Wood Geoffrey Emmerson 2/Lt 92170
Personnel Entry
Name Wood Geoffrey Emmerson
Army number 92170
Rank 2/Lt
Decorations M.i.D. 14/2/1946
Date of birth March 1916.
Age 57 at the time of his death.
Unit Joined The Durham Light Infantry - commissioned as a 2/Lt in the 8th Battalion 12/7/1939. Embodied 24/8/1939. Posted to the 11th Battalion DLI 1/9/39. Served with the B.E.F. in France. Taken Prisoner of War. Repatriated. Released from service as Honorary Lieutenant 1946. Lieutenant TARO 1/9/1948 with seniority from 12/1/1941. Ceased TARO liability 26/2/1966.
Company/Battery 11th Battalion - B Company. Battalion HQ.
Platoon or other sub-unit
Task or role Duty Officer, Transport Officer.
Joined Brigade 1/9/1939.
Promotions W/S Lt 12/1/1941.
Wounded Not so far as is known.
Prisoner of War Yes - held in Oflag VII-B. PoW Number 540.
Died/Killed in action Died 1/12/1973 at Durham aged 57.
Home address Educated Giggleswick School and the College of Estate Management. Auctioneer and Estate Agent in Durham.
Source table 11DLI
Captain Wood was made Chairman of the 8th/11th Battalions Old Comrades Association in April 1960.
Report in the Auckland Chronicle of 22/8/1940 read as follows:
"The tragic news was received by his mother from the War Office on Wednesday that 2/Lt Geoffrey Wood of the DLI is believed to have been killed in Flanders on May 31st.
Only child of Mrs A E Wood of The Garth, Hallgarth Street, Durham and of the late Councillor J.W. Wood he is, we believe, the first Durham City Officer to make the supreme sacrifice in the present War.
2/Lt Wood was educated at Saltburn and Giggleswick School in Yorkshire. He served his articles with Messrs Anderson and Garland, Auctioneers, Newcastle and passed the Final Exam of the Auctioneers and Estate Agents Institute two years later. He succeeded to his father's business in Durham. An unassuming young man with considerable buisness ability he was on the threshold of a promising career when, at the outbreak of War, he was mobilised with the Territorials, proceeding to France in April a few days after his marriage to Miss N Gill of Fawden. To her and his mother the heartfelt sympathy of citizens and their many friends in the North East will be extended in their irreparable loss.
2/Lt Wood was 24 years of age and his parents were Mayor and Mayoress of the City some eight years ago."
Report in the Auckland Chronicle of 29/8/1940 reads as follows:-
"Lieut G.E. Wood now reported P.o.W.
Four days after his widowed mother had received a letter from the War Office that 2/Lt Geoffrey E. Wood was "beLieved killed on May 31st" the same Department telegraphed his wife that he was a P.o.W. Grief has thus been turned to joy.
The glad tidings were conveyed on Sunday evening to the Officer's wife (nee Miss N Gill) at her home in Fawdon where his mother was staying. There was, naturally, great rejoicing in the household.
A few hours earlier sympathetic reference to the presumed death of Lieut Wood was made at St Oswald's Church by the Vicar, the Rev. Hilary Morse.
Only child of the late Councillor J W Wood and Mrs M H Wood, ex Mayor and Mayoress of Durham of The Garth, Hallgarth Street he was serving with the Territorials when War broke out and proceeded to France in April, a few days after his wedding.
Before the start of hostilities he was in business as an auctioneer in the city, having succeeded to his late father's business. News that he safe following so soon after the previous lamentable message has caused immense relief to the city and district."
