Herbert William Wood
Major Herbert William Wood of the Royal Engineers was an English army officer and geographer.
Life
Origins
Herbert William Wood, son of Lieutenant-colonel Herbert William Wood of the Madras Native Infantry, was born in India on 17 July 1837. Educated at Cheltenham College, he joined the military college of the East India Company at Addiscombe in February 1854, received a commission as second lieutenant in the Madras Engineers on 20 September 1855, and, after the usual course of professional instruction at Chatham, arrived at Madras on 26 October 1857.Military career
Wood was at once posted to the Sagar field division under Major-general Whitlock acting against the Mutineers, and was present at the affairs of Jhigan on 10 April 1858 and Kabrai, at the Battle of Banda on 19 April, the capture of Kirwi on 6 June, the action in front of Chitra Kote, the forcing of the Panghati Pass, and subsequent action. He was promoted to be lieutenant on 27 August 1858, and continued to do duty with the column until March 1859, receiving the medal for the campaign.After employment as executive engineer in the public works department in the North-West Provinces, Wood was transferred to Madras in 1860. He was promoted to be captain on 15 January 1864. He served as field engineer in the Abyssinian Campaign from January to June 1868, succeeding Captain Chrystie in charge of the works at Zulla, was thanked in despatches, and received the war medal. In December 1872 he was appointed to Vizagapatam, and on 24 August of the following year he was promoted to be major.