"I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me"
WOLFENDEN, Clarence William
Sincere regret will be expressed by sportsmen at the news of the death in France of Major Arthur Holroyd O'Hara Wood, (Royal Flying Corps), elder son of Mr. O'Hara Wood, the well-known Melbourne barrister. Major O'Hara Wood was an old Melburnian, with a distinguished school and University career. He was equal head of the Melbourne Grammar School with Captain H. C. Colville, with whom he was on the Alfred Hospital staff when war broke out.
Soon afterwards he went to England to take up flying.
Major O'Hara Wood was a grandson of the late Sir Edward and Lady Holroyd, his mother being their eldest daughter.
He graduated M.B. Ch.B. at the Melbourne University, with honors in surgery and obstetrics, in 1914. He was a well-known athlete, being in the Grammar School cricket, football and lawn tennis teams. He was the public schools' tennis champion in 1908, and represented Victoria at Lawn tennis against New South Wales in 1913. He also had the uncommon distinction of being a triple blue of the Melbourne University, gaining his colors in cricket, tennis and rifle-shooting.
Cairns Post Saturday 02 November 1918 page 6
In Sir Douglas Hale's last despatches thelate Major Arthur Holroyd O'Hara Wood,M.B., Ch.B., of the British Royal Air Force, was mentioned for distinguished service. Major O'HaraWood was killed on October 4,1918, while leading a patrol to his squadron over St. Quentin.
Soon afterwards he went to England to take up flying.
Major O'Hara Wood was a grandson of the late Sir Edward and Lady Holroyd, his mother being their eldest daughter.
He graduated M.B. Ch.B. at the Melbourne University, with honors in surgery and obstetrics, in 1914. He was a well-known athlete, being in the Grammar School cricket, football and lawn tennis teams. He was the public schools' tennis champion in 1908, and represented Victoria at Lawn tennis against New South Wales in 1913. He also had the uncommon distinction of being a triple blue of the Melbourne University, gaining his colors in cricket, tennis and rifle-shooting.
Cairns Post Saturday 02 November 1918 page 6
In Sir Douglas Hale's last despatches thelate Major Arthur Holroyd O'Hara Wood,M.B., Ch.B., of the British Royal Air Force, was mentioned for distinguished service. Major O'HaraWood was killed on October 4,1918, while leading a patrol to his squadron over St. Quentin.
Went to Gallipoli on the 20th November and remained there until the evacuation in December 1915. After Gallipoli was involved in the defence of the Suez Canal and then on to France and Belgium.
He was at a number of major battles of the “SOMME OFFENSIVE” and at the “Battle of Pozieres” was awarded the “MILITARY MEDAL” For “Bravery in the field” the citation for which follows:
Major General Sir H.V.Cox KCMG CB CSI commanding the 4th Australian Division, congratulates No 2812, Private F. Wood, 12th Machine Gun Company on his excellent work in building and refitting machine gun positions under very heavy shell fire and keeping his gun, which was twice buried in action.
Other battles at which he was present were ‘The Battle of the Windmill” the “Battle of Mouquet Farm”. During this battle Mouquet Farm changed hands seven times.
On the 7th August 1916 my father was reported “missing”, but on 26th August was reported “Not missing” with Unit.
The 12th Machine Gun Company was also present as backup at battle of “Flers- Courcelette” at which “Tanks” were used for the first time, followed by the “Battle of Bullecourt”.
Then followed a move to Belgium for the “Flanders Offensive”. Here he participated in “The Battle of Messines”; “Battle of Passhendale”; “Battle of Menin Road”; “Battle of Polygon Wood”; and the “Battle of Broodseinde”.
Returning to the “SOMME” in France he fought in the “Battle of Dernancourt”; “Battle of Hamel”; “Battle of Amiens” and the recapture of the town of La Verguler from the Germans in September 1918. This was the last action of the Australian 4th Division, and after a long wait in England for a ship to become available was repatriated backmto Australia on 21st June 1919 on the H.T. "Leicestershire” and discharged on 15th August 1919.
Through his entire service in WWI his only medical record was of eleven days in hospital in Cairo with Diarrhoea.
He died in 1965 aged 75 years.
Courtesy of Colin Wood
He was at a number of major battles of the “SOMME OFFENSIVE” and at the “Battle of Pozieres” was awarded the “MILITARY MEDAL” For “Bravery in the field” the citation for which follows:
Major General Sir H.V.Cox KCMG CB CSI commanding the 4th Australian Division, congratulates No 2812, Private F. Wood, 12th Machine Gun Company on his excellent work in building and refitting machine gun positions under very heavy shell fire and keeping his gun, which was twice buried in action.
Other battles at which he was present were ‘The Battle of the Windmill” the “Battle of Mouquet Farm”. During this battle Mouquet Farm changed hands seven times.
On the 7th August 1916 my father was reported “missing”, but on 26th August was reported “Not missing” with Unit.
The 12th Machine Gun Company was also present as backup at battle of “Flers- Courcelette” at which “Tanks” were used for the first time, followed by the “Battle of Bullecourt”.
Then followed a move to Belgium for the “Flanders Offensive”. Here he participated in “The Battle of Messines”; “Battle of Passhendale”; “Battle of Menin Road”; “Battle of Polygon Wood”; and the “Battle of Broodseinde”.
Returning to the “SOMME” in France he fought in the “Battle of Dernancourt”; “Battle of Hamel”; “Battle of Amiens” and the recapture of the town of La Verguler from the Germans in September 1918. This was the last action of the Australian 4th Division, and after a long wait in England for a ship to become available was repatriated backmto Australia on 21st June 1919 on the H.T. "Leicestershire” and discharged on 15th August 1919.
Through his entire service in WWI his only medical record was of eleven days in hospital in Cairo with Diarrhoea.
He died in 1965 aged 75 years.
Courtesy of Colin Wood
WOOD, George William
Service No: 511
Private
7th Battalion
Born: Melbourne, Victoria
Son of Arthur Abel & Emma Augusta WOOD
Of 453 Albury St, West Brunswick, Victoria
Occupation prior to enlisting: Boot Maker
Enlisted: 20 August 1914
Embarkation: 19 October 1914
Age: 23 years
Served in Egypt & Gallipoli
Killed in Action: 25 April 1915
Commemorated at Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey
Panel 30
Private
7th Battalion
Born: Melbourne, Victoria
Son of Arthur Abel & Emma Augusta WOOD
Of 453 Albury St, West Brunswick, Victoria
Occupation prior to enlisting: Boot Maker
Enlisted: 20 August 1914
Embarkation: 19 October 1914
Age: 23 years
Served in Egypt & Gallipoli
Killed in Action: 25 April 1915
Commemorated at Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey
Panel 30