Field Marshal Sir Henry Evelyn Wood VC, GCB GCMG 17th (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Lancers

He was born at Cressing, Essex on 9 February 1839,
Joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman in the Royal Navy at the age of 14, April 1852
He served in the Naval Brigade in the Crimean War being present at the battles of Alma and Inkerman and was badly injured in the assault on the Redan.
Recommended for the Victoria Cross for gallantry when a magazine caught fire in seige battery at Sevastopol, but it was not awarded as he transferred to the Army
He transferred to the Army in 1855 as a Cornet, serving in the 13th Light Dragoons, and to
the 17th Lancers 1857
He served during the Indian Mutiny in 1858 to 1860, and greatly distinguished himself in the pursuit of Tantia Topi, being awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry at Sindwaho on 19.10.1858.
His Citation reads “He attacked with much gallantry, almost single-handed, a body of rebels who had made a stand and whom he routed. He subsequently gallantly advanced at Sindhora with two others and rescued from a band of robbers a native soldier whom they had captured and carried off to the jungle where they intended to hang him”
He transferred to the Infantry and served in Ashanti 1873/1874 in which he raised and commanded a Regiment of natives and in the South African Wars taking a leading part in the Kafir, Zulu and Transvaal Campaigns.
He was promoted to the rank of Major General in 1881
In the Egyptian Campaign of 1882 which ended in the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir, he served as Major General, then as Commander-in-Chief he recreated the Egyptian Army
His last experience of active served was commanding Wolseley’s lines of communication in the Sudan Campaign of 1884/1885
He became Lieutenant General Commanding at Aldershot General 1889 to 1893
Wood was responsible for recommending the reconstruction of South Camp in Aldershot and the replacement of the remaining huts in North Camp along improved lines. It was also Wood who recommended that each barrack should be named after a British victory.
The Quartermaster General 1893-97
Adjutant General 1897-1901
Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal approached him saying they wished to raise Mounted men in Canada and send them to South Africa. Expense being no object a Regiment of three squadrons was proposed and became The Lord Strathcona’s Horse
As General and Field Marshal he commanded the 2nd Army Corps (later Southern Command), 1901-04,
Field Marshal by 1903.
Constable of the Tower of London 1911-19
Sir Evelyn Wood died at Harlow in Essex on 2 December 1919.
He was brought back to Aldershot to be buried alongside his wife in the Military Cemetery
He also held the:
Knights Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (G.C.B.)
Knights Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (G.C.M.G.)
Legion d’Honneur (France)