Russell Lights - Vol 9 Issue 15 - July 2006
Clement Wood - Plaque
This circular brass plaque has a design of Brittania with a trident and laurel wreath, a lion and dolphins and around the edge the inscription – He died for freedom and honour. Inscribed is the name Clement Wood.
Clement was a Russell boy. He was one of a family of eleven children whose parents farmed the Tapeka property from 1883 to 1907. The children walked from there to and from school in Russell everyday. The family later lived in an old cottage on Queens View Road and finally the Rangers cottage in Matauwhi Bay.
Lance Corporal Clement Wood of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade died at the battle of the Somme 15 September 1916 aged 26. He is buried in the Bulls Rd Cemetery at Flers, Normandy, France. The plaque was given to the Russell Museum by his family. They also gave us his service medals. His name appears on the Russell School Roll of Honour in the school foyer, and a brother and sister gave the flagstaff at the school in his memory.
We have one more treasure from Clement – a white pheasant in a glass case shot at Puhipuhi on the first day of the shooting season in 1912 and a photo recording his day's bag.
Russell Museum has many other taonga and we look forward to telling you their stories.