With HMS Thunderer At Jutland.

1914 - 15 Trio.
George V Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service & Good Conduct Medal.
186812 F. D. Wood, Yeoman of Signals, Royal Navy.

Frederick Daniel Wood was born on 20th August 1880 in Torquay, Devon. He appears on the 1891 Census as a 10 year old schoolboy, the son of Ann and Alfred, a commissioned boatman and coastguard. At this time the Wood family were living in one of the Coastguard Cottages at Dawlish. Frederick joined the Royal Navy on 11th January 1896 as a Boy 2nd Class. His service record describes him as just over 5 feet tall, with dark brown hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion. After a period of basic training at HMS Ganges, a shore establishment for the training of boys, and then at HMS Boscawen, Frederick first went to sea on the battleship HMS Collingwood in 1897. At this time, HMS Collingwood was coastguard ship at Bantry. Later service was on a number of ships, including HMS Wild Swan, HMS Imperieuse and HMS Benbow. While on the latter, Frederick was advanced to Leading Signalman.
Frederick was recorded on the 1911 Census as one of the 209 sailors serving on HMS Medea, a third class cruiser, in Malta harbour.

On 15th June 1912, Frederick joined the crew of the newly commissioned HMS Thunderer (pictured above in a painting by Frederick W. Bumford). He was soon rated Yeoman of Signals and would stay with this ship for the duration of the Great War, including service at the Battle of Jutland. You can read about HMS Thunderer here .

 

Frederick Wood left HMS Thunderer on 13th September 1919 and joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 20th August 1920. His Royal Fleet Reserve LSGC Medal was issued on 15th March 1928.