Percy Hutcheson Wood (1863 - 1917)

Born 1863 in New Zealand

Ancestors

Husband of Agnes (Alger) Wood — married 18 Jun 1902 in Stratford, Taranaki, New Zealand

Died 15 Nov 1917 at about age 54 in Wellington, New Zealand

Biography

Percy Wood is an Anzac who served in World War One.

WOOD, Percy Hutcheson - WW1 8/4500 - Army [1]

Born in Devonport, Auckland in 1863, Percy gave his birth date as 2nd August 1870 when he volunteered for service in WW1. He would have been 50 years old. He was 5'7" tall, he had brown eyes and brown hair, and the record shows that he looked as though he was 44 years old. His long sight was good but he couldn't see close work without glasses - which might have given his true age away; except that he was in good health (apart from the need for dental work) and belonged to a rifle club. ^[1]

Percy Wood was a clerk with the Land and Income Tax Department in Wellington; his wife Agnes had died in 1906, shortly after their second child Constance was born.

He served on the Western Front with the 11th Reinforcements, Otago Regiment. After preliminary training at Trentham, he embarked on the 2nd April 1916; his transport vessel the ship Maunganui which arrived in Suez, Egypt on the 3rd May 1916. Ten days in camp near Alexandria and they were on their way again, to camp in Etaples, France. A brief stay in hospital and then, on the 27th June 1916, he was in action the field in France.

He was discharged from the army, no longer physically fit for war service on account of illness contracted on active service. Suffering from emphysema, he was invalided home in the ship Maheno from Southampton, England on the 28th October 1916.^[2]

Evening Post 17th November 1917 page 8 [2]

A well-known resident of Wellington, Mr. Percy Hutcheson Wood, died in the Victoria Military Hospital on Thursday last, aged 54 \years. Mr. Wood, who held a position in the Land and Income Tax Department, volunteered and saw service on the West front. Wounded at Armentieres, he recovered sufficiently to be invalided home, his wound necessitating hospital treatment ever since.Of a quiet, unassuming nature, the late Mr. Wood was highly esteemed. He was an ex-vicepresident of the Wellington Working Men's Club and rendered good service to that institution. He was a widower and leaves two children. The late soldier was accorded a military funeral this afternoon. He was well known in the Auckland district, his father having been a prominent storekeeper in the upper Thames in the early days.

Burial

Percy Wood was buried in Karori Cemetey aged 54 Years on the 17th November 1917 - Section CH ENG - plot number 188 X

Note

George Gray of Heathcote, Christchurch was to receive Percy's war medals as a beneficiary under Percy's will and Mrs George Gray of 7 Hills Road, Heathcote, Christchurch was guardian of Percy's son Edward percival Noel Wood. [3]

Sources

1. ↑ National Archives Wellington; Service Records
2. ↑ National Archives Wellington; Service Records

• N.Z. BIRTHS - 1863/7324 - Wood Percy Hutcheson - parents : Annie Elizabeth & Edward
• N.Z. MARRIAGES - 1902/1283 - Agnes Alger & Percy Hutcheson Wood
• N.Z. DEATHS - 1917/8332 - Wood Percy Hutchinson - aged 54 years
• National Archives Wellington; Service Records [4]