Pte Bertram Wood, 41662, 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, died as a prisoner of war in the Crossen Camp hospital at Kaehmen in Germany on October 22nd, 1918. The cause of death was influenza – inflammation of the lungs, as his Red Cross report stated. He was aged 29.

The report shows he was captured at Reims in France on May 27th, 1918, when he had been reported missing. He was first interned at Friedrichsfeld and later at Crossen Camp on the River Oder. A postcard from Crossen requesting food and clothing contained the first news of his capture. But efforts to get in touch with him failed.

Following news of his death, it was discovered that Bertram with others had been kept working behind the German lines, and many contracted influenza. They were then put on to a train for a five-day journey to hospital. They were fed on a little bread and liquid, and eight or nine prisoners died each day.

A report in the Tuesday Telegraph (January 21st, 1919) said although the cause of death was not stated from the hospital, it was evident that German cruelty was to a great extent responsible.

Bertram was born in Slip End on January 12th, 1889, one of nine children of George and Annie Wood, of The Limes, Summer Street, Slip End. He was one of four serving brothers, the others being Sgt Stanley Wood (Grenadier Guards), Pte Edward Wood (Machine Gun Corps) and Pte Jack Wood (3rd East Surrey Regiment).

Before joining up in November 1916, Bertram had established himself as a hairdresser in John Street, Luton. He joined the Bedfordshire Regiment (202868) before being transferred to the Leicesters.