Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Attributed to Able Seaman P. J. Wood, Royal Navy, who was killed in action when H.M.S. Hecla was sunk by U.515 on 11 November 1942, off Cape St. Vincent
1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-4, all unnamed as issued but accompanied by named Admiralty enclosure for 4 medals (Percy John Wood), the Africa Star of a differing tone, otherwise good very fine (5) £100-£140

Percy John Wood was born on 31 August 1921, at Wickwar, Gloucestershire. He was the son of Percy John and Edith Sarrie Wood and nephew of Mr G. Wood of Kingswood, Gloucestershire. He was a ‘house boy’ before joining the Navy on 10 January 1938, as a Boy 2 Class, H.M.S. Ganges. He advanced to Boy 1 Class on 30 October 1938, and to Ordinary Seaman on 31 August 1939, when he engaged for 12 years with Official No. JX 156488. He advanced to Able Seaman on 30 April 1940, and served in H.M.S. Nimrod for a few weeks in the summer of 1940, but was finally drafted to H.M.S. Hecla in early 1942, although he was loaned to other ships during that year. He was reported ‘missing presumed killed’, at the age of 22, in action when Hecla was torpedoed and sunk on 11/12 November 1942.
The vendor states that the Africa Star has been added to the group to represent the recipient’s correct entitlement, even though it was not issued to the family.