Francis Aquila Thomas WOOD was born at WAIKERIE 28th June, 1895 to William James and Sarah Katherine Wood. He was one 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 boys played for the local RAMCO football club. The two oldest boys enlisted for the Australian Infantry Force soon after war broke out.

On 10th February 1915, Francis’ older brother, William Ferguson WOOD, and Francis attended and enlisted into the 6th Reinforcements for the 10th Battalion AIF. The brothers were good mates and this was an adventure they intended to share. On enlisting Francis was described as 19 years and 9 months old, 5’5 ½” tall, weighed 10 1/2 stone, fair complexion, grey grey eyes and dark brown hair. William and Francis remained in the Mitcham training camp until June 23rd, 1915 when they deployed for overseas travelling on HMAT “A3 BORDA” to Egypt. Francis was allocated serial number 2240 and William was 2241.

Both the WOOD brothers are in this photograph taken during training. Unfortunately, we do not have their positions listed.

On 31st July 1915, the 6th Reinforcements 10th Battalion arrived from Alexandrina to the fighting at Gallipoli. Francis didn’t report it as they arrived but on the 8th of August he was sent to Lemnos Island away from the fighting as he had contracted measles whilst on the way to Gallipoli. On the 1st of October 1915, Francis was back at Gallipoli and on unit strength. On the 4th of October 1915, Francis and William moved to the front-line fighting at Gallipoli. Two days later, on the 6th of October 1915, William, Francis’ brother, was killed in the action at the southern end of ANZAC Cove. Although several of the volunteers from the Waikerie area had been wounded by this time, William WOOD was the first recorded death. A telegram was sent to the next of kin listed, who was their sister, Miss May Wood, in Waikerie, South Australia advising of the loss of William. This obviously devastated the family.

Francis continued fighting the Turk at Gallipoli until the peninsula was evacuated. One assumes that at some time before evacuation, he visited his brothers grave at the BEACH Cemetery. On 29th December 1915 Francis was back in Alexandrina.

On 8th March 1916, Francis was made Lance Corporal, and by 12th April 1916 whilst in Marseilles he was made a full Corporal. The 10th battalion’s first major action in France was at Pozières in the Somme valley commencing on 19th and 20th July 1916. It was a disaster. The battalion was in the trenches and fighting until replaced on the 27th July. On the 26th July 1916, Francis was evacuated with a gunshot wound to his right shoulder. Again, a telegram was sent to the next of kin listed, ( Francis’ sister, Miss May Wood in Waikerie) advising of the injury. The fear with which that telegram would have been first received is unimaginable.

In early July 1917 Francis returned to his unit. They had returned to Belgium to take part in the major British offensive of that year - the Third Battle of Ypres. On the 9th of October 1917, Francis and his section were involved in a raid on Celtic Wood. During that raid, the officer on the raid, (Lt LAURIE) was badly wounded Francis led the men of his section and this is recorded in a recommendation. Francis had: - “led his men with great brilliancy, and his hand to hand fighting was much admired by all who witnessed it, he later carried his wounded officer back to the Australian lines, all this done whilst under heavy enemy artillery and rifle fire.” On the 20th October 1917, Francis was promoted to Sergeant and on the 20th November 1917, he was advised he had been awarded the Military Medal for his actions on the 9th of October at Celtic Wood.

In March and April 1918, the 10th Battalion helped stop the German spring offensive and was then involved in the operations leading up to the Allied counter-stroke. On the 30th of May 1918 whilst again in battle this time at Strazelle, Francis was wounded badly. He was shot through both forearms causing bad breaks in his right arm. He was evacuated, being moved eventually to England and due to the severity of the wounds, on the 6th of November 1918 he embarked for Australia. Again, a telegram was sent to Francis’ sister, Miss May Wood, advising of the further injury. Miss Wood surely must have hated the telegram service by this time.

Francis was at sea when the news of the Armistice being declared at 11am on the 11-11-1918 reached them. He disembarked in Melbourne on the 1st January 1919.

Whilst in hospital in England, Francis gave a statement to the Red Cross who were making enquiries for people back in Australia about how their loved ones had died. His statement gives an insight into the extreme hardships of trench warfare. “I saw Crowhurst, Pte Scott and 6 others blown to pieces by a minnerwerther while we were in a trench at Strazelle just as we were relieving the 12th battalion. We collected as much as we could of the remains but it was almost impossible to identify most of it. I know nothing about the burial”

On the 17th March 1919, Francis was discharged from the AIF as medically unfit. He never regained full use of his right arm. He had served 4 years and 49 days in the AIF of which 3 years and 193 days was abroad. Along with his Military Medal, Francis WOOD was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal and the 1914-1915 Star medal.

Francis returned to RAMCO and was welcomed home at a dance at a Waikerie tennis court, with violin and piano music playing well into the night.

He again became an orchardist and by all accounts made a good go of it. Being unable to use his arm fully meant being an orchardist was too much for him to be able to physically do. By 1925 he was married to Madge, and had moved to BLACK FOREST estate in Adelaide. He had a daughter (Patricia Mary) and two sons (John Brian and Owen).

Francis again enlisted to serve in World War 2 on Australian Soil, enlisting early enough that his allocated serial number was S218.

Sadly, he died of natural causes at the Repatriation Hospital, Daw Park, South Australia on the 9 October 1948, aged only 53 years. Like so many that fought in World War 1, he seemed to die before his time.

He was buried AIF Cemetery, (Australia’s Oldest War Cemetery) at West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide on 12th October 1948 in a private ceremony.

Francis Aquilla Thomas WOOD, M.M.

Sergeant 2240, 10th Batt. AIF

28th June, 1895 - 9 October 1948

World War 1 and 2 serviceLEST WE FORGET

Waikerie RSL Sub branch