Harrogate Herald  -  7th April 1915

Second Lieutenant Jack A H Wood, son of Mr John Wood, Military Police, of Stalybridge and Dukinfield, and nephew of Mr R J Foster, of Stockeld Park, Spofforth, has had conferred upon him the Military Cross in recognition of his gallantry and devotion to duty whilst serving with the Expeditionary Force, this being a new decoration instituted by the King since the war began.

The official communication says that the Military Cross has been conferred on Lieutenant Wood for gallantry, skill, and daring on the night of February 15th/16th, in the guidance of the attacking party near Ypres, and for a similar act of gallantry on the next night, when he voluntarily led the 84th Brigade in the operations.

It was on Sunday, February 14th, in the afternoon that the action referred to above commenced, and Lieutenant Wood was about the only officer left out of the charge. On the night of the 15th the gallant lieutenant led another regiment against the German trenches, and the charge was successful. The Germans did not allow the British to get up to them, as they ran like hares before ever they could get inside the trenches. On the following night Lieutenant Wood volunteered to lead the 84th Brigade in the operations, and they were again successful.

Mr John Wood, Military Police, interviewed one of the young officers in his son's battalion who was in command of the company at the time of the charge, and who was then wounded, and was taken to hospital in London. He says that Lieutenant Wood did very well indeed, that theirs was the leading company, and that they were ordered to attack a German trench in the daytime, but were nearly all shot down, and could not get near the enemy, and had to be practically in the positions where they were until it was dark. As Lieutenant Wood was one of the few officers left who knew the position of the trench they attempted to take, he was chosen to act as guide for another regiment the following night, and the bayonet charge was then successful.

Lieutenant Wood has received many congratulations on the honour he has earned.

The official description of the award is as follows : "The King has conferred the Military Cross in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty whilst serving with the Expeditionary Force upon Second Lieutenant J A H Wood, 4th East Surrey Regiment, attached 2nd Battalion, for gallantry, skill, and daring on the night of February 15th-16th, 1915, in the guidance of the attacking party near Ypres, and for a similar act of gallantry on the next night, when he voluntarily led the 84th Brigade in the operations".