George William Wood
Attended to Queen Elizabeth School from 1932 to 1939. He was a prefect at school and took part in school concerts. He had intended to follow a career in banking.
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He lived with his widowed mother, Lilian at Ashdale House, Creswell. Frederick Cecil, Geoffrey's father died in late 1941. They had another son, Ronald Cecil who was born in 1911
Old Elizabethans Service Roll:
Ord Seaman Geoffrey William Wood lost his life when the HMS Curacoa was in collision whilst on convoy escort duties in the Atlantic on the 2nd October 1942.Previously he had been on convoy work to Russia.He had been recommended for a commission.
G.W. Wood volunteered for the Navy in March 1942. But for the war he had intended to persue his career in banking. His home was in Creswell and his loss is a blow to his widowed mother. His school contempories will remember him as a prefect and as a delightful elocutonary entertain at concerts.
HMS Curacoa a cruiser built in 1916
It was on convoy escourt duties when it was sliced in half by RMS Queen Mary, the transalantic liner. The Queen Mary was bring 10,000 American soldiers to England and was on a standard zig-zag course off Ireland and the Curacoa was on a straight course and doing 25 knots (29 mph) when they collided. Both captains believed they had the right of way. The Queen Mary hit amidships ripping the Curacoa in half, the stern section sank immediatly and the bow a few minutes later. 337 men died. The incident was covered up to help morale.
After the war the Admiralty sued Cunard for the loss and initially Cunard were found to be not liable however on appeal Curacoa was deemed to be two thirds at fault and The Queen Mary one third.
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