CHARLES WOOD
Born: 1873, Theydon Garnon, Essex.
Died: 8th February 1901; age: 27; Died of Disease at Middelburg, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
Residence: Blackacre Road, Theydon Bois, Essex.
Occupation: Farm Labourer.
Enlistment Date: 2nd October 1897.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 4737.
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion, South Africa Field Force.
Clasps Awarded: Cape Colony, Orange Free State & Transvaal.
CENSUS
1881 Union Row, Theydon Garnon, Essex.
Charles was 8 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
John Wood, 37, an Agricultural Labourer, born Harlow, Essex.
Sarah Ann Wood (nee Fleming), 32, born Epping, Essex.
William Wood, 12, born Theydon Garnon.
John Wood, 10, born Theydon Garnon.
Frederick Wood, 6, born Theydon Garnon.
Alice Wood, 4, born Theydon Garnon.
George Wood, 2, born Theydon Garnon.
1891 Theydon Bois, Essex.
Charles was 18 years old, a Farm Labourer. He was living with his mother, step father, siblings & step siblings.
William Whitbread, 40, a Farmer Labourer, born Fyfield, Essex.
Sarah Ann Whitbread, 43.
Frederick James Whitbread, 14, born Fyfield.
Louisa Emma Whitbread, 10, born Coppersale, Essex.
Frederick, 16, a Farm Labourer.
George, 12.
Sarah Wood, 10, born Theydon Garnon.
Arthur Wood, 5, born Theydon Garnon.
Charles’s father, John Wood died May 1886, Theydon Garnon, Essex.
Soldiers’ Effects to Sarah Ann Whitbread – mother, William, John, Frederick, George & Arthur – brothers, and Alice & Sarah – sisters.
Essex Herald – 13th March 1882 – BREACHES OF THE EDUCATION ACT – At Epping Petty Session, on the 10th March John Wood, of Union Common, Theydon Gardon, was summonded before Sir T. Fowell Buxton, Bart., in the chair; C.J. Bury, S. Bawtree, and H.A.Adams, Esqrs., for disobedience of the magistrates’ order made in respect of his children John, Charles and Frederick to attend the Theydon Bois National School. Mrs. Wood said her boy John had been staying at his aunt’s in London since last harvest holidays until recently, and Frederick had been kept from school on account of having a bad head; John and Charles had been to school every day since she had been summoned. Mr. Bell informed the bench that out of a possible 194 attendances, John had made 41 and Charles 138, but he had no return concerning Frederick, and he therefore presumed this child had not been to school at all. Addressing Mrs. Wood, the Chairman said that one of her children had attended school 138 times, and it was possible John had been to school elsewhere, and therefore the summons would be dismissed.
One of the notable Battles with a large loss of Suffolk life was the “Battle of Suffolk hill” at Colesberg, Northern Cape 5th- 6th January 1900. The hill was originally called Red or Grassy Hill. The Suffolk regiment was ordered to make a night attack on a Boer position on the heights, four companies, 354 of all ranks, set out at midnight under the command of Col. Watson. The Suffolks were met by a storm of bullets. The Colonel was amongst the first to fall, and the party later retired with 11 officers and 150+ men killed, wounded or captured.
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