Tomorrow is Remembrance Day.
A young man called Leslie Herbert Wood was in among it during World War 1.
What his involvement meant to my family and I.
A #Remembrance_Daasey thread. /1
A young man called Leslie Herbert Wood was in among it during World War 1.
What his involvement meant to my family and I.
A #Remembrance_Daasey thread. /1
Born in Brunswick, Vic, Australia in 1895 to Henry James Wood (1859-1896) and Lois Chivell (nee Simson, later Wood,) (1864-1942,) he was the youngest of their many children and one of 3 who survived to adulthood. /2
He signs up for combat on June 14 1915 (June 14 would turn out to be an important date for one of his descendants.)
Barely 20 years old at the time of enlistment but wasn't paid for his time in combat.
His trade at the time of enlistment, compositor. /3
Barely 20 years old at the time of enlistment but wasn't paid for his time in combat.
His trade at the time of enlistment, compositor. /3
Something must've happened for him to be granted blighty leave.
He left to go to his mother's birth place which was Northampton in the United Kingdom.
Older brother Henry and he communicated but never saw each other again.
Les didn't even see his older sister Jessie either. /4
He left to go to his mother's birth place which was Northampton in the United Kingdom.
Older brother Henry and he communicated but never saw each other again.
Les didn't even see his older sister Jessie either. /4
He doesn't return to Australia.
If he were to have, he'd've been arrested for whatever it was that he did.
So, to avoid detection, what does he do?
The only thing logical, change his name.
In his case, his mate's name, Arthur Thomas Reynolds. /5
If he were to have, he'd've been arrested for whatever it was that he did.
So, to avoid detection, what does he do?
The only thing logical, change his name.
In his case, his mate's name, Arthur Thomas Reynolds. /5
The surname Reynolds would begin a path of prominence in the family as, through that surname, Les/Arthur would marry an Emily Blazeby (we think that's her name) and, together, they would have 3 girls and one boy.
One of the girls, the oldest, became my great-grandmother. /6
One of the girls, the oldest, became my great-grandmother. /6
If one Leslie Herbert Wood had've stayed in Australia and not entertained the prospect of enlistment, I wouldn't be here tweeting this thread to you guys.
Him moving to the UK allowed a series of events to follow that culminated in my birth and the birth of many others. /7
Him moving to the UK allowed a series of events to follow that culminated in my birth and the birth of many others. /7
It is for this that I am forever proud to be a great-great-grandchild of Leslie Herbert Wood/Arthur Thomas Reynolds.
Leslie Herbert Wood, thank you. /8
The end.
Leslie Herbert Wood, thank you. /8
The end.
Footnote.
All of this wouldn't've been possible had @MaccaHeraldSun not published an article in the Herald Sun leading up to ANZAC Day 2016 that included a photo of Les.
Cheers guys.
#Remembrance_Daasey.
All of this wouldn't've been possible had @MaccaHeraldSun not published an article in the Herald Sun leading up to ANZAC Day 2016 that included a photo of Les.
Cheers guys.
#Remembrance_Daasey.
Please work your magic @threadreaderapp.
Unroll this personal thread of mine please.
The first thread I want unrolled.
Thank you.
Unroll this personal thread of mine please.
The first thread I want unrolled.
Thank you.
This is the face behind this thread.
Proud to be one of you many descendants Les.
Proud to be one of you many descendants Les.
