WOOD, John Henry

John Henry Wood was the son of Richard and Elizabeth Wood and his age would indicate that he was the twin brother of Thomas Jacob [see also] but he states that he was born c.1895 at Footscray, while Thomas was born in Eltham.  Presumably one of them, most likely John Henry, has put his age up in order to enlist. When in he enlisted on 27 June 1916 he gave his occupation as carpenter.  He had served three years with the Citizens Forces and was still serving. He nominated his father as his next of kin who, at the time, was living at 18 Berry Street, East Melbourne.  He was appointed to the 3rd Pioneer Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements as a private and sent to Seymour for training.

He embarked aboard the Karoo on 18 September 1916 and arrived at Plymouth on 15 November 1916.  On New Year’s Eve he proceeded overseas to France and was taken on strength 20 February 1917.  On 27 April 1917 he was admitted to hospital with nasopharyngitis and transferred to England. In August, after convalescence and furlough, he was transferred to No 2 Command Depot and mustered as an artificer and sent for duty at Tidworth with the Mechanical Transport Service, the same unit as his brother, Thomas.  He was admitted to hospital again on 31 December 1917, this time with a septic knee.  He was there for ten days and discharged to a training depot.  Three weeks later he was admitted to hospital to see a nose specialist.  He rejoined his unit finally on 5 May 1918. Two months later he went to hospital to see a throat specialist and was discharged to a training depot.  He proceeded overseas again on 30 August 1918 to the Australian General Base Depot, and was taken on strength  on 5 September 1918.  He was sick again on 6 January 1919 and was transferred to England 24 January 1919. He was discharged from hospital on 5 February and left for Australia on 23 March 1919.  He was discharged 12 July 1919.

In later life he moved to Adelaide where he died on 24 October 1949