Arthur's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Arthur Wood was born on 1 June 1894 at Rainow, the son of Sarah Wood who was from Kidsgrove, Staffordshire and was described as a widow in the 1911 census.
On 25 February 1910, at the age of 14, Arthur was admitted to Leeds Reformatory School, Adel, West Yorkshire, after being caught stealing from shops on a number of occasions. The admission record states that his mother was Sarah Wood, a charwoman of 2 Timber Street, Macclesfield, his father had died and he had three younger sisters and one older sister. He also had an uncle, John Hall of No 2 Court, Hurdsfield Road, Macclesfield, and was previously employed by Messrs. Holding at Lower Heys, Macclesfield.
Arthur was recorded at the school on the 1911 census, along with three other Macclesfield boys. His mother Sarah was listed on the 1911 census at 2 Timber Street, off Hurdsfield Road, along with his sisters Hannah (20), Mary (16), Alice (13) and Emily (9).
Arthur must have been well-behaved at school as he was discharged under license 5½ months early, on 16 December 1912. His discharge document shows that he joined the King's Liverpool Regiment with service number 11469, based first at Warrington and later at Aldershot.
Arthur's mother later lived at 5 Timber Street, Hurdsfield Road, Macclesfield.
WW1 SERVICE
Arthur enlisted in Leeds and was already serving when war was declared; he was drafted to France with the 1st battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment on 12 August 1914. He was later transferred to the 11th battalion.
Private A Wood was killed in action on 13 August 1917. His death was reported in the Macclesfield Advertiser on 21 September 1917, in a casualty list taken from the official War Office Casualty List:
KILLED - Wood, Pte. A, King's Liverpool Regiment, Macclesfield.
COMMEMORATION
Private Arthur Wood is buried in Grave Ref. II. C. 12. of the Huts Cemetery in Belgium. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Private Arthur Wood, and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum’s Lives of the First World War website.
Locally, Private Arthur Wood is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, St Michael's Church, Hurdsfield Sunday School and Rainow war memorials, and on Hurdsfield Sunday School Roll of Honour.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births
Census (England & Wales): 1901, 1911
West Yorkshire Reformatory School Records (Ancestry)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Lives of the First World War website
Macclesfield Advertiser: 21 September 1917
Research by Rosie Rowley, Macclesfield.