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Auction: 26002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 192

The rare M.B.E. group of seven awarded to Senior Army Scripture Reader B. Wood, Army Scripture Readers Society, late Corps of Military Staff Clerks and Leicestershire Regiment, who served as the Superintendent of Army Scripture Readers in France during the Great War

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member's (M.B.E.) breast Badge; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing's Nek (Mr. B. Wood. Army Scripture Reader); King's South Africa 1901-02 (Mr. B. Wood. Army Scripture Reader), unofficially re-engraved naming; 1914 Star, with clasp (B. Wood.); British War and Victory Medals (B. Wood.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R. (Q.M. Sgt. B. Wood. M. S. Clerk), the first sometime re-pinned, heavy contact wear overall, good fine (7)

M.B.E. London Gazette 20 March 1920.

Note: it is believed that only three Army Scripture Readers were entitled to the 1914 Star, a rare and very likely unique combination.

Ben Wood was born at Bushby Lodge, near Leicester, in 1855. His career is perhaps best summarised by a large obituary printed after his death in 1933 which states:

'Mr. B. Wood, M.B.E., at Wigston Magna, on October 8th, 1933, aged 78.
Born at Bushby Lodge, near Leicester, in 1855, he enlisted in the 27th Brigade in 1873, and joined the 2nd Bn. The Leicestershire Regiment at Devonport. He was transferred to the Sherwood Foresters in India, and returned to England with them in 1878. Transferred to the 1st Bn. The Leicestershire Regiment in India in 1880, he again returned home with the Regiment after two years.
He joined the Corps of Military Staff Clerks in 1883. and was discharged from the Service in 1895.
On leaving the Service, Mr. Wood took up work with the Army Scripture Readers' Society, and was posted to the North Camp, Aldershot.
When the South African War broke out, he was sent out to Natal and was attached to the Staff of the 4th Division under Major-General Sir Neville Lyttleton, forming part of the Army of Sir Redvers Buller.
It is interesting to note that at this time his immediate military superior was Capt. (afterwards Field-Marshal Sir) Henry Wilson.
Mr. Wood remained with Sir Redvers Buller's force throughout all their arduous fighting up to and past the Relief of Ladysmith, but in January, 1901, he was invalided home.
Returning to South Africa in December, 1901, he was sent into the Orange Free State. He served on the Blockhouse lines until 1903, when he was finally sent home, and returned to his normal duties in Aldershot, but this time he was posted to the South Camp.
In 1906 Mr. Wood was selected to go to Manchester as agent, collector and deputation reader for his Society in the North of England. Until 1911 he performed this work of lecturing, addressing meetings, collecting funds and generally making known the work of his Society in the North. He also found time to visit the Manchester Depot at Ashton-under-Lyne, and the R.A.S.C. at Hulme Barracks.
In November, 1911, Mr. Wood was sent out to India in a special mission connected with his Society. He remained there until April, 1914. when he was reposted to England.
On the outbreak of the Great War he first of all volunteered to rejoin the Army, but, being refused, he at once requested to be sent to France as an Army Scripture Reader, and in November, 1914, he was ordered to Rouen, and appointed Superintending Army Scripture Reader in France. He remained in France until June, 1919, working in Rouen, Paris and Le Havre.
When he returned to England. Mr. Wood again took up his duties at Manchester, where he remained until July, 1928, when he was posted to Leicester.
He was the proud possessor of the M.B.E.. the two South African War Medals, the 1914 Star. British War and Victory Medals, and the Long Service Medal.

Besides his Army work, Mr. Wood was a diocesan lay reader. He was first appointed in the Diocese of Winchester in 1848, and also held licences in the Manchester, Indian (Cawnpore) and Leicester Dioceses. The Rev. C. W. Weston, Acting Chaplain, Glen Parva Barracks, writes:

"Mr. Ben Wood was appointed Scripture Reader to the Depot The Leicestershire Regiment in July, 1928, though he was long due to retire on account of his age. But his influence amongst men was so great that the Society was only too pleased to continue to employ him in any position he cared to occupy.
"Immediately he arrived he began to organize evening services amongst the staff and recruits with conspicuous success. Many recruits will look back with pleasure on these services, prayer-meetings, lantern services and the like, and see in them the means which led them to the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the realization of the reality of religion.
"Shortly after his arrival, a room was set apart in the Library as a Church Room, and Mr. Wood keenly interested himself in its furnishing. He started a fund to obtain a harmonium, and had paid off most of the cost before his death.
"He was also a diocesan lay reader and in this capacity took over many of my duties whenever I was away on holiday or occasional duty.
"In every capacity he made himself loved and respected by the simple sincerity of his religious convictions and by the wonderful force of his personality.
"He was a really attractive preacher because of his power of vivid illustration from real life, and from his deep sympathy and absolute understanding of the needs of men. With the troops his power was specially great, since he was able to drive his points home by a long and unique experience of service under many different conditions.
"His death, so suddenly and unexpectedly, was a great shock to many outside the barracks, who felt that they had lost a true friend, whilst inside many must have felt that one of the biggest influences for good that there has ever been amongst the professors of Christianity had been taken from us at the very height of his usefulness. And many of us who followed in that last sad procession to the grave must have applied to him the words of St. Paul: 'I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the Faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness".'

Mr. Wood was buried with military honours, the firing party and bearers being found by the Regimental Depot.'

Wood's M.I.C. notes that he entered the war in France on 6 October 1914 and confirms the award of both the 1914 Star and the Victory Medal.

Despite the words of the obituary, there is no evidence on the roll that the recipient was entitled to the King's South Africa Medal. It would appear to be a self-award as there are photographs of the recipient wearing them, however, it is unclear why; sold together with original photographs and newspaper obituary.

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Estimate
£500 to £700

Starting price
£400