WOOD, Frank [of Cropwell Bishop]

86th Machine Gun Company

Died 23rd October 1917, aged 20.

A memorial tablet in marble in the parish church of St.Giles, Cropwell Bishop, records  that Frank Wood was the youngest son of the vicar, James H.R. Wood (See photo)

Frank appears on the 1901 England Census aged 3, living at the Vicarage in Cropwell Bishop with his father, mother (Edith), two brothers (James Jnr. aged 9 and Hugh, 8) and 5-year old sister, Mary. He and Mary had been born in 'Thorpe-by-Newark', but interestingly the eldest child, James Jnr., was born in Manitoba, Canada. Since their mother, Edith, came from Cropwell Butler it seems likely that Rev. Wood had briefly had a parish or done missionary work there. James Jnr. was the only child left at home, described as 'Student' aged 19, in the 1911 Census, but the 13-year old Frank can be found that year boarding at Trent College in Long Eaton, Derbyshire.

He is also commemorated on the memorial at Cropwell Bishop primary school.