Seaman Gunner John Wood

Seaman Gunner John Wood, Royal Naval Reserve. He was lost at sea aboatrd the S.S. “Pilar de Larringa” on 4th May 1917, aged 23. He was the husband of Mary Wood of 33 Walkergate, Berwick-upon-Tweed and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. The ship of 4136 tons, had been launched in 1902 and was en route from Galveston to Manchester when she was sunk by a torpedo from UC 65 near the Tuscar Rock with 20 crew lost. She was carrying a general cargo and was armed with a 4 inch gun. UC 65 was herself sunk by the British submarine H.M.S. “C15” on 3rd November with all hands lost. ( Some merchant ships were armed with defensive guns which were manned by Men from the R.N.R. )