10631 Private
2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders, 20th Infantry Brigade, 7th Division
Age: 31
Date of Death: 31.10.14
Buried: Menin Gate Memorial Panel 38
Family history: Son of James and Elizabeth Wood, 44 High Bank, Kerse Lane, Falkirk. He had three  brothers and two sisters. James was serving with the Royal Naval Division and Walter was serving with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. John was a regular soldier, he enlisted on 13 February 1908 and prior to enlisting was employed as a moulder in a local iron foundry. He saw service in India before arriving in France with his battalion on 7 October 1914.
The action leading to his death
The Battalion was involved in the fighting around Zandvoorde on 31 October. Here, the Germans had blasted the Household Cavalry from their trenches, they were acting as dismounted infantry, off the ridge and taken the village, resulting in heavy casualties among the cavalry. They had also enfiladed the Welch Fusiliers who were defending the village on the left of the Household Cavalry. The Gordon Highlanders were ordered forward to support the South Staffords and Warwickshires from 22nd Brigade who had taken up a position east of Bassevillebeek. The Gordons were than ordered to advance on the right of these Battalion with the aim of retaking Zandvoorde with the cooperation of the reserves of the Household Cavalry. The Gordons pushed on through the woods but they met heavy fire from the Germans who were in the wood to their left and they were forced to fall back with heavy losses.
Â
John was recorded as wounded in the head and posted as missing.
Â
Medals Awarded:
1914 Star & Clasp, The British War Medal, Victory Medal.
