea we were sitting together laughing at Joe who was trying to mend his stocking. Joe and another fellow ran into the yard and were both hit by a bursting shell, and were killed instantaneously. We buried them both in the little churchyard. The Company was engaged in road building at the time." Bellicourt lies between St. Quentin and Cambrai. The Hindenburg Line ran west of the village.

Joe's wife was staying with her mother at the time, at 52 Carr Lane, Linthwaite. He attended Golcar Baptist Chapel and was a member of the Young Men's Reading Room. His name appears on the Roll of Honour in St. John's Church Golcar.