Gunner Robert Wood
L/17805 Royal Field Artillery County Palatine 312th TMB
Killed in Action 27th July 1916, aged 23
Lived at 35 Cleaver Street
Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France
Burnley Express 15th July 1916

A photograph of him taken on his wedding day.
There was writing on the back of this picture which reads “Esther WATERWORTH and Robert WOOD. Married at Hill Lane Baptist on 4th Oct 1915.”

Photograph courtesy of Mel Smith

Son of John Henry and Alice Wood.KIA by a German gas shell along with his Burnley friend Gnr John Riding both tram drivers.

Burnley Express & Advertiser 12th July 1916

“The news was conveyed to Mr.H.Mozley, Manager of the Tramways, in a letter from Gunner F.W.Clifford, another tram driver, who wrote "We have had a very rough time these last few days. It will be a nice thing for us when we get the chance to have a nice sleep. It is with deep regret I have to tell you that two of our Burnley lads and tramwaymen have been killed in action. The two mens names are Gunner R.Wood, and Gunner Riding. They were killed on the 27th of June. It cast a great cloud over the tram men of this battery. The Germans gave us a dose of tear shells, and it made all our eyes run with water. It is a rotten sensation."
Gunner R.Wood was a Burnley man, and lived at 35, Cleaver-street. He was 24 years of age. He had been engaged as a conductor and driver since 1913. He was married after enlistment.”