John Wood was killed in action on this day in 1917

John was born in Burnley, Lancashire on 28 January 1891. His father, also called John Wood, had moved from Shipley, Yorkshire looking for work in Burnley, first in the cotton mills, then in the pits. John's mother Mary Hanna worked in a cotton mill.

At the time of his birth John had an older brother Harry, born before his parents were married, and a sister who had died in infancy aged one month in 1889. His parents went on to have a further six children. According to the 1901 Census they lived at 11 Barden Lane, Burnley which is sometimes written as 'Byerden lane'.

Like other members of his family John went on to work in one of the Burnley cotton mills.

On 5 July 1913, now 22, John married 21 year old Jane Haworth, the daughter of a chimney-sweep at St.James Parish Church, Bathesda St, Burnley. Both John and Jane worked in a cotton mill. It would appear that at first the young couple continued to live at 11 Barden Lane, John's family home,

After the outbreak of war John continued to work. To avoid conscription, or as part of the Derby Scheme, in December 1915, John enlisted (in Burnley) and joined the Lancashire Fusiliers.

After training, he arrived on the western front in 1916 in time to take part in the later stages of the Battle of the Somme. Later the same year, in September 1916, his wife Jane had a son.

In 1917 John was invalided home due to trench foot he developed while serving in Arras. Once home he and would have got to see his baby son. On recovery hereturned to the front, by now in Flanders, where he fought in the Third Battle of Ypres.

John was killed in action by shell fire during the relief of his battalion in the Poelcapelle-Staden Railway sector, Ypres Salient9 November 1917. His body was never recovered so he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, Zonnebeke, Belgium.

34024 Pte. John Wood, 10th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers