The Collection of Medals Formed by Bill and Angela Strong

Six: Petty Officer W. L. Wood, Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Reserve

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (J.106005 P.O., H.M.S. Drake); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (J.106005 (Dev. D.429) L.S., R.F.R.) some edge bruising, very fine and better; an unusual combination (6) £140-180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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Ex Oliver Stirling Lee Collection, D.N.W. 1 December 2004.

Royal Fleet Reserve men who were re-engaged to complete time for a pension, or as is equally likely in Wood’s case for the duration of hostilities, were eligible for the Royal Navy L.S. & G.C. Medal, but were meant to return their Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. Medals at the time of award. Relevant rolls for the period 1939-51 reveal that at least 200 Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. Medals were returned in this manner, yet, inevitably, some were not.

William Leonard Wood was born in Wellington, Shropshire on 22 December 1906. Entered the Royal Navy in June 1929 and served until discharged as service expired in December 1936 when he joined the R.F.R. Mobilised for the Second World War, he served on the armed merchant cruiser Alaunia, August 1939-May 1944, attaining the rank of Acting Petty Officer in July 1942 and was confirmed in that rank in July 1943. Wood was released ashore in November 1945 but re-enlisted in the Royal Navy in November 1946 to be discharged ashore in April 1952. With copied service notes and other research.