The Land-ship was said to have been formed by Moses Wood, a retired Bajan seaman who had served in the British Royal Navy and then lived in Cardiff and Southampton.Aviston Downes cites him as "Moses Wood" in his article, "Searching for Admiral Moses Wood: Oral Tradition and the history of the Land-ship" Journal of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society Vol.XLVIII, Nov. 2002, 64 –78. According to Louis Lynch,The Barbados Book. London: Andre Deutsch Ltd., 1969, 224. as far back as 1879, the sight of the white uniformed crew was a familiar one to the inhabitants of the colony. It is reckoned that the Land-ship as it is known today, started in October 1863,The year 1863 has been passed down through the years and celebrated annually by members. but it is not feasible that Moses Wood was the originator, since his records show his birth as 21 January 1860.According to Land-ship Researcher, Aviston Downes, Moses Wood was born on 21 January 1860 and died on 12 June 1941 It is more likely that Wood joined the Land-ship and started a branch of the Land-ship (which is known as a Ship) when he returned to Barbados. However, his fame may have come because the Land-ship had become low keyed (almost underground) by the time Wood returned and the then Governor Hodgson, had previously issued an edict forbidding "the wearing of quazi-military uniforms".Editha (Nancy) Fergusson-Jacobs: "Full Steam Ahead - Locating the Barbados Land-ship", page 26. Hence Wood was being openly defiant in starting a Ship because he wanted to continue wearing his naval uniform and the Land-ship provided that perfect opportunity.
