Plaque to Private Wilf Wood V.C.
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Plaque to Private Wilf Wood V.C. by Gerald England as part of the Geograph project.
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Plaque to Private Wilf Wood V.C.
Image: © Gerald England Taken: 1 Nov 2014
The plaque on the wall of the foyer of Stockport station reads: PRIVATE WILF WOOD V.C. Remembering the life of railwayman Wilf Wood who was awarded the Victoria Cross for an act of most conspicuous bravery and initiative on 28 October 1918 near Casa Van in Italy. A unit on the right flank having been held up by hostile machine gunners and snipers, Private Wood worked forward with his Lewis gun, enfiladed the enemy machine gun nest and caused 140 enemy to surrender. The advance continued until a hidden machine gun opened fire at point blank range. Without a moment's hesitation, Private Wood charged, firing his Lewis gun from the hip, and enfiladed a ditch from which a further 160 men and 3 officers duly surrendered. A cleaner at Stockport locomotive depot, Wilf survived the Great War and spent his entire working life on the railways. He had the honour of a steam locomotive being named after him and enjoyed a long retirement before his death in January 1982 at the age of 84.
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Image Location
Latitude
53.405807
Longitude
-2.162563