Wilfred Wood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilfred Wood
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| Born | 2 February 1897 Stockport, Cheshire |
| Died | 3 January 1982 (aged 84) Stockport |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1916–1918 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | The Northumberland Fusiliers |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Vittorio Veneto (World War I) |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
| Other work | Locomotive driver |
Wilfred Wood was an amazing English soldier who received the Victoria Cross (VC). This is the highest award for bravery a soldier can get in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries. He earned it during World War I for his incredible actions on the Italian front against Austro-Hungarian forces.
Who Was Wilfred Wood?
Wilfred Wood was born on February 2, 1897. He joined the British Army during World War I. He was a private in the 10th Battalion of The Northumberland Fusiliers. He was only 21 years old when he showed amazing courage.
His Incredible Actions
On October 28, 1918, during the Battle of Vittorio Veneto in Italy, Wilfred Wood did something truly brave. A group of soldiers on his right side were stuck. Enemy machine guns and snipers were firing at them.
Wilfred Wood decided to act on his own. He moved forward with his Lewis gun. He fired at the enemy machine gun nest from the side, which is called enfilading. This made 140 enemy soldiers give up!
His group kept moving forward. Suddenly, a hidden machine gun started firing very close to them. Without thinking, Wilfred Wood charged straight at the machine gun. He fired his Lewis gun from his hip as he ran. He managed to kill the enemy machine gun crew.
Then, without waiting for orders, he kept going. He fired into a ditch from the side. Because of his actions, three enemy officers and 160 more soldiers surrendered. Wilfred Wood's bravery and quick thinking under heavy fire were truly outstanding.
Life After the War
After the war ended, Wilfred Wood went back to his old job working on the railways. First, he was a fireman for steam engines. Later, he became an engine driver. He worked there until he retired in 1960 as a supervisor.
To honor his bravery, a train engine was named after him in 1922. It was a special type of train called a LNWR Claughton Class. When that type of train was no longer used, another steam engine, a Patriot Class train, was named after him. The nameplate from this train is now kept at the Fusiliers Museum of Northumberland.
There is also a pub in Hazel Grove named after him, called The JD Wetherspoon pub.
