Pte 4101 David Herbert Wood

[Tim Bell]

Pte Wood (Born 1891) had been a clerk when he enlisted in 6th Bttn on 5/11/1915 and did not serve overseas  Herbert had lived at 25 Crow Hill, Alkrington, Nr Middleton. He was discharged from 45th Prov Bttn (posted 23/11/1915) with SWB and Pension for 100% incapacity due to Pulmonary TB on 7/8/1916, aged 25y 1m..  The TB had been contracted prior to enlistment but the Medical Board determined it was aggravated by service and permanent. 9 Palatine St, Church Ln, Harpurhey.
Herbert died from Pulmonary TB on 16/4/1920. His widow Lilian received  Pension.  8 Valentine Rd, Blackley.  Mother Margaret Ann Wood, 25 Crow Hill, Alkrington, Nr Middleton.  A Herbert Wood married Lily Warman in Q3 1919.  A Death of Herbert Wood was Registered in Prestwich Q2 1920 8d/297.  The transcription says age 18, but this may be 28.
Buried St Peter's Church, Blackley 21/4/1920.  Plot n/k.

Edit burial

[Tim Bell]

I've gained the wrong DC!
Our man is David Herbert Wood. Born 12/7/1891. Reg Prestwich 8d/358 Q2 1920. Son of Margaret Ann & Herbert Daniel Wood.  Chris in Swan St Weslyan Chapel, Oldham Rd. He was a Calico Printers Order Clerk in 1911.
A David H Wood married Lillian Rowe in Q1 1916.

[Tim Bell]

DC attached confirming death from TB. He served as Herbert Wood. Full name David Herbert.  Addresses corroborate ID. Assurance Clerk.

[Tim Bell]

Herbert Wood was buried in St Peter's, Blackley Churchyard - See Obit.  The Church will be checking the plot number in the burial register, but current limitations are causing delay.
St Peter's Churchard is closed due to subsidence.  In future the site will be made safe and landscaped.  Current proposals indicate most commemorations will be removed, with CWGC headstones retained.  If this is the case, time is of the essence to see Herbert Wood's plot commemorated.

[mack]

hiya tim
they are not allowed to remove a CWGC,only the commission can do that,but i think they can lay the stone flat for safety reasons,with regards to a CWGC headstone being erected,i think they can refuse permission,if they do refuse,you could always enquire if a block stone is ok,the type used at gallipoli,would your connection at the commission know

mack

[Tim Bell]

Hi Mack,
I'm in touch with Chris McLean at CWGC.  He's works manager, rather than commemorations, but explained the process.  The family need to agree the erection of a new headstone (HS) on a private plot, where there is no private HS, or the inscription can't be read.  They use the standard HS on most burials, but use the Gallipoli style lower HS when the two uprights commemorations would look bad, or sometimes in Ireland where a more subtle approach is best.
If CWGC take over an existing HS, they maintain it and keep it safe.  Chris has dealt with one of the Regiment's graves at Aldershot, where a stone cross looked dangerous.  He also said they would remove bushes and vegetation, so that the inscription can be clearly seen.  I don't know if they can renovate a private HS though.
We can't press for a HS on existing plots.  If there is no known plot, or no consent, inscriptions will be added to existing screen walls, or special memorials.  If there is none, or no space a new HS is erected with the script "Buried Elsewhere in this Cemetery".  These can have mutiple names, which I think will happen for the common grave burials at Weaste.  Sometimes combining across multiple HS.
We're missing information on many burials, so any help taking photos of plots would be great.  PaulC has provided a few at Chadderton.
A CWGC HS on the specific plot would seem to be the most appropriate commemoration.  There will be numerous instances where family consent will be needed, so starting to find them ahead of adjudication will help.  CWGC do release names of men where they're seeking contacts, but I don't know how succesful these are.
Family members I've contacted are very receptive, though I've been keen to remind them we have an application, not acceptance of a commemoration.
Entries on 1914-18 Memorial are great, screen walls and Special Memorials are better, but specific HS on the man's grave would be best.
I wish I lived nearer to Manchester.
Tim

[PhilipG]

Tim,
I am reminded of the case where the original grave of Captain Samuel Watts was buried under the Heaton Mersey Congregational Church car park.    Using the Forum's search facility today, I re-visited the thread's site dated 7th Sept. 2013 and also the Church's web site, in-putting Mack's suggestion at that time "Heaton Mersey Congregational Church the upper room". Such memories !

Philip G.

[Tim Bell]

David Wood's commemoration was approved by CWGC today. He now has an entry in UKBOR, pending acceptance of his burial at St Peter's, Blackley, where we will have to wait and see if he receives his own headstone, a Special Memorial, or alternative commemoration nearby.

[Tim Bell]

I had a lurk around Southern Cemetery this week and found all 17 of the burials at Blackley St Peter's are inscribed on the Alternative Commemoration Screen Wall.  CWGC show this on the St Peter's burial records.  They just don't bother showing this on the section about alternative commemorations on the Southern Cem. web page.  There's a smallish space for David Wood to be added on the screen wall.