Harold George Wood worked for a fruit growing company and married before joining the Royal Air Force where he was an aircraftman. His father had served with the R.A.F. during the First World War. He was killed during an air raid on North Weald Aerodrome in September 1940. His widow lived in Second Avenue when he was killed and was at South Primrose Hill when his body, temporarily buried at Epping, was buried at Chelmsford.

Harold was born in Essex in 1914, the son of Herbert William Wood (1883-1932) and Rosetta Wood (nee Wix) (1881-1933). He had a brother, Cecil Wood.

His father died in January 1932 aged 48 at Nousley; his mother in March 1933 aged 52. Both are buried in the same grave at Hatfield Peverel. A newspaper report stated that Harold's father, an R.A.F. veteran, "had been sadly afflicted for some years, and was a familiar figure in his bathchair."

In 1938 Harold married Mary Ann Godman.

Harold worked on the clerical staff of Messrs W. Seabrook & Sons of Hatfield Peverel.

During the Second World War he served as Aircraftsman 1st Class 747898, Royal Air Force.

He was killed on 3rd September 1940 at North Weald Aerodrome during a German air raid that claimed the lives of three other airmen at the base. He was 26. At the time his wife was living at 56 Second Avenue in Chelmsford.

Harold was initially buried at Epping Cemetery without the knowledge of his wife who by then had moved to 61 South Primrose Hill, Chelmsford.  Upon discovering this, she was granted an exhumation order and Harold was re-interred at Chelmsford Borough Cemetery on 2nd December 1940 in a ceremony conducted by the Rev. H. Stock (grave: 5698). The event was reported by the Essex Chronicle:

“Aircraftman's Funeral. —The funeral of Aircraftman Harold George Wood, formerly of 56 Second Avenue, Broomfield Road, took place on Monday. The deceased, who was 26, was killed as the result of enemy action on Sept. 3, and, owing to an unfortunate chain of circumstances, was buried Epping Cemetery before his wife (who is the fourth daughter of the late Mr. G. Godman, of Haverhill, and of Mrs. Reuben Poole, of 61 South Primrose Hill) was aware of his death. Subsequently an order for exhumation was granted by the Chelmsford Diocesan Registry, and the re-interment took place the " Square of Honour " in the Writtle Road Cemetery.

The deceased was son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Wood, of Hatfield Peverd, and a popular member of the clerical staff Messrs. W. Seabrook and Sons before volunteering tor the Royal Air Force.

The Rev. H. Stock, pastor the London Road Congregational Church, officiated, and referred appreciative terms the deceased's Christian qualities and the sacrifice had gladly and willingly made for King and Country, and on behalf of the London Road Church and himself tendered sympathy with the young widow and others of the family.

The mourners were; Mrs. Wood, widow; Mr. and Mrs, Reuben Poole, step-father-in-law and mother-in-law; Mrs. Jewell Mrs. B. Ward (Terling), aunts; Mr. and Mrs. B. brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Miss M. Godman, sister-in-law; Sgt. MacDonald (R.A.F.), and Mrs. Stansfleld. Mr. C. Wood, brother, was unable to attend, being in H.M. Forces."

He left his widow an estate valued at £1,415 2s. 9d.

In 1942 Harold’s widow married Rupert George Goodman. She died in 1999.

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Harold George WOOD, Aircraftman 1st Class, Royal Air Force

Killed during an air raid at R.A.F. North Weald. Aged 26