Brothers Henry James (Northumberland Fusiliers) and Alfred Ernest Hood (The Queens) - both died 1918
H J Hood……………………………………………………………………..
Headstone in Earlham Cemetery
In Loving Memory of
HENRY JAMES HOOD
Who died April 13th 1918
Aged 21 years
Can we e’er forget that footstep
Or that happy smiling face
Also of Alfred Ernest Hood
Who died in France July 4th 1918
Aged 18 years
The stars shine on the silent grave
Of him we loved and could not save.
Also of FRED, beloved father of the above
Died Nov.14th 1931. Aged 64 years.
HOOD, HENRY JAMES
Rank:…………………………………………………………Private
Service No:………………………………………………..48891
Date of Death:…………………………………………..13/04/1918
Age:…………………………………………………………..21
Regiment:………………………………………………….Northumberland Fusiliers,
2nd Garrison Bn.
Grave Reference:………………………………………48. 578.
Cemetery:………………………………………………….NORWICH CEMETERY, NORFOLK
Additional Information:
Son of Frederick James Hood and Mary Ann Hood, of 104, Essex St., Norwich.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2803179/HOOD,%20HENRY...
SDGW records Private 48891 Henry James Hood as Died on the 13th April 1918 whilst serving with the 2nd Garrison Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers on the Home Front. He was born and enlisted Norwich. He had previously been 9096, Norfolk Regiment.
The Medal Index Card for Private 48891 Henry J Hood, Northumberland Fusiliers is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/10/25378. He had previously been Private 9096 Norfolk Regiment.
No match on Picture Norfolk
Brother Alfred Ernest would also die in the Great War – see next name on the memorial.
Birth
The birth of a Henry James Hood was recorded in the Norwich District in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1897.
1901 Census
The 4 year old Henry J, born Norwich, was recorded at 5 Branford Road, Norwich. This was the household of his parents, Frederick J, (aged 33 and a Carter from Lowestoft, Suffolk), and Mary A, (aged 34 and from Norwich). As well as Henry, their other children are:-
Edith M.A…………..aged 12………born Norwich
Frederick G………..aged 10………born Norwich
Alice E………………..aged 8………..born Norwich
Thomas……………..aged 6…………born Norwich
Alfred E………………aged 1…………born Norwich
1911 Census
The family were now living at 104 Essex Street, Norwich. The 14 year old Henry was working as a Shoe Operator for a Shoe Manufacturer. Parents Frederick James, (44 and a Carter for a House Furnisher) and Mary Ann, (45), have been married for 23 years and have had 8 children, all then still alive. As well as Henry, still at home are Thomas, (16, Shoe Operator), Alfred (11) plus new additions Ada Florence (8) and Elsie May (6) – both born Norwich.
On the day
The death of a 21 year old Henry J Hood was recorded in the Bristol District of Gloucestershire in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1918.
However the unit shown on CWGC, the 2nd Garrison Battalion, was stationed out in India. A more likely candidate is the 3rd (Home Service) Garrison Battalion although even this was in Ireland.
See: www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-brit...
A E Hood………………………………………………………………
SDGW records Private G/68547 Alfred Ernest Hood as Died on the 6th July 1918 while serving with the 7th Battalion, Queens, (Royal West Surrey Regiment). He was born Lakenham, Norfolk, resident and enlisted Norwich.
HOOD, ALFRED
Rank:………………………………………………Private
Service No:……………………………………..68547
Date of Death:………………………………..06/07/1918
Age:………………………………………………..18
Regiment:……………………………………….The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 7th Bn.
Grave Reference:…………………………….II. C. 16.
Cemetery:
PERNOIS BRITISH CEMETERY, HALLOY-LES-PERNOIS
Additional Information:
Son of Frederick James and Mary Ann Hood, of 104, Essex St., Norwich, Norfolk.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/63867/HOOD,%20ALFRED
(Note the date discrepancy on both SDGW and CWGC from that on the headstone)
The Medal Index Card for Private G/68547 Alfred E Hood, The Queens Regiment, is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/10/24945.
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D2943216
The Government Probate Service holds a Soldiers Will for 98547 Alfred Ernest Hood, who died on the 6th July 1918.
probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Wills?Surname=Hood&Surna...
No match on Picture Norfolk
Birth
The birth of an Alfred Ernest Hood was recorded in the Norwich District in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1899.
See brother Henry James above for details of the family on the 1901 and 1911 censuses.
At this time
PERNOIS BRITISH CEMETERY, HALLOY-LES-PERNOIS
Historical Information
Pernois British Cemetery was opened towards the end of April 1918, during the German advance, for burials from No.4 Casualty Clearing Station. The cemetery was closed in August.
www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/6200/PERNOIS%20BRIT...
2nd July 1918 - Battalion War Diary
The Battalion left billets at WARLOY at 9.30 p m to relieve 6th Northants as right Battalion of left Brigade Sector on the front line. On reaching HENENCOURT Wood the Battalion was stopped owing to artillery activity on the part of the enemy & the subsequent Counter attack, and returned to billets in WARLOY. Major A.R.GRYLLS rejoins from leave.
3rd July 1918 5.30p – Battalion War Diary
The Battalion left WARLOY to relieve 6th Northants, advancing over SENLIS ridge by sections. Relief successfully carried out.
4th July 1918 – Battalion War Diary
Considerable artillery activity by both sides, Casualties 5 O.R. wd’d.
5th July 1918 – Battalion War Diary
Battalion by the 7th Buffs and moved into counter attack positions. Quiet day. Reinforcements 18.O.R. received including N C Os from A.P.C.
6th July 1918 – Battalion War Diary
Quiet day. Several gas shells (sneezing) fell in neighbourhood of CARSON TR.
The Battalion relieved 7 Buffs in right Battalion sector – on the right 7th Rl West Kent R – on left 8th E.Surrey R.
qrrarchive.websds.net/PDF/QW00719180703.pdf
It would seem likely that Alfred was one of the 5 Other Ranks wounded on the 4th July 1918, which might explain the date on the headstone.
He was probably not the only one to have succumbed to his wounds.
On the 5th July Private 68566 Percy Frederick Melmoth from Chichester, Sussex, a soldier of the 7th Battalion would die. He is also buried at Pernois. Percy is also recorded on SDGW as having “Died”, which normally means illness or a non-service related accident, rather then “Died of Wounds”.
Additional Hood family information
The 21 year old Frederick George Hood, born Lakenham, Norfolk, was recorded on the 1911 census as a Private in the 2nd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, who was in Barracks at Belgaum, India. It is likely that he was either still with the 2nd Battalion at the outbreak of War seeing service in Mesopotamia, or if he had served long-enough to return to civilian life he would have had been a Reservist who would have been recalled immediately on the outbreak of war and most likely gone out with the 1st Battalion to France in the early months of the year.
On the 1891 Census the 9 month old Frederick G, son of Frederick J, aged 23 and a Carrier from Lowestoft, and Mary Ann, aged 24 and from Norwich, were all recorded at 29, Chapel Street, Lakenham, Norwich.
There is a Medal Index Card held at the National Archive for Private 7497 Frederick George Hood, Norfolk Regiment.
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D2943476
The Army Service Numbers Blogpost has identified that soldier 7470 joined the Norfolk Regiment on the 11th June 1907 and 7603 joined on the 11th May 1908, so Frederick would have signed up some time between those dates.
armyservicenumbers.blogspot.co.uk/2009/07/norfolk-regimen...
Large numbers of the pre-war soldiers were either killed\captured by the Germans in the early months when the 1st Battalion formed part of the fighting retreat from Mons or the subsequent Allied attack at Chemin des Dames. As Frederick is not commemorated here, I did check the International Red Cross to see if he was a PoW but found no likely candidates.
The pre-war regulars of the 2nd Battalion were also heavily decimated, both when besieged in the city of Kut and the subsequent march into captivity when their Commanding General surrendered the city in April 1916. It has been estimated that there was a 70%+ death rate for the other ranks who marched out of Kut by the end of the conflict.
While I couldn’t find baptismal information for Henry and Alfred, armed with the 1891 census information I was able to track down the baptism of an Edith Mary-Ann Hood, born 15th April 1888, which took place at St Mark, Lakenham on the 6th July 1888. Parents were Frederick and Mary Ann. Father Frederick was a Carter. The family lived on Chapel Street.
(SDGW - Soldiers died in the Great War database
CWGC - Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Picture Norfolk - The Norfolk County Image Archive).
Brothers Henry James (Northumberland Fusiliers) and Alfred Ernest Hood (The Queens) - both died 1918
H J Hood……………………………………………………………………..
Headstone in Earlham Cemetery
In Loving Memory of
HENRY JAMES HOOD
Who died April 13th 1918
Aged 21 years
Can we e’er forget that footstep
Or that happy smiling face
Also of Alfred Ernest Hood
Who died in France July 4th 1918
Aged 18 years
The stars shine on the silent grave
Of him we loved and could not save.
Also of FRED, beloved father of the above
Died Nov.14th 1931. Aged 64 years.
HOOD, HENRY JAMES
Rank:…………………………………………………………Private
Service No:………………………………………………..48891
Date of Death:…………………………………………..13/04/1918
Age:…………………………………………………………..21
Regiment:………………………………………………….Northumberland Fusiliers,
2nd Garrison Bn.
Grave Reference:………………………………………48. 578.
Cemetery:………………………………………………….NORWICH CEMETERY, NORFOLK
Additional Information:
Son of Frederick James Hood and Mary Ann Hood, of 104, Essex St., Norwich.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2803179/HOOD,%20HENRY...
SDGW records Private 48891 Henry James Hood as Died on the 13th April 1918 whilst serving with the 2nd Garrison Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers on the Home Front. He was born and enlisted Norwich. He had previously been 9096, Norfolk Regiment.
The Medal Index Card for Private 48891 Henry J Hood, Northumberland Fusiliers is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/10/25378. He had previously been Private 9096 Norfolk Regiment.
No match on Picture Norfolk
Brother Alfred Ernest would also die in the Great War – see next name on the memorial.
Birth
The birth of a Henry James Hood was recorded in the Norwich District in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1897.
1901 Census
The 4 year old Henry J, born Norwich, was recorded at 5 Branford Road, Norwich. This was the household of his parents, Frederick J, (aged 33 and a Carter from Lowestoft, Suffolk), and Mary A, (aged 34 and from Norwich). As well as Henry, their other children are:-
Edith M.A…………..aged 12………born Norwich
Frederick G………..aged 10………born Norwich
Alice E………………..aged 8………..born Norwich
Thomas……………..aged 6…………born Norwich
Alfred E………………aged 1…………born Norwich
1911 Census
The family were now living at 104 Essex Street, Norwich. The 14 year old Henry was working as a Shoe Operator for a Shoe Manufacturer. Parents Frederick James, (44 and a Carter for a House Furnisher) and Mary Ann, (45), have been married for 23 years and have had 8 children, all then still alive. As well as Henry, still at home are Thomas, (16, Shoe Operator), Alfred (11) plus new additions Ada Florence (8) and Elsie May (6) – both born Norwich.
On the day
The death of a 21 year old Henry J Hood was recorded in the Bristol District of Gloucestershire in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1918.
However the unit shown on CWGC, the 2nd Garrison Battalion, was stationed out in India. A more likely candidate is the 3rd (Home Service) Garrison Battalion although even this was in Ireland.
See: www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-brit...
A E Hood………………………………………………………………
SDGW records Private G/68547 Alfred Ernest Hood as Died on the 6th July 1918 while serving with the 7th Battalion, Queens, (Royal West Surrey Regiment). He was born Lakenham, Norfolk, resident and enlisted Norwich.
HOOD, ALFRED
Rank:………………………………………………Private
Service No:……………………………………..68547
Date of Death:………………………………..06/07/1918
Age:………………………………………………..18
Regiment:……………………………………….The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 7th Bn.
Grave Reference:…………………………….II. C. 16.
Cemetery:
PERNOIS BRITISH CEMETERY, HALLOY-LES-PERNOIS
Additional Information:
Son of Frederick James and Mary Ann Hood, of 104, Essex St., Norwich, Norfolk.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/63867/HOOD,%20ALFRED
(Note the date discrepancy on both SDGW and CWGC from that on the headstone)
The Medal Index Card for Private G/68547 Alfred E Hood, The Queens Regiment, is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/10/24945.
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D2943216
The Government Probate Service holds a Soldiers Will for 98547 Alfred Ernest Hood, who died on the 6th July 1918.
probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Wills?Surname=Hood&Surna...
No match on Picture Norfolk
Birth
The birth of an Alfred Ernest Hood was recorded in the Norwich District in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1899.
See brother Henry James above for details of the family on the 1901 and 1911 censuses.
At this time
PERNOIS BRITISH CEMETERY, HALLOY-LES-PERNOIS
Historical Information
Pernois British Cemetery was opened towards the end of April 1918, during the German advance, for burials from No.4 Casualty Clearing Station. The cemetery was closed in August.
www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/6200/PERNOIS%20BRIT...
2nd July 1918 - Battalion War Diary
The Battalion left billets at WARLOY at 9.30 p m to relieve 6th Northants as right Battalion of left Brigade Sector on the front line. On reaching HENENCOURT Wood the Battalion was stopped owing to artillery activity on the part of the enemy & the subsequent Counter attack, and returned to billets in WARLOY. Major A.R.GRYLLS rejoins from leave.
3rd July 1918 5.30p – Battalion War Diary
The Battalion left WARLOY to relieve 6th Northants, advancing over SENLIS ridge by sections. Relief successfully carried out.
4th July 1918 – Battalion War Diary
Considerable artillery activity by both sides, Casualties 5 O.R. wd’d.
5th July 1918 – Battalion War Diary
Battalion by the 7th Buffs and moved into counter attack positions. Quiet day. Reinforcements 18.O.R. received including N C Os from A.P.C.
6th July 1918 – Battalion War Diary
Quiet day. Several gas shells (sneezing) fell in neighbourhood of CARSON TR.
The Battalion relieved 7 Buffs in right Battalion sector – on the right 7th Rl West Kent R – on left 8th E.Surrey R.
qrrarchive.websds.net/PDF/QW00719180703.pdf
It would seem likely that Alfred was one of the 5 Other Ranks wounded on the 4th July 1918, which might explain the date on the headstone.
He was probably not the only one to have succumbed to his wounds.
On the 5th July Private 68566 Percy Frederick Melmoth from Chichester, Sussex, a soldier of the 7th Battalion would die. He is also buried at Pernois. Percy is also recorded on SDGW as having “Died”, which normally means illness or a non-service related accident, rather then “Died of Wounds”.
Additional Hood family information
The 21 year old Frederick George Hood, born Lakenham, Norfolk, was recorded on the 1911 census as a Private in the 2nd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, who was in Barracks at Belgaum, India. It is likely that he was either still with the 2nd Battalion at the outbreak of War seeing service in Mesopotamia, or if he had served long-enough to return to civilian life he would have had been a Reservist who would have been recalled immediately on the outbreak of war and most likely gone out with the 1st Battalion to France in the early months of the year.
On the 1891 Census the 9 month old Frederick G, son of Frederick J, aged 23 and a Carrier from Lowestoft, and Mary Ann, aged 24 and from Norwich, were all recorded at 29, Chapel Street, Lakenham, Norwich.
There is a Medal Index Card held at the National Archive for Private 7497 Frederick George Hood, Norfolk Regiment.
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D2943476
The Army Service Numbers Blogpost has identified that soldier 7470 joined the Norfolk Regiment on the 11th June 1907 and 7603 joined on the 11th May 1908, so Frederick would have signed up some time between those dates.
armyservicenumbers.blogspot.co.uk/2009/07/norfolk-regimen...
Large numbers of the pre-war soldiers were either killed\captured by the Germans in the early months when the 1st Battalion formed part of the fighting retreat from Mons or the subsequent Allied attack at Chemin des Dames. As Frederick is not commemorated here, I did check the International Red Cross to see if he was a PoW but found no likely candidates.
The pre-war regulars of the 2nd Battalion were also heavily decimated, both when besieged in the city of Kut and the subsequent march into captivity when their Commanding General surrendered the city in April 1916. It has been estimated that there was a 70%+ death rate for the other ranks who marched out of Kut by the end of the conflict.
While I couldn’t find baptismal information for Henry and Alfred, armed with the 1891 census information I was able to track down the baptism of an Edith Mary-Ann Hood, born 15th April 1888, which took place at St Mark, Lakenham on the 6th July 1888. Parents were Frederick and Mary Ann. Father Frederick was a Carter. The family lived on Chapel Street.
(SDGW - Soldiers died in the Great War database
CWGC - Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Picture Norfolk - The Norfolk County Image Archive).