Reginald James Woods

Story:
Reginald James Woods was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 17th January 1898 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 10th February 1898, the son of Charles John Woods and Harriet Woods (née Pickford).  He lived his early life at various addresses in the St. James District of Shaftesbury and at 16 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury.  He enlisted on 8 Feb 1915 and joined the 10th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers as a Private (Service No. 21369).  He served with his Unit in France and Flanders from 3 Dec 1915 until he was transferred to the Labour Corps (Service No. 327709).   He was discharged on 18th May 1918 due to being no longer fit for service as a result of gunshot wounds received to the right thigh and awarded the Silver War Badge No. 362924 as well as the Victory, British War medals and the 1915 Star.   He was also in receipt of a limited pension.  Reginald returned to his family now at 45 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, and he later married Frances May Beeston in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1920.  The 1921 Census shows he was living in Alcester, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a General Labourer out of work.  But by the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 32 Maybrick Road, Bath, Somerset, and was working as a Telecommunication Linesman.   He died in the Woodside Rest Home, Bathwick Hill, Bath, Somerset, on 27th February 1995. Reginald's father Charles John Woods also served in the conflict, with the Dorsetshire Regiment and his brother John Charles (b.1900) with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.