Barnard Castle man to dedicate new gravestone for relative killed in First World War

Author Chris Foote-Wood, from Barnard Castle, is to take part in the ceremony to honour Frank Wood, killed in 1918 aged 28.

“My great-uncle was buried as an ‘unknown soldier’ in a military cemetery near Ypres in Flanders," said Mr Foote-Wood.

"But recently I was contacted by official researchers asking if he was the brother of my grandfather, John Wood, who won the Croix de Guerre in the same sector of the Western Front in late 1917.

“Through previous family research I was able to show that Frank and John were brothers, Frank two years the younger. They came from Oldham in Lancashire.

“Thanks to the work of the Ministry of Defence and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Frank’s grave is to be re-dedicated.

"I have been invited to take part in a military ceremony at Vichte cemetery near Anzegem in Belgium on October 18. I have also been given the great privilege of writing the dedication for his new gravestone.

The Frank Wood plaque (Image: CHRIS FOOTE WOOD)

“Frank Wood will remain where he was laid to rest in 1918, but any other surviving relatives we find will be able to visit his grave. Frank was a second lieutenant with the First Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, known as the ‘Loyals’.

“His elder brother John, my grandfather, who also fought in Palestine and at Gallipoli in the Dardanelles, was a sergeant with the Royal Engineers, 42nd Division Signal Company. In civilian life he worked for the Manchester Post Office telegraph office, rising to head the department.

“The trenches at the seaward end of the Western Front ran through Belgium where both men were stationed in 1917/18.

"Sgt Wood was personally awarded the Croix de Guerre by King of the Belgians Albert I for his bravery and ‘conspicuous devotion to duty’.

"He rescued a wounded comrade from No-Man’s Land under fire during the battle of Passchendaele, the third battle of Ypres when over 250,000 British soldiers were killed or wounded”.

CHRIS Foote wood holds the Frank Wood plaque (Image: CHRIS FOOTE WOOD)

Mr Foote-Wood’s dedication to his great-uncle:

2nd Lt Frank Wood

“A Lancashire Lad”

Loyally he came to fight

and willingly he gave

his life for his country