Tipton

Private 16402 Arthur George Wood

Killed in Action on Saturday, 25th September 1915, age 24.
Commemorated on Panel 73 to 76 of Loos Memorial, Pas De Calais, France.

2nd Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment. 6th Brigade of 2nd Division.

Son of Arthur George Wood; husband of Martha Bradley (formerly Wood), of 31, Wood St., Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Walsall, Enlisted: Tipton, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, 25th May 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/737642/

Genealogical Data

1901 Census
107 Park Lane West, Tipton, Staffs.
Arthur Wood (38, Widower, Plumber at Waterworks, born Brockmoor), and his 2 children: Florence (12, born Walsall), and Arthur (11, born Walsall). Elsie (14) was living in Walsall with her maternal grandparents.

1911 Census
4 Brewery Street, Tipton, Staffs.
Arthur Wood (48, Widower, Plumber, born Kingswinford), and his 3 children: Arthur G. (21, Moulder, born Walsall), Elsie (24, Shop Assistant, born Walsall), and Florence (22, born Walsall).

Marriage of Arthur G. Wood and Martha Warmer registered December quarter 1913 in Dudley (they actually married on 23rd November 1913). A son, Arthur George, was born on 30th June 1914.

Personal Data

After Arthur's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £1/0/8d (1 pound and 8 pence); this was paid to his widow, Martha, in January 1917. His War Gratuity was £3/0/0d (3 pounds exactly), this was also paid to his widow, Martha, in September 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Arthur had enlisted within the 12 months prior to his death.

Arthur's widow, Martha received a Widow's Pension of £0/15/0d (15 shillings) per week for herself and son Arthur George (born 30th June 1914), effective from 29th May 1916. This was increased to £1/16/8d (1 pound, 16 shillings and 8 pence) in October 1919, but this was re-calculated at £2/5/6d (2 pounds, 5 shillings and 6 pence) per week under the terms of 'Alternative Pensions' which catered for men who had been higher paid. Ethel's address was then given as 31 Wood Street, Tipton.

The widow's element of the pension would have ceased in September quarter 1922 when Martha married James A. Bradley, this would have been compensated by a lump sum payment of approximately a year's value of the widow's pension; the child's pension for Arthur would have continued until his 16th birthday.

Action resulting in his death

2nd South Staffs in the Battle of Loos.
The 2nd South Staffs was positioned near Cuinchy, north of Loos and to the west of La Bassée. The divisional objective was to attack either side of the La Bassée canal, creating a defensive flank for the 9th Division to its south and protect them from German offensive action and fire from this area. The 2nd South Staffs were to attack just to the south of the La Bassée canal after release of gas. The Royal Engineers thought conditions unfavourable for gas release, but the order to release the gas was confirmed. The gas put 130 men out of action before the advance started.

The attack, along narrow paths across heavily cratered ground, was unsuccessful. Although only 200 yards wide it contained huge craters. The only progress was a party of 2nd South Staffs men who moved along the canal banks towards the German Embankment Redoubt where their advance was halted. At 9.00am there was a further 30 minute artillery bombardment but to no avail as the German strong-points were not destroyed, and by 9.45am action was suspended for the day.

54 men of the 2nd South Staffs were killed on the 25th September, this included 3 Tipton men - Privates Arthur Wood, Albert Tromans, and Thomas Nicholls. None of the Tipton men have a known grave and all 3 are commemorated on the Loos Memorial at Dud Corner.

Newspaper Cuttings

Tipton Herald 7th October 1916
A TIPTON HERO.
PREFERRED FIGHTING TO MUNITIONS WORK.
Tipton has sent many gallant men to the war and unfortunately, not a few have died for King and country. Amongst the latter is Private A.G. Wood, of the South Staffs, whose patriotism is particularly striking. Before joining the Army, he was employed at a Dudley factory, and held a war-work certificate. He, however, preferred to go and fight for his country. He was reported wounded and missing after the Battle of Loos, and official intimation has now been received of his death.
Private Wood enlisted in December 1914. He was a moulder, and was the only son of Mr Wood of Holcroft Street, Burnt Tree, Tipton. He leaves a wife and one child, who live at Wood Street, Tipton. They, and his father and two sisters, are left to mourn his loss. He was very popular with his fellow workmen.