Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021
Alfred Arthur Wood, 22, was born in Bathurst. By the time he enlisted at Liverpool on 19 February 1915, he was a qualified carpenter having completed a five-year apprenticeship at the Clyde Engineering Works. Woods also indicated that he was a member of the 43rd Werriwa Infantry and that he left to enlist. On his enlistment papers Alfred Wood nominated his mother, Sara Wood of Marion Street, Auburn as his next-of-kin.
Alfred Woods embarked on the Ceramic on 26 June 1915 along with fellow Auburn Memorial men Harold Hahn, Archibold McSparron and Leslie Power. Woods served on Gallipoli for 18 days before being wounded and evacuated to Malta. There he recovered but he never got back to Gallipoli for by the time he embarked for Mudros on 15 November it was too late. The decision to evacuate the Gallipoli Peninsular was already circulating in the British High Command.
Back in Egypt Woods was allocated to the 19th Battalion and he moved off with them to the Western Front in March 1916. He survived all through Pozières, Moquet Farm and The Windmill till he was wounded on 14 November 1916. Sergeant Woods died of wounds in the 1st Southern General Hospital at Stourbridge, a town west of Birmingham in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1916. Wood was buried in Stourbridge Cemetery, one of 13 Australians buried there. The inscription on his grave reads: MEMORY SWEET MEMORY
The Matron of the hospital wrote: ‘Sgt Wood had won the respect of all with whom he came in contact during his stay here and his death was a great sorrow to all. He was a splendid example of courage and patience and a hero of whom Australia might well be proud.’
Throughout his time in the AIF Alfred Wood was regularly promoted right up to Temporary CSM. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and a Military Medal. The citation for his DCM reads ‘For conspicuous and consistent gallantry and devotion to duty. On two occasions he extinguished fires in bomb stores at great personal risk and under heavy shell fire’.
By fine coincidence, Alfred Wood's brother, HJ Wood, serving in the 17th Battalion was also awarded a Military Medal. HJ Wood survived the war and in 1967 was living in Alice Street, Auburn.
Wood A A was a name added to the Auburn War Memorial after unveiling day, 30 April 1922.
Alfred Wood is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- Granville War Memorial Park
- Holsworthy High School Memorial Garden
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- Distinguished Conduct Medal
- Military Medal
- Victory Medal
- British War Medal 1914-20
- 1914-1915 Star