Brian Wood (British Army soldier)

Military service

Wood served for seventeen years in the British Army with the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.[5] During his service in Iraq he led the first bayonet charge in 25 years.[6] For his gallantry in leading the bayonet charge in the Battle of Danny Boy, and taking control of the situation during the ambush of his unit, he was awarded the Military Cross.[7][8][9]

Falsified allegations of war crime

After coming back from Iraq in 2004, Wood was informed that there were allegations against himself and his regiment from the Iraq Historic Abuse Team.[10]

At the end of the Al-Sweady Inquiry, which Wood was a part of, Sir Thayne Forbes said that some of the claims against him and his regiment (and the others serving in the Battle of Danny Boy) had been "the product of deliberate lies".[11]

Phil Shiner of the IHAT legal team was struck off the roll of solicitors in the United Kingdom due to misconduct during the trial and falsification of certain cases.[12]

Writing

In 2019, Wood published his book Double Crossed: A Code of Honour, A Complete Betrayal in hardback; the book described his service in Iraq, the receiving of his gallantry medal and his involvement with the Al-Sweady Inquiry.[13][14] On 5 March 2020, the book was published as a paperback version.[15]

Media

On 3 February 2017, Wood appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain talking about the false allegations against him and his unit by disgraced lawyer Phil Shiner.[16]

In 2020, production started on the BBC Two drama Danny Boy. The film details his accused war crimes in Iraq, by the Iraq Historical Abuse Team, and follows his fight for the truth. The film stars Anthony Boyle as Wood, Toby Jones as human rights lawyer Phil Shiner.[17]

Medals

Wood has received the following medals:

Military Cross (MC)
NATO Medal for Kosovo
Iraq Medal
OSM For Afghanistan
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

References
  1. "Remembering the battle of Al Amara". April 28, 2009 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  2. "Iraq war probe 'damaging' says soldier". BBC News. 2017-02-11. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  3. "Hero soldier Brian Wood who was 'betrayed fighting for his country' set to visit Portsmouth to kick-off his book tour". www.portsmouth.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  4. Barr, James. "Double Crossed by Brian Wood review — a soldier ambushed in the courtroom". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  5. "#79 - Double Crossed - Brian Wood, Military Cross, Best Selling Author and Public Speaker". The Inspiration Space.
  6. Corner, Speakers. "An Interview with Brian Wood on The Battle of Danny Boy and Overcoming Challenges | Speakers Corner". www.speakerscorner.co.uk.
  7. Editor, Marco Giannangeli, Defence (February 12, 2017). "Fury of hero soldier Brian Wood caught up in scrapped Iraq abuse inquiry". Express.co.uk.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  8. "UK combat operations end in Iraq". BBC. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  9. "No. 57588". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 18 March 2005. p. 3374.
  10. "Iraq war probe 'damaging' says soldier". BBC News. February 11, 2017 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  11. "UK army murder claims 'were lies'". BBC News. December 17, 2014 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  12. Farmer, Ben (February 2, 2017). "Disgraced Iraq human rights lawyer Phil Shiner struck off over false abuse claims against British troops". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  13. Wood, Brian. "Double Crossed". www.penguin.co.uk.
  14. at 11:54am, Simon Newton 28th March 2019. "Soldier-Turned-Author Speaks Up About Mental Health". Forces Network. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  15. Wood, Brian. "Double Crossed". www.penguin.co.uk.
  16. "Falsely accused of war crimes". www.itv.com.
  17. "Toby Jones and Anthony Boyle to lead cast of new BBC drama Danny Boy". Radio Times. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
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