The Ophthalmological Society of South Africa decided to name its most prestigious lecture after D.J. Wood, the first ophthalmologist and first medical specialist in South Africa. Since then D.J. Wood has become familiar to every OSSA member through the D.J. Wood memorial lectures at their Congresses. For many years there was only had scanty anecdotal information about the man himself, and only one photo seen annually at the lecture. If one, however, starts exploring the life of D.J. Wood, a character is revealed who has many remarkably different facets. These previously unknown aspects of his...