Private William Ferguson WOOD
27 Oct 1891 – 6 Oct 1915
William Ferguson WOOD was born at Bowden on the 27th October 1891 to William James and Sarah Katherine Wood. He was the eldest of seven children. William Senior was one of the original settlers at Holder. Sarah died and in 1913 William Senior also died leaving the children orphans. When the family home was sold in 1914, 5 of the children were taken in by local families. The two oldest boys enlisted for the Australian Infantry Force as soon as war broke out.
William enlisted at RAMCO (where he had played football) into the 9th Light Horse on 21st October 1914 and was issued service number 358. Whilst in camp with the Light Horse at Morphettville he saved a comrade’s life at the Glenelg beach. The man had got out of his depth and was almost gone, when Private Wood went to his assistance and brought him out. At the next morning’s parade he was called out and thanked by the commanding officer, and received three hearty cheers from the men.
Sixty Six days into training he was discharged as medically unfit on 26th December 1914. This did not deter William and on 10th February 1915 he attended and enlisted into the 6th Reinforcements for the 10th Battalion AIF.
On enlisting William was described as being 23 years and 1 month old, was 5’6 ½” tall, weighed 11 stone, fresh complexion, hazel grey eyes and dark brown hair. It wasn’t all smooth sailing during training for William as he was penalised for being absent from 6am 23-5-15 to 10.35pm 24-5-15 for which he forfeited some pay and was officially admonished.
He remained in the Mitcham training camp until June 23rd, 1915 when they deployed for overseas travelling on HMAT “A3 BORDA” to Egypt.
On 31st July 1915, William and other members of the 6th Reinforcements 10th Battalion departed from Alexandrina to the fighting at Gallipoli. On the 4th of October 1915, William was moved to the front lines of the fighting at Gallipoli.
Two days later, on the 6th of October, 1915, William Ferguson WOOD was killed in the action at the southern end of ANZAC Cove. Family folklore says that Williams brother, Francis “Frank” Aquila Thomas WOOD, was present and saw his brother felled by a single shot by a sniper. Frank was awarded a Military Medal for his brave actions in the war.
On the 2nd November 1915, William’s next of kin (his brother in Australia, and sister, Mary WOOD.) were notified of his death. Cruelly within a few hours of the receipt of the news of his death, his relatives received the first letter written by him since his departure. It was dated Cairo, July 25, and contained a short description of his impressions of the city. William would have been 24 years of age 21 days after his death. Although several of the volunteers from the Waikerie area had been wounded by this time, William WOOD was the first recorded death.
William WOOD was interred in the Beach Cemetery at Gallipoli on 6-10-15 and a service performed by the Reverend J.C. McPHEE. His relatives received a Memorial Scroll & a Memorial Plaque. They also received his medals, a 1914-1915 Star, A British War Medal and a Victory Medal on the 26th February 1923.
Williams tombstone has the inscription “WHILE YOU LIE IN PEACEFUL SLEEP, YOUR MEMORY WE WILL ALWAYS KEEP” which was requested by his brothers and sisters.
He is commemorated on the Australian War Memorial on the Roll of Honour.
William is also commemorated on the War Memorial in the WAIKERIE War Memorial Gardens.
LEST WE FORGET
