Archie’s War
Many have searched for Archie, as he is on the German Death List which means a very great chance of being one of those now buried in the Pheasant Wood Cemetery, with the inscription, ‘Known unto God’ on his gravestone.
He was reported missing in action on 20 July 1916. As part of the enquiry into those missing, the Red Cross gathered eyewitness reports where they could
Statement by 2185 Lance Corporal A. WEBSTER, A Company, 30th Bn (patient, 2nd Southern General Hospital, Southmead, Bristol, England), 8 December 1916:
“About 6 p.m. on July 19th we made an attack on German trenches near Armentieres. Just after leaving our trenches I saw Wood hit by a bullet from [a] machine gun. I spoke to him and he said he was dying. Both legs were nearly off and he was bleeding to death. We had to leave him. Later we retired but Wood was never seen again.”
Statement by 779 Private C.E. WIGGINS, 30th Bn, 7 January 1917:
“I was with Pte Wood when he was wounded. His wound was very serious, but I cannot tell you whether he died, though I would not have given much for his chance of living. He was wounded in the head, a bullet entered through his left eye and out of his head at the back. When I saw him last he was struggling with a fellow for possession of a rifle ..............Description – Height about 5ft 6in, Dark complexion, dark hair, brown eyes, peculiar walk, thick set”
The German army issued a Death Voucher confirming the death of soldier 781 A. Wood on 19th July 1916 in the Fromelles area and in March 1917 they returned his identification disc. File notes show that the disc was despatched to Archie’s next of kin, Mrs Alice Wood, in June 1917. The following month his personal effects were also returned to her – safety razor in case, testament, and letters.
A man with no relatives
Information and Official records for Archie Wood are few. He had a New South Wales marriage certificate and his attestation papers. They agree on his wife’s name, his age, and his place of birth. But nothing further can be found:
- There is no birth certificate for this Archie Wood born June 1888 in Melbourne
- There is no marriage certificate for his parents – Edward William Wood (a commercial traveller) and Annie Perry.
- No record has been found for his parents’ deaths – both stated to be deceased on his marriage in October 1915.
- And there were no children from Archie and Alice’s marriage.
When completing enlistment papers in July 1915, Archie was living in a boarding house and working as a lift attendant. The 1915 polling records for Redfern confirm his boarding house address and in 1913 there is an Archie Wood in nearby Petersham working as a lift attendant. There are no other people named Wood at either address.
Within about a four-month period, Archie enlisted, married Alice, purchased a home on the North Shore - in his name only – and, without a will, went off to war. On his death, Alice had to apply to the courts to gain access to the house title. Administration of Archie’s estate was granted to the Public Trustee because he died intestate. Probate documents show that a house was purchased in Willoughby just prior to departure and that probate was granted to the widow.
It is possible that Archie came by his money by marrying Alice Hamilton Anderson - just eight days before embarkation. Alice came from a line of Scottish immigrants and she was a successful tailoress who moved her business from inner Sydney to the North Shore. Alice’s older sister, Grace, worked with her and was a lifelong companion. Both sisters died in the Katoomba district and left all their wealth to each other with the longest living one leaving everything to the Presbyterian Church. Alice died in 1959 in Katoomba and was cremated at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium. Grace died the following year and is buried in Katoomba. There is no headstone or plaque for either sister.
Researchers also noted that a witness to Alice’s will was a Florence Maria Perry. Was she possibly a relative of Annie Perry, Archie’s mother? To date, investigations have not found a connection.