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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 358

(x) The 'First Day of Amiens 1918' M.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant C. A. Wood, 19th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force

Military Medal, G.V.R. (1204 Sjt: C. A. Wood. 19/Aust:Inf:); 1914-15 Star (1204 Pte C. A. Wood. 19/Bn A.I.F.); British War and Victory Medals (1204 T-WO-2 C. A. Wood. 19 Bn. A.I.F.), mounted as worn, minor pitting, overall very fine (4)

M.M. London Gazette 14 May 1919, the original recommendation states:

'On the morning of the 8th August 1918 during the attack east of Viller Bretonneux, east of Amiens, Sgt Wood displayed great gallantry in dealing with enemy machine gun position. He personally attacked three enemy posts in succession, and by his remarkable courage and daring captured 14 prisoners and 2 machine guns. His example proved a fine incentive to the other members of his platoon.'

Charles Albert Wood was born at Calvert via Rosewood, Queensland on 22 February 1888, the son of James and Margaret Wood of One Mile Estate, Ipswich, Queensland. Working as a butcher prior to enlisting on 22 February 1915 he used the alias of Leonard Hayes on his attestation. Embarking at Sydney on 25 June 1915 with 'D' Company he landed at Gallipoli on 16 August alongside the Battalion which went into action at Hill 60 on 21 August.

Leaving Gallipoli with the rest of the Battalion in 1916 he was briefly hospitalised on 16 March 1916 while they were part of the Suez Canal defences. Embarking at Alexandria in August 1916 Wood was posted to the 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot on 21 August and re-entered the war in France on 16 September.

They came into action the next month at the Battle of Pozieres, after which Wood was advanced Sergeant on 21 December 1916. Returning to Britain for instructional duties he was further advanced Company Sergeant Major on 9 January 1917 and returned to France in September that same year. He returned to the 19th Battalion on 25 September, seeing action with them in the V.C. winning engagement at Hangard Wood in April 1918.

Wood's own moment of glory came on the first day of the Battle of Amiens, at the start of the Hundred Days Offensive, the 'black day of the German Army' as German Chief of Staff Ludendorff had it. The extreme success of the offensive triggered the eventual collapse of the German defences, however Wood was not present to see it.

He was seriously wounded in the left hand and wrist just four days after his medal winning action on 11 August, seeing his left finger amputated as a result. Returning to Australia on 20 November 1918, Wood was discharged there as a result of his wound on 22 March 1919; sold together with two 'Imperial League of Australia' badges and one A.I.F. 'Return from Active Service' badge.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£500 to £600

Starting price
£400