My father, Private Arthur Wood served with No 2 Platoon "A" Company 7th L.I Battalion, and was wounded on 3 January 1945 at Waverille in the Ardennes.
He had the lower part of his right leg blown off whilst out tank hunting, as he stepped on a land mine in the deep snow. He, along with others on the patrol were also wounded, and were left for dead. He was recovered the next morning, and found to be still alive, as the extreme cold of the Ardennes winter stemmed the bleeding. He was taken to a field hospital, where what was left of the leg was amputated below the knee.
He had enlisted in the Black Watch before volunteering for Airborne Service.
[Editor's Note: Pte Wood qualified as a military parachutist at RAF Ringway on course 126 which ran from 24 July to 4 August 1944]
by Geoff Wood
