David Wood (British Army officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Wood
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| Born | 23 February 1923 Corsham, Wiltshire, England |
| Died | 12 March 2009 (aged 86) Devonshire, England |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1941−1978 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Service number | 228639 |
| Unit | Royal Fusiliers Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Member of the Order of the British Empire Mentioned in dispatches |
David James Wood (born February 23, 1923 – died March 12, 2009) was a brave British Army officer. He was famous for his role in a very important mission on D-Day, June 6, 1944. On that day, his troops, who arrived by gliders, had to capture two key bridges in France: Pegasus Bridge and Horsa Bridge. This mission happened just before the main D-Day landings in Normandy. Colonel Wood was the last officer from this special operation to pass away.
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David Wood's Early Life and World War II
David Wood was born in a place called Corsham, Wiltshire, England. He went to Monkton Combe School. In 1942, he joined the British Army, becoming an officer in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. His unit was part of the 6th Airborne Division, a special group of soldiers trained to be dropped behind enemy lines.
The D-Day Mission: Capturing Pegasus Bridge
On D-Day, David Wood was a platoon commander in a special operation. This mission was led by Major John Howard. The goal was to quickly capture two bridges: Benouville Bridge (now known as Pegasus Bridge) and Ranville Bridge (now known as Horsa Bridge). These bridges crossed the Caen canal and the River Orne in France.
The plan was for soldiers to land silently in gliders right next to the bridges. David Wood's platoon was in the second glider to land at Pegasus Bridge. It touched down at 12:17 AM, just one minute after the first glider. His team's job was to clear out enemy trenches, machine-gun nests, and an anti-tank gun near Pegasus Bridge.
By 12:26 AM on D-Day, both bridges were safely captured by the British forces. During the fighting, David Wood was shot in the leg. He was taken to a medical post and then sent back to England for treatment.
The exciting story of the capture of these bridges was shown in the famous 1962 film The Longest Day.
After World War II
After World War II ended, David Wood continued his service in the British Army. He served in many different places around the world. These included Greece, the Suez Canal Zone in Egypt, Cyprus, Malaya, Northern Ireland, and Aden.
He was involved in conflicts like the one in Brunei and the Confrontation with Indonesia. For his brave actions in Brunei in 1962, he was mentioned in official reports. He also worked as a Military Assistant to a top commander in the British Army of the Rhine. He was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his service.
David Wood retired from the Army in 1978 as a Colonel.
Later Life and Honors
In his later years, David Wood became the President of the Normandy Veterans' Association branch in Exeter. This group helps soldiers who fought in the Normandy landings.
In June 2004, on the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings, he received a very high honor from France. He was awarded the Legion d'honneur, which is France's highest award. He lived in Cullompton, Devon, England.
David Wood passed away in March 2009 at the age of 86.
