Ship's Writer John Stanley Wood RN Collection
(1925-1954)
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John Stanley Wood left the 'remove class' of the Judd School Tonbridge Kent in 1942. He was 17 years old
when he joined up as a naval rating. By June 1946, when HMS Implacable returned to Devonport, UK after her Pacific tour of 100,000 miles, John had recorded many aspects of the life and times aboard the carrier using a rough scrap book, pen and cheap camera. After the war John left the navy and trained at Goldsmiths College London University to become a teacher. He married a college friend called Ella, but sadly died at 29 years old from asthma before they, and their new son, were due to emigrate to Philadelphia, USA.

 

880 Squadron coat of arms. 880 Squadron was disbanded in September 1945 in Australia.

 

HMS Implacable, date and location unknown, but probably on sea trials.

 

HMS Implacable, date and location unknown, but probably on sea trials. This photo was taken shortly after the
previous photo.

 

Sunday Divisions and Church service with the Royal Marines Band playing and counter-marching on board
HMS Implacable.

 

HMS Implacable at anchor with the boat boom rigged port side, photo probably taken at Scapa Flow in Mar.
1945.

All photos from the collection of John Stanley Wood RN courtesy of Chris Wood
Additional information for captions provided by Philip J. Heydon ISM

 
MaritimeQuest gratefully appreciates the efforts of Chris Wood in providing this collection and allowing their
use on the site. We would also like to thank Philip J. Heydon ISM for all the time and effort in helping to
caption and organize the collection. Additional thanks to the folks at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Somerset, England for their help.


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Page published Mar. 15, 2009