Percy Frank Pilkington Wood

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Commander Percy Frank Pilkington Wood, (4 February, 1894 – 18 August, 1939) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

The son of Percy Wood, Esq., gentleman.[1]

Wood's first ship was Temeraire, in which he served from January 1912 until 15 December, 1914 whenhe was appointed to the destroyer Sparrowhawk of the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla. He would serve in her through the Battle of Jutland, where he survived her loss in confused close range night combat.[2]

Wood was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 September, 1916, which was later adjusted to 15 June, 1916.[3]

Wood was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 June, 1924.[4]

Wood was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1930.[5]

H.M.S. Bideford was placed under Wood's command on 16 October 1931 for trials. Upon their completion, he commissioned the sloop for service. Due at Aden on 6 January, 1932, he was to proceed to Muscat to relieve the sloop Hastings, exchanging ships with her commander, D. S. McGrath. Wood took Hastings to Malta to join the Mediterranean Fleet for service in the Red Sea Division, there replacing and taking command of Dahlia, which Wood was to bring back home. [6]

In March 1937, Wood was reported to be sick on shore and was diagnosed with asthma. His Service Record is largely filled with medical reports from here on, and it is amazing that he received a drumbeat of seagoing command appointments in 1938.[7]

World War II

Despite his naval career being in full flower on the cusp of a war, his health was in serious jeopardy. A telegram dated 27 April 1939 from Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham reported Wood dangerously ill with heart disease. He died on 18 August.[8]

See Also

Bibliography


Naval Appointments
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Bideford
16 Oct, 1931[9] – 17 Jan, 1932[10]
Succeeded by
Donal S. McGrath
Preceded by
Arthur R. Farquhar
Captain of H.M.S. Dahlia
Jan, 1932[11] – 5 Jan, 1933[12]
Succeeded by
Frederick R. M. Johnson
Preceded by
Donal S. McGrath
Captain of H.M.S. Hastings
17 Jan, 1932[13] – Jan, 1932[14]
Succeeded by
Cecil S. Sandford
Preceded by
Renfrew Gotto
Captain of H.M.S. Crescent
11 May, 1932[15][16] – 31 Aug, 1934[Inference]
Succeeded by
Malcolm Farquhar
Preceded by
Harry P. Currey
Captain of H.M.S. Diomede
22 Dec, 1937[17] – 24 Jan, 1938[18]
Succeeded by
Geoffrey C. Fryer
Preceded by
Michael A. O. Biddulph
Captain of H.M.S. Dragon
24 Jan, 1938[19] – 22 Apr, 1938[20]
Succeeded by
Charles E. S. Farrant
Preceded by
Charles E. S. Farrant
Captain of H.M.S. Calcutta
22 Apr, 1938[21] – 1 Jul, 1938[22]
Succeeded by
Frederick R. M. Johnson
Preceded by
Frederick R. M. Johnson
Captain of H.M.S. Cardiff
1 Jul, 1938[23] – 14 Jul, 1938[24]
Succeeded by
Arthur R. Halfhide
Preceded by
Richard F. Jolly
Captain of H.M.S. Marshal Soult
14 Jul, 1938[25][26] – 20 Aug, 1939[27]
Succeeded by
Geoffrey C. L. Dalley

Footnotes

  1. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  2. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  3. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  4. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  5. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  6. "Sloops on Foreign Service." The Times (London, England), 6 Jan. 1932, p. 6.
  7. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  8. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  9. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  10. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  11. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  12. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  13. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  14. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  15. "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), Wednesday, April 27, 1932, Issue 46118, p.6.
  16. The Navy List. (July, 1934). p. 227.
  17. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  18. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  19. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  20. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  21. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  22. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  23. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  24. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.
  25. The Navy List. (May, 1939). p. 308.
  26. "Royal Navy." The Times (London, England), Saturday, Jul 09, 1938; pg. 18; Issue 48042.
  27. Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/186. f. 188.