Sir Henry Evelyn Wood VC, GCB, GCMG

Sir Henry Evelyn Wood VC, GCB, GCMG
Wood was buried with full military honours in the Military Cemetery at Aldershot in Hampshire.

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Photo provided 1879 Graves and Andy Lee.

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Col. H. Wood (VC) 90th (Perthshire)   Light Infantry, No.4 Column Commander & present at Hlobane, Khambula &   Ulundi - Victoria Cross Memorial (Marlborough School)

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Col. H. Wood (VC) 90th (Perthshire)   Light Infantry, No.4 Column Commander & present at Hlobane, Khambula &   Ulundi - Memorial Plaque (Marlborough School Chapel)

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Col. H. Wood (VC) 90th (Perthshire)  Light Infantry, No.4 Column Commander,  present at Hlobane, Khambula &  Ulundi - Victoria Cross Memorial (Union Jack Club, London)

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Col. H. Wood (VC) 90th Light  Infantry, No.4 Column Commander, present at Hlobane, Khambula & Ulundi -  Memorial Tablet (St. Paul's Cathedral)

“ Burial of Sir Evelyn Wood, VC. The Army's tribute at Aldershot.

The funeral of the late Field-Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood took place at Aldershot on Saturday, when the Army, in the presence of some of its greatest leaders and more than 7,000 troops, paid the last tribute of respect for a distinguished soldier.

The first part of the burial service was held in All Saint's Church and afterwards the coffin was borne to the Military Cemetery for interment.

Before the altar at St. George's and beneath the tattered colours depending from the roof, the body had been lying all night under the guardianship of the three regiments with whom he was most intimately associated, the Royal Horse Guards, the 13th Hussars and the 17th Lancers.

When the congregation had entered the church at noon, the coffin, covered with the Union Jack and surmounted by wreaths and flowers, troopers of the 17th Lancers stood rigid at the corners, their lances reversed.

The King was represented by Field-Marshal Earl Haig, Queen Alexandra by Colonel Sir H.R. Streetfield, the Duke of Connaught by Major-General Sir Roger Lane and the Secretary of State for War by Lieutenant-General Sir Philip Chetwode.

[A list of the various representatives of the Services and public bodies follows.]

Lord Stanfordham, who was Aide-de-Camp to Sir Evelyn Wood, carried the Field-Marshal's baton and regalia. The principal mourners were, Colonel and Mrs, Evelyn Wood, Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. Charles Wood, and Major and Mrs. Arthur Wood — sons and daughter's-in-law — Sir Evelyn's three daughters, Mrs. Telford, Mrs. Keynes, and Miss Lesley Wood.

The seats in the choir stalls were allocated to the various religious denominations in the command.

The service, which was preluded by the playing of "O Rest in the Lord," by the band of the 13th Hussars, was conducted by the Reverends F.L. Anderson, A.C.E. Jervis and C.S. Alford, Chaplains to the Forces at Aldershot. The hymns were, 'Now the labourer's task is o'er' and 'O God, our help in ages past.'

At the conclusion of the first part of the service the band played Chopin's 'Funeral March' and as the non-commissioned officers of the Royal Horse Guards bore the coffin down the aisle the "Nunc Dimittis" was sung...

The Procession at the Cemetery — A guard of honour from the Black Watch with the regimental colour was mounted outside of the church, and the route to the cemetery was lined with troops who stood immobile, with arms reversed.

The flowers being left in the chancel in accordance with Sir Evelyn's wish that none should be placed on his grave, the coffin was placed on a gun-carriage and the long procession made its way between the lines of people, many standing bare-headed in the heavy rain, to the cemetery.

It was headed by a detachment of Military Mounted Police, who were followed by squadrons of the 3rd and 13th Hussars, and the 17th Lancers. After these came the 1st Bn. Royal Fusiliers, the 1st Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, the 2nd Bn. East Surrey Regiment, the 1st Bn. Manchester Regiment, the 1st Bn. Highland Light Infantry and the 2nd Bn. of the Cameron Highlanders, with bands and pipes. Preceding the gun-carriage was a battery of the Royal Field Artillery.

Beside the coffin — as pall-bearers — walked Admiral Sir H.E. King Hall and seven generals — Lord Rawlinson, Sir Bruce Hamilton, Sir P. R. Wingate, Sir John Cowans and Sir Robert Scanlon, Indian Army. Immediately behind these came Field Marshal Lord Grenville and Field-Marshal Lord Methuen, carrying cushions on which lay Sir Evelyn's baton, insignia and decorations.

His charger, draped in purple cloth, the dead soldier's boots reversed in the stirrups, was led next. Colonel Evelyn Wood, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Wood and Major Arthur Wood came next with Sir Evelyn Wood's grand-son, Midshipman Leslie Wood, R.N. Lord Haig headed the large company of representatives of the Army Council, War Office and General Staff, and of officers of Sir Evelyn's old regiments in which he was especially interested.

As the procession moved along a salute of 19 guns was fired from Redan Hill by the Royal Artillery and during the funeral the people of Aldershot showed their respect by closing the shops and flying flags at half-mast. At the cemetery gates was a detachment of the Scottish Rifles.

The committal service was conducted amidst a large and reverent gathering of people. Volleys were fired over the grave by the Hussars and Lancers and another salute of 19 guns heightened the impressiveness. The "Last Post" was sounded by Trumpeters of the Horse Guards, then the pipes of the Cameronians wailed forth the lament "The Flowers of the Forest" as the great soldier was left to his rest in a grave adjoining that of his wife, who died nearly 30 years ago, when he was General Officer Commanding, at Aldershot."

Simultaneously with the funeral a memorial service was held in Chelmsford Cathedral, the Mayor and Corporation attended in state, and the Essex regiment was represented by Lieutenant-Colonel Pratt, D.S.O."


"Evelyn Wood, V.C. Field Marshal. Born 9th Feb. 1838 — Died 2nd Dec. 1919." That on the plinth reads, "In memory of the Honourable Pauline Southwell, wife of Lieutenant-General Sir Evelyn Wood. — Died 11th of May 1891." R.I.P.“

Source: LIVES OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
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